IGF 2022 WS #285 Reinforcing the cybersafety-security chain - the way forward

Organizer 1: Awo Aidam Amenyah, Child Online Africa
Organizer 2: Janice Richardson, Insight
Organizer 3: Nezir Akyesilmen, Selcuk university -Konya-Turkey
Organizer 4: João Moreno Falcão, Intelliway Tecnologia

Speaker 1: Rafał Prabucki, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Columbus Bruce , Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 3: Styslavska Olena, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Moderator

Janice Richardson, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Online Moderator

Nezir Akyesilmen, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Rapporteur

João Moreno Falcão, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Format

Round Table - U-shape - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

1. How are the competences required for safe, secure use of digital technology being developed at national level?
2. How can developing countries fully capitalize on the economic benefits of digital technologies?
3. What is the role of the IGF in addressing the skills gap at country level?

Connection with previous Messages: The outcomes of the session will be integrated into the ongoing capacity building several of the speakers and organizers of the session are conducting in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Australasia, thereby contributing to their economic inclusion, and in turn their social inclusion insofar as it is influenced by being a respected member of the workforce. A more creative, stronger cybersecurity workforce will directly contribute to making digital technology more secure, stable and trustworthy, and more skilled and knowledgeable citizens will be capable of more meaningful access to digital tools and platforms. They will be able to access more reliable content, and be cognizant of their rights and know how to protect them.

SDGs

1.4
3.7
4.3
4.4
4.7
5.1
5.2
5.b
5.c
8.2
8.3
8.5
8.6
8.8
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10.2
13.3
9.1
9.2
9.3
16.1
16.2
16.a


Targets: The theme of the workshop contributes in particular to SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 16. Enhancing the digital skills of citizens, especially in developing countries, will help level the economic playing field (SDG 1.4). As more citizens and services embrace digital technology, cybersecurity will become more crucial than ever, and the ensuing employment opportunities will help eliminate disparities as a broader population can benefit regardless of gender or physical capacity (SDGs 4 and 5). Improved cyber skills, and better cybersecurity and data validation mechanisms should contribute to increasing access to quality lifelong educational opportunities for all (SDG 4), as well as improving access to reliable health information and broader-reaching health care programmes (SDG 3.7). Secure networks and better skilled population are essential in eliminating many forms of discrimination and exploitation that are currently increasing rather than diminishing, according to Europol (SDG 5). Inclusive and sustainable growth across all countries cannot be achieved without ensuring equal opportunities in terms of learning, health care, reliable data governance strategies and strong transparent institutions (SDGs 9, 10, 16), all dependent to some degree on the security of the digital infrastructure and more especially the digital skills of all sectors of the population worldwide.

Description:

Over the past year IS3C, a cybersecurity, safety and standards coalition, has been conducting research in collaboration with IGF Youth to detect the weakest links in the cybersafety-security chain. We've worked with leaders from industry and academia, conducting interviews, surveys and desktop research as well as multi-stakeholder workshops across the world from Australasia and Africa through to Latin America. The session will bring together business people and recent tertiary graduates, educators and technical experts to debate the outcomes of the research and work with the audience to map the competences and the strategies that are required if society, and in particular developing countries, are to fully capitalize on the economic benefits of digital technologies. We are mindful of the critical role women and girls play in the field of cybersecurity and we are trying to address some of the existing gaps in ensuring equal representation of and opportunities for these and other marginalized groups. Gender bias is not just a human rights issue; it is a waste of the world’s human potential. Studies show women and girls are less represented in the ICT career fields and to help achieve goal 5 and other SDGs, it is important we eradicate the prejudice. At the time of registration, participants will be invited to respond to 2 or 3 questions and submit their own questions to the panel of speakers. Towards the end of the sessions, they will break into groups led by representatives of key regions to talk about the way forward. Participants will be encouraged to voice their opinion via the options provided and will be asked to vote on certain points.

Expected Outcomes

The outcome of the workshop will be integrated into the final publication to be published by the IS3C to document the research the group has conducted over the past year. It will also contribute to future workshops to be organized between academia and industry on the topic. The outcomes will fuel and sustain conversation and debate beyond the IGF. Outcomes will feed into the educational programmes conducted by lead workshop speakers to skill girls and women, especially in Africa. They will also contribute to the strategic re-definition of national education curricula that is currently underway in Council of Europe member countries. It will enrich the work of the IS3C and the IGF as well as the ongoing work of IS3C members with organizations such as UNESCO, ITU, the Council of Europe, African Telecommunications Union, Europol and relevant stakeholders. Findings will be put forward to the various advisory boards of major industry such as Meta, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, in which the workshop proposers are involved.

Hybrid Format: At the time of registration, participants will be invited to respond to 2 or 3 questions and submit their own questions to the panel of speakers. Towards the end of the sessions, they will break into groups led by representatives of key regions to say the way forward.
Participants will be encouraged to voice their opinion via the options provided and will be asked to vote on certain points.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool.