26 Feb, 2025
Online
Unpacking The New UN Cybercrime Convention
On 24 December 2024, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a Convention Against Cybercrime.
How will it shape the future of cyber resilience? Join the World Bank and experts from international organizations for a webinar exploring the impact of the new Convention for developing countries, including its implications for digital transformation and capacity building.
The discussion will also examine how the Convention interacts with existing international legal frameworks against cybercrime, such as the Budapest Convention and the Malabo Convention.
Themes & Topics
Organisation
12th - 13th February, 2025
Paris, France
Global Forum on AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector (2025)
As part of the 20-year review of the WSIS, the UNESCO Global Forum on AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector will take place on 12-13 February 2025.
The forum will address the urgent need to build public sector capacity for effectively leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and robust data governance frameworks in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and human rights-based governance. Senior policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and civil society will come together to tackle these critical challenges.
Organized over two days, the UNESCO Global Forum aims to:
- Propose a Plan of Action for Public Sector Capacity Building on AI and Digital Transformation.
- Launch the Dynamic Coalition on Digital Capacity Building.
- Convene stakeholder consultations on the Data Governance Toolkit: A Roadmap for Navigating the Digital Age.
- Foster international collaboration to advance responsible and interoperable approaches.
- Advance global frameworks, including the Global Digital Compact.
Provide input to the WSIS+20 review to shape a reinvigorated WSIS 2.0 vision.
- Foster Knowledge Exchanges and Partnerships
- Launch the Digital Transformation Repository and Learning Hub.
Share best practices, promoting mutual learning and collaboration among stakeholders.
10th-11th February, 2025
Paris, France
Artificial Intelligence Action Summit (2025)
On 10 and 11 February 2025, France will host the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, gathering Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, small and large enterprises, representatives of academia, non-governmental organizations, artists and members of civil society. The event aims to be as inclusive as possible, with broad representation across countries and sectors.
The AI revolution is bound to transform employment, education, health, culture and economies, across the world. Building on the important milestones reached during the Bletchley Park (November 2023) and Seoul (May 2024) summits, this gathering will focus on concrete actions to ensure that the global AI sector can drive beneficial social, economic and environmental outcomes in the public interest.
The summit's foundation is being laid through the collaborative efforts of contact groups, which bring together governments, businesses, and civil society representatives from diverse regions. To incorporate a wide range of perspectives and ideas, we have issued calls for contributions, and are partnering with a series of event, building our “Road to the Summit".
Themes & Topics
Organisation
17th - 21st February, 2025
New York, United States
10th Substantive Session – U.N. OEWG on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025
The 10th Substantive Session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICT Security in 2025 will focus on advancing critical discussions and finalizing key outcomes ahead of the group’s conclusion. This session will emphasize the operationalization of the Points of Contact (PoC) Directory and strengthening capacity-building initiatives.
A significant focus will be placed on discussing norms for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. The session will continue conversations on the applicability of international law in ICT security, striving for consensus on how existing legal frameworks apply to state activities in cyberspace.
The participation of non-state stakeholders will also be a central issue, as the accreditation procedure remains a key challenge. Enhanced participation from these stakeholders is critical for contributing to capacity building and sharing expertise.
As the OEWG nears its final phase, this session will set the stage for the comprehensive report and the transition to a permanent global mechanism for ICT security governance.
Organisation
14th - 16th January, 2025
Monte Carlo, Monaco
2025 TF-CSIRT Meeting & FIRST Regional Symposium Europe
The 2025 TF-CSIRT Meeting & FIRST Regional Symposium Europe is organized by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), will bring together cybersecurity experts from across Europe. The symposium features a balanced mix of management, technical, and hands-on components, offering plenary sessions and interactive training delivered by top security professionals.
