by Lasantha De Alwis Head of Corporate Services of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (the Commonwealth agency mandated in the field of ICTs) mail: l.dealwis@cto.int

1. Emancipating, Enriching, Equalising
and Empowering through the use of
ICTs
The Role of the Commonwealth in
Cyberspace
30 October 2013

2. The Commonwealth
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54 Member Countries
Nearly a third of the World’s population
Combined GDP over £5 trillion
Mobile subscriptions ranging from 5% to 185%,
with an average of 84%
Fixed telephone lines ranging from 0.3% to
60%, with an average of 18%
Internet usage ranging from 1% to 85%, with
an average of 28%
A thriving hub of technology innovations and
possibly the largest ICT market in the world
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3. The CTO
• Set up in 1901
• The oldest and the largest Commonwealth organisation in the field
of ICTs
• support members in using ICTs to deliver effective development
interventions that enrich, empower, equalise and emancipate all
peoples within the Commonwealth and beyond
• Traditional core activities
• Research & consultancy
• Capacity development & training
• Events & conferences
• Cybergovernance and Cybersecurity are focus areas under the
strategic plan of 2012-16
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4. Context
• Cyberspace generates enormous social and economic
benefits
• Cyber population is growing
– Improving connectivity – national and international
– Broadband Commission & A4AI on promoting Broadband
• Meeting place of different people & cultures, views &
approaches
• Requires fostering entrepreneurship and innovation while
protecting freedom and liberty
• Where to strike the balance?
• Multi jurisdictional - Both national and international
aspects - interlinked
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5. Cybergovernance
conceptualised
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6. e-Bay - Community Action in
Cybergovernance
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Population exceeded 100 million by end 2011
Commercially driven community
Multi jurisdictional
Operates on the basis of voluntary compliance
Motivation - Need to belong
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7. Divergence
• Multistakeholder approach Vs. State-driven
• Voluntary norms Vs Treaty based
• Brought to sharp contrast at the World Conference on
International Telecommunications (WCIT) in December 2012
in Dubai
• Some concerns about the role of the State in Governing the
Cyberspace through International Telecommunications
Regulations.
• Disagreement over “resolving to instruct the SecretaryGeneral to continue to take the necessary steps for ITU to
play an active and constructive role”
• Apparently so far 89 signatories out of 190 signatories
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8. Commonwealth in
Cybergovernance
• Commonwealth has a role to play
• Based on the Commonwealth Values agreed at the Singapore
CHOGM in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991
• Detailed in the Commonwealth Charter of 2013
(http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/docum
ents/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf), particularly
– respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to
development
– commitment to remove disparities and unequal living standards
as guided by internationally agreed development goals
– recognise the importance of ICTs as instruments of
development ......... as well as for ........... sharing of cultures,
while enhancing security.
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9. CTO’s approach to
Cybergovernance
Develop a set of principles
Based on Commonwealth principles
Arrived through consensus
Involving consultations of a range of stakeholders policy makers, regulators, ICT implementing agencies,
CERTs etc
• Leveraging the strengths of developed countries to
assist developing countries
• That may eventually expand beyond the Commonwealth
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10. CTO’s Principles of
Cybergovernance
Foster innovation, freedom and understanding
Contribute to economic development
Enable social interactions
Recognise legitimate economic, cultural and security
concerns of members
• Promote multistakeholder partnerships
• Facilitate Pan-Commonwealth consultations and
international linkages
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11. Progress – so far
• The first consultation of ICT policy makers and
regulators was held on 9th and 10th October 2013 in
Abuja, Nigeria
• Delegates from over 20 Commonwealth countries
– decided that the CTO should take the lead in
developing the Commonwealth Cybergovernance
Model
– committed to support the initiative
Issued the Abuja Declaration
http://www.cto.int/focus-themes/cybersecurity/
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12. Next Steps
• A series of regional consultations
• Starting with a Caribbean Ministerial
Consultation on 5th December 2013 in Jamaica
in the margins of the Caribbean
Telecommunication Union’s Ministerial meeting
• Culminating in the Commonwealth ICT Minister’s
meeting at the Marlborough House in London on
3 – 4 March 2014 where the principles will be
debated and, if thought fit, adopted.
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13. Aims & Objectives
• Create a standard all can subscribe to, resulting
in better international cooperation and
coordination
• Act as a beacon for non-Commonwealth
countries
• Provide an assurance to countries that extend
assistance that their aid is properly used
In order to make the Cyberspace a thriving,
innovative and rewarding place
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14. How to get involved
• Take part in the consultations – when
invited
• Join related activities – Cybersecurity
Forum 2014 in London (5 – 7 March 2014)
• Participate in capacity building in Cyberrelated subjects through CTO
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15. Lasantha De Alwis
Director/Head of Operations Department
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
94-66, Glenthorne Road, Hammersmith, UK
+44(0)208 600 3814
l.dealwis@cto.int
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