Cybersecurity
Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting: Cyber Stability, Conflict Prevention and Capacity Building
June 23, 2020
On May 22, the Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting (Cyber Stability, Conflict Prevention and Capacity Building) was held by Estonia, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Indonesia and Kenya. The outline is as follows:
- Opening remarks were given by Mr. Juri Ratas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, which were followed by briefings by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. David Koh, Chief Executive of Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, and Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and the Director of Technology Policy Program, as well as statements by Co-hosts, Cabinet ministers from the Security council and non-Members, concerned cyber security persons and UN representatives. Takeshi Akahori, Deputy Assistant Minister of the Foreign Policy Bureau (Ambassador in charge of Cyber Policy) participated on behalf of the Government of Japan.
- Remarks were made from many Members, including developed and developing countries, on concerns regarding cyberattacks towards the medical sector amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, support for the normative framework indicated by the GGE report of 2015, support for the present UN OEWG and GGE processes, the importance of the role of regional organizations on confidence building, and the necessity of cooperation with the private sector, academia and the civil society. The meeting saw a general consensus on these matters.
- Japan stated that UN Members should renew their commitments to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for human rights, peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition of use of force, and that they should explicitly recognize that State responsibility, the inherent right of self-defense as well as international humanitarian law apply in cyberspace, the recognition of which is important for prevention of conflicts and deterrence in cyberspace. Japan further stated that the Security Council should be ready to act under Chapter 6 or Chapter 7 of the Charter to prevent or to respond to a grave situation involving cyber activities.