Plenary sessions will address high-interest topics for FIRST members, focusing on regional issues and sensitive matters closely tied to the day-to-day work of participants. Key themes include Incident Response Strategies & Exercises, Threat Intelligence & Detection, the impact of Quantum Computing on Cybersecurity, and the importance of Psychological Safety in Cybersecurity. Training sessions will be tailored for small groups, ensuring hands-on learning and expert-led discussions on the latest security trends and tools. Additional topics such as SIM3 training, benchmarking malware sandbox detection accuracy, and practical cybersecurity tools will also be covered.
This symposium is open to both FIRST members and non-members from the incident response community.
15th-19th December 2024
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a global, open and inclusive platform for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on internet related issues, with special emphasis on the complementarity between all stakeholders involved. It was Established by the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2006. The mandates of the forum is to bring all stakeholders to address key challenges and opportunities in the digital era.
The meeting is held under the overarching theme of “Building our Multi-stakeholder Digital Future”.
IGF Riyadh 2024 Agenda is shaped according to the four main themes:
01. Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space.
02. Enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability.
03. Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age.
04. Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want.
18th December, 2024
Ryhad, Saudi Arabia
IGF 2024 WS #190 Securing critical infrastructure in cyber: Who and how?
As part of the Internet Governance Forum 2024 (IGF) in Riyadh and aligned with the pillar for enhancing the digital contribution to peace development and stability, this roundtable session brings together diverse stakeholders to address critical policy questions on safeguarding critical infrastructure. Moderated by Vladimir Radunovic and Anastasiya Kazakova, with support from rapporteur Bojana Kovac, the session is organized in a 90-minute roundtable format, emphasizing inclusivity and dynamic engagement through a circular seating arrangement and scenario-based interactions.
Participants explore strategies to strengthen international cooperation on minimum cybersecurity measures, integrate emerging technologies like AI into existing protection frameworks, and enhance information sharing across stakeholders. Attendees actively contribute insights toward the next chapter of the Geneva Manual, focusing on implementing cyber norms and confidence-building measures (CBMs), identifying challenges, and highlighting best practices.
Key outcomes include the development of an implementation checklist for norms and CBMs, actionable recommendations for critical infrastructure protection, and a deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities of non-state stakeholders. The session equips participants with practical tools and knowledge to enhance cybersecurity and resilience, encouraging collaboration and innovation in addressing evolving cyber threats.
2nd-6th December, 2024
New York, United States
9th Substantive Session – U.N. OEWG on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025
The 9th Substantive Session of the U.N. Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (2021-2025) is convened in accordance with the letter on the Proposed Schedule of OEWG Meetings 2023-2025 from Burhan Gafoor, Chair of the OEWG and representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the U.N., sent on 17 August 2023.
In 2020, the General Assembly through resolution 75/240, established a new five-year open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025. The group is mandated to further develop the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of States; to consider initiatives of States aimed at ensuring security in the use of information and communications technologies; to establish, under the auspices of the United Nations, regular institutional dialogue with the broad participation of States; to continue to study, with a view to promoting common understandings, existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security, inter alia, data security, and possible cooperative measures to prevent and counter such threats, and how international law applies to the use of information and communications technologies by States, as well as confidence-building measures and capacity-building.
28th November, 2024
Livingstone, Zambia
2024 FIRST & AfricaCERT Symposium: Africa and Arab Regions
The 2024 FIRST & AfricaCERT Symposium for the African and Arab Regions will take place from November 26–28, 2024, at the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort in Livingstone, Zambia. This event is co-hosted by AfricaCERT, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).
The symposium will welcome global FIRST Member Teams and CSIRTs from the African and Arab regions, alongside network operators, anti-abuse teams, and other security professionals from these regions.
26th - 28th November, 2024
Ryhad, Saudi Arabia
Black Hat Middle East & Africa
Black Hat Middle East and Africa is a leading cybersecurity conference and exhibition held in Riyadh, KSA. The event brings together cybersecurity professionals, cutting-edge technologies, solution providers, and decision-makers from around the world, condensing several months of networking into just three days.
