UNCLASSIFIED
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Norm implementation: Developing an additional layer of guidance on the implementation of the
2015 GGE norms could better enable more Member States to implement them. The additional
guidance could build on the norms guidance in the 2021 GGE report and could address topics
such as the role of non-governmental stakeholders and human rights, including gender-focused
considerations. If there is appetite among Member States, Canada may update and retable its
2021 OEWG norms guidance text, in order to advance the conversation on norms guidance and
implementation. If most States feel that no new norms guidance is needed, Canada will focus on
promoting the implementation of the 2015 GGE norms. This could be done by providing
examples of how Canada has implemented these norms, by identifying barriers to norms
implementation and by helping other States develop their capacity to implement the norms in a
human-centric manner, for example.
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International law: In the first OEWG, Canada reaffirmed the applicability of international law to
cyberspace and championed capacity building on international law. This led to a consensus
recommendation for additional capacity building efforts, “in order for all States to contribute to
building common understandings of how international law applies to the use of ICTs by States,
and to contribute to building consensus within the international community.” To advance this
objective, Canada will fund training courses on international law’s applicability in cyberspace for
the next two years. Canada will also work across regions to build common understandings and
to have these reflected in OEWG consensus outcomes through 2025.
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Gender: At the 2019-21 OEWG, Canada advocated for the importance of mainstreaming gender
considerations in the OEWG’s work. Canada funded research on the gender dimensions of cyber
security1 and joined four other states in creating the Women in International Peace and Security
in Cyberspace Fellowship program. This program funded the travel and participation of over 30
women diplomats to attend UN OEWG meetings, before the program went virtual because of
the COVID crisis. This program allowed gender parity for the first time in a First Committee
process, a fact that was noted by the 2019-21 UN OEWG chair. Donors are working on a
revamped and expanded program that will be rolled out to promote the participation of women
diplomats at the 2021-25 OEWG. Finally, at the 2019-21 OEWG, we proposed specific text on
gender mainstreaming, some of which was included in the 2021 OEWG report. We hope to build
on these efforts and have several proposals to advance this conversation at the OEWG. See
Annex 1 for more on these ideas and other possible ways that gender can be further
mainstreamed in the OEWG’s work.
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Stakeholder participation: Canada sees it as essential for a successful and credible outcome that
the OEWG process allow non-State actors to participate meaningfully in the group’s
proceedings. We hope that all relevant stakeholders are able to participate in this OEWG
through formal and informal mechanisms, not just ECOSOC-accredited organizations, as was the
case at the last OEWG. This would allow the optimal range of pertinent civil society and private
sector actors (NGOs, women’s groups, human rights organizations, academics, industry groups,
tech companies, etc.), to provide input into the OEWG process. We hope that their input is
reflected meaningfully in an eventual OEWG report. The contributions of civil society and NGOs
are especially valuable in addressing issues such as online freedoms and gender equality issues,
1
See Making Gender Visible in Digital ICTs and International Security by Sarah Shoker and Why Gender Matters in
International Security by Allison Pytlak and Deborah Brown.
2