In 2022, the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) 2021-2025 agreed to establish, building on work already done at the regional level, a global, intergovernmental, points of contact (POC) Directory, with the main objective to “[e]nhance interaction and cooperation between States, and in doing so, promote international peace and security as well as increase transparency and predictability.” The establishment of the Directory was welcomed by the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution 78/237.
The Directory is designed to enable UN Member States to establish secure and direct communications on information and communications technology (ICT) incidents, including those affecting critical infrastructure, thus potentially de-escalating tensions and preventing conflicts in digital sphere. Since the official launch in May 2024, more than 120 countries have joined the Directory and nominated their national POCs.
The Directory “will serve as a voluntary standing tool for use by States” within the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs, in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs. The Global Mechanism, a permanent UN body dedicated to advancing relevant multilateral discussions, will commence its work in March 2026. Moreover, States agreed to continue developing and operationalizing the Directory under the auspices of the Global Mechanism, “based on experience from its operationalization.”
UNIDIR will organize an event dedicated to the Directory at the margins of the eightyth session of the UN First Committee, focusing on how to further improve the Directory. After more than a year since the establishment of the Directory, the event in question will aim to collect diverse national experiences participating in the Directory and seek suggestions for its improvement or further development, including in the context of the Global Mechanism.
When and where
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 13:15 – 14:30 EDT, UN, New York (Room CR6).
A light lunch will be served at the Vienna Café 15 min prior to the event.
RSVP
Registration is mandatory for participation. Kindly register by 12 October. Details to access the event online will be emailed to registered participants one day prior to the event.
Further information
For further information or questions, please contact sectec-unidir@un.org.
Funding
Support from UNIDIR’s core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute’s activities. Dedicated financial support for this event was provided by the Government of the Russian Federation.
