Cybersecurity

From July 7 to 11, the 11th substantive session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 (OEWG 2021-2025) was held at the UN Headquarters in New York, and the Final Report of the OEWG was adopted by consensus. (Japan was represented at the meeting by Mr. MOCHIZUKI Chihiro, Negotiator for National Security Policy, National Security Policy Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)

1. The Final Report presents the common understanding of UN Member States on the recognition of threats in cyberspace such as malicious cyber activities against critical infrastructure and cryptocurrency thefts, norms of responsible state behavior, how international law is applied in cyberspace, confidence-building measures, capacity building and others. The Report reaffirms that international law including the UN Charter is applicable to cyber operations and confirms the modalities of the future mechanism after the end of the mandate of the OEWG, among all the UN Member States.
2. Japan has been actively involved in finalizing the Report closely cooperating with the international community with the view to maintaining and developing a free, fair, and secure cyberspace. The Report is expected to be submitted to the UN General Assembly this year (80th Session of the UN General Assembly).
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan continues to actively engage with the international community in order to ensure security in cyberspace.