Purpose and outcome

The purpose of the event is to deepen understanding of human rights dimensions of cybersecurity policy, review major developments in the field of cybersecurity that impact on human rights, and map out future opportunities for collaboration to advance rights-based approaches to cybersecurity at the local, regional and international levels that bridges technical and policy approaches. The outcomes for this event, embedded within the larger common agenda, are

• Arrive to a common understanding of what the characteristics are of an approach to cybersecurity policy, norms and standards that is rights-based.

• Develop an agenda for research and analysis that would inform a rights-based approach to cybersecurity and stability.

• Outline possibilities for joint and coordinated efforts towards consolidating a rights-based and inclusive approach to cybersecurity.

Agenda and facilitation

9:00-9:30 - Registration

9:30-10:30 - Framing: What do we mean by a rights-based approach to cybersecurity? Is such an approach a pipe-dream, or an essential means to a secure and trusted internet?

10:30-11:30 - Year in review: Overview of current initiatives in cybersecurity and stability.
A panel will provide basic outlines of current initiatives including the following: Group of Governmental Experts (GGE); London process (GCCS); Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC); Microsoft’s “Geneva Convention”, among others. Panellists will be asked to reflect on the extent to which these initiatives are or are not, adopting a “rights-based” approach. The panel will be followed by discussion.

11:30-12:00 - Tea/coffee break

12:00-13:30 - Deep dive on cybersecurity and human rights issues: What are the obvious risks and challenges? How do policy and norms impact on the human rights and security of people? What are the ‘not-so-obvious’ issues at stake? Who controls the mainstream cybersecurity narrative? Does this need to be challenged, and if so, how? 

13:30-14:00 - Closing remarks from event convenors outlining possible next steps towards consolidating a rights-based and inclusive approach to cybersecurity.