CITEL recognizes that, although the first priority must focus on public policies which will bring the benefits of telecommunications and information technologies to all citizens of the OAS member states, strengthening the private-public partnership that will result in the wide-scale adoption of a framework of technical standards that help secure the Internet, will require communication and cooperation among and within the communities that are stakeholders in this partnership. CITEL will foster cooperation among member states on aspects related to network security by helping administrations adopt policies and practices that encourage network and service providers to implement technical standards for secure networks. The new edition of The Blue Book: Telecommunication Policies for the Americas, a joint publication of CITEL and ITU, will include a chapter on cybersecurity. CITEL will also foster dialogue within the relevant technical and governmental communities regarding work on network security and cybersecurity through joint seminars with the ITU on security standards. The actions of CITEL may also include matters relating to telecommunications policies, practices, regulations, economic aspects, and the responsibilities of users, all within the legal framework within which the telecommunications service operates, and within the duties and responsibilities of CITEL. REMJA: Ensuring That OAS Member States Have the Legal Tools Necessary to Protect Internet Users and Information Networks Criminals such as “hackers,” organized crime groups, and terrorists are increasingly exploiting the Internet for illicit purposes and engineering new methods of using the Internet to commit and facilitate crime. These illegal activities, commonly referred to as “cyber-crimes,” hinder the growth and development of the Internet by fostering the fear that the Internet is neither a secure nor a trustworthy medium for conducting personal, government, or business transactions. Accordingly, REMJA’s contribution to the Comprehensive Inter-American Cybersecurity Strategy, through the initiatives of the Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber-crime (the Experts Group), will focus upon assisting member states to combat cyber-crime by ensuring that law enforcement and judicial officials have the legal tools necessary to investigate and prosecute such offenses. This decision was adopted by REMJA at its meeting held from April 28 to 30, 2004, in Washington D.C.6/ Drafting and Enacting Effective Cybercrime Legislation and Improving International Handling of Cybercrime Matters Without appropriate laws and regulations, member states are unable to protect their citizens from cyber-crime. Furthermore, member states lacking adequate cyber-crime laws and mechanisms for international cooperation run the risk of becoming safe havens for criminals who commit such offenses. Consequently, the Experts Group will provide technical assistance to member states in drafting and enacting laws that punish cyber-crime, protect information systems, and prevent the use of computers to facilitate illegal activity. The Experts Group will also promote legal mechanisms that encourage cooperation in cyber-crime matters among investigators and law enforcement authorities who investigate and prosecute cyber-crime. These efforts in support of the Comprehensive InterAmerican Cybersecurity Strategy will be undertaken within the framework of the recommendations of the Experts Group (Third Meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber-Crime, OEA/Ser.K/XXXIV, CIBER-III/doc.4/03).7/ 6 7 . . Appendix IV, document OEA/Ser.K/XXXIV.5, REMJA-V/doc.7/04 rev. 4. Appendix III.