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An Agenda for Change, A Global Strategy

The High-Level Experts Group on Cybersecurity (HLEG)

Vital for the development and implementation of the Global Cybersecurity Agenda is the creation of a multi-stakeholder High-Level Experts Group on Cybersecurity (HLEG). HLEG will comprise a group of high-level government officials, leading industry experts, relevant regional/international organizations, research institutes, academic institutions and individual experts from every part of the world appointed by the Secretary General of ITU.

HLEG’s mandate would be to analyse current developments in cybersecurity, including both threats and state-of-the-art solutions, anticipate emerging and future challenges, identify strategic options, and formulate proposals to the ITU Secretary-General. It would be operational for a period of two years.

HLEG will be among the bodies providing expert advice to the Secretary-General for consideration in refining the main goals of GCA. In this advisory capacity HLEG does not make proposals to existing ITU organs such as World Conferences, Council, World Telecommunication Policy Forum, the three Sectors or their Study Groups.

To further develop the Global Cybersecurity Agenda, by proposing refinements to its main goals. 

To develop and propose concrete strategies for achieving the main goals of the Global Cybersecurity Agenda in the form of reports or briefing papers, technical know-how, knowledge and expertise relating to different aspects of cybersecurity.

To provide guidance on possible long-term strategies and emerging trends in cybersecurity.
 

Members of the HLEG will be nominated by the ITU Secretary-General, with due consideration to both geographical diversity and expertise in the five pillars or work areas of the Global Cybersecurity Agenda. General features and characteristics of HLEG include:

A global multi-stakeholder think-tank made up of leading industry players, governments, relevant regional/international organizations, research institutes, academic institutions and individual experts. 

Senior experts will represent governments, industry and other entities.

To ensure balance in the membership of HLEG its members will be nominated as follows:

3. Relationship Between ITU Secretary-General and HLEG

ITU is responsible for establishing the broad goals and priority areas for action under the Global Cybersecurity Agenda. The role of HLEG is to submit recommendations, reports and proposals to ITU Secretary-General. Their refinement, validation and eventual implementation (in accordance with ITU working methods) will be the sole responsibility of the relevant ITU Sectors. Each Sector will consider the output of HLEG within the context of its mandate and in accordance with the Constitution and Convention of the ITU. This approach will, ensure that any action items can be effectively implemented by ITU with the support of its Member States, partners and other relevant stakeholders.

ITU will provide meeting facilities and secretarial support for HLEG, in addition to online working tools. ITU will host annual meetings in Geneva, where the HLEG will present its progress report on tackling the challenges set out in the Agenda. HLEG will be assisted by ITU Secretariat and will be guided in its work by the mandate of the ITU and its role as facilitator for the implementation of WSIS Action Line C5. HLEG will also draw upon existing expertise within ITU and its relevant structures, including the Bureaux, study groups, focus groups and work programmes.

The work of HLEG will be funded primarily through voluntary contributions. It is expected that HLEG will complete its work within two years of the date of its inception.

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