OAS and GFCE Organize Meetings to Build Cybersecurity Capacity and Collaboration

Press Release

OAS and GFCE Organize Meetings to Build Cybersecurity Capacity and Collaboration

September 5, 2024

Washington D.C., 10 September 2024 - The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Global Forum for Cyber Expertise (GFCE) will hold two meetings the week of September 9 focused on building cybersecurity capacity and strengthening international collaboration in the field.

On September 9, the Regional Meeting for the Americas and Caribbean will take place, followed by the 9th edition of the GFCE Annual Meeting on September 10 and 11. Both meetings will be held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC,

All information regarding the meeting is available here.

September 9: GFCE Regional Meeting: Regional Coordination of Capacity Building Efforts
The Regional Meeting for the Americas and the Caribbean on September 9 is organized by the Secretariat of the GFCE and the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) of the OAS, which is the GFCE Regional Hub for this region. As such, the hub provides practical guidance, expertise, and support to cyber communities, including regional organizations, private sector entities, institutions, and governments. In this capacity, CICTE also facilitates access to the GFCE's global network for countries seeking support. This year's Regional Meeting's aims to improve the coordination of capacity building efforts in the region, with a special focus on emerging technologies. Participants will exchange ideas and collaborate, as well as learning about the progress of the GFCE Regional Hub and the GFCE's possibilities for involvement and collaboration with key actors in the region.
The Executive Secretary of CICTE, Alison August-Treppel, said: "One of the keys to creating a safer cyberspace is collaboration between countries and the exchange of information. At CICTE, we promote cooperation between OAS member states with concrete actions such as inter-American networks for the exchange of information and the development of discussion forums. This Regional Meeting for the Americas and the Caribbean is another example of our commitment to create common strategies and the coordination of efforts in the face of new challenges that affect all countries."
September 10-11: GFCE Annual Meeting: Unifying Efforts to Bridge Cyber Capacity Gaps

During the GFCE Annual Meeting - on September 10 and 11 - members and partners from all over the world will connect with the GFCE global community, reflect on the GFCE's developments and activities, explore the GFCE's coordination role in identified areas and exchange ideas and updates on pivotal topics. Under the theme "unifying efforts to bridge cyber capacity gaps," the event addresses the urgent need to strengthen international collaboration to tackle challenges brought about by cyberspace.

Program highlights

The program includes high-level discussions, workshops, and valuable networking opportunities, with a focus on enhancing international cooperation and building resilient cyber infrastructures. The following sessions are among the highlights of the program:

- The Future of the GFCE: Open discussions with the GFCE Strategic Steering Committee
This interactive session allows the GFCE Community to directly engage with the new Strategic Steering Committee. Participants are encouraged to brainstorm and express their thoughts, concerns and ideas on GFCE developments, enabling the Steering Committee to shape the future of the GFCE, serving the needs and ambitions of the global community.
- GC3B: Catalyzing Action for Cyber Resilient Development
The Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) 2023 was a key gathering that helped secure and improve decision makers' awareness on cyber capacity building by bringing the cyber and development silos together, strengthened coordination of efforts on a global scale and widened the pool of resources available. In line with the GC3B 2025 edition, which will build on these successes, this session explores the importance and the need for cyber resilient development and how the Accra Call can enable more concrete best practices to align the development and cyber security community.
- Community Showcase
The Community Showcase session offers GFCE Members & Partners the opportunity to share their good practices, recent deliverables or new initiatives. It provides a strong foundation for understanding the work of the GFCE Community, and aims to enable better collaboration, information exchange and knowledge sharing amongst the GFCE Community.
- At the Cutting Edge: What Emerging Technologies Mean for Cyber Capacity Building
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing are at the forefront of today's digital policy discussions. Managing the opportunities and advances made possible by these technologies, while mitigating the inherent risks is a challenge that governments and regulators are grappling with. This session draws on expertise from across the GFCE community and beyond to understand the changes underway and explores the strategies that will help keep cyber capacity building efforts current and relevant.
- Women in Cyber Capacity Building (WiCCB) Breakfast: Actionable Pathways for Gender Mainstreaming in Cybersecurity
Building on the previous Women in Cyber Capacity Building (WiCCB) events, this interactive session focuses on translating insights into actionable outcomes to enhance gender diversity in cybersecurity. The session will feature speakers from the GFCE's Women in Cyber Capacity Building Network (WiCCB) that will share insights on availability of resources for women's career advancement in cybersecurity.

David van Duren, director of the GFCE Secretariat:"With more stakeholders than ever contributing to cyber capacity building, improving global coordination efforts to avoid the further fragmentation of the cyber capacity building ecosystem becomes imperative to tackle contemporary challenges brought about by cyberspace. We are thrilled that so many of our members and partners join us in Washington D.C. to both progress regional coordination of capacity building efforts and to discuss and shape the future of global cyber capacity building."

Looking ahead
The next GFCE Annual Meeting - the 10th anniversary edition - is scheduled for May 13, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, preceding the second Global Conference for Cyber Capacity Building.

Note for media (not for publication)
If you have any questions about these meetings, or if you interested in having an interview with one of the organizers, please contact:

Eline Badoux
E: [email protected]
+31(0)6 4410 4008

Or

Javier Martín Chicharro
E: [email protected]

Reference: E-061/24

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