Statement by Philip Reitinger, President & CEO of the Global Cyber Alliance, at OEWG ICTs, 9th Substantive Session, Dedicated Stakeholder Segment. Wednesday 5 December 2024, 3 pm. UN Headquarters, New York.
Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates and stakeholders,
My name is Philip Reitinger, and I am the President of the Global Cyber Alliance. GCA is an international nonprofit that is focused on delivering a secure, trustworthy Internet that enables social and economic progress for all. Thank you for the opportunity to present. We commend the efforts of the OEWG to promote a more secure and stable cyberspace through dialogue, collaboration, and mutual trust.
On behalf of the Common Good Cyber Secretariat, I would like to draw attention to an essential pillar of global cybersecurity: the role of nonprofit organizations in building capacity and protecting everyone online. Nonprofit organizations tirelessly work behind the scenes to safeguard the Internet and high-risk communities, often with minimal resources.
The roles played by these organizations are many.
- Nonprofits provide neutral platforms for diverse stakeholders—including governments, industry, and civil society—to collaborate effectively on addressing systemic cybersecurity challenges.
- Nonprofits play a key role in innovating and scaling practical cybersecurity solutions that address global needs, allowing under-resourced government agencies, small businesses and civil society organizations to operate safely and securely.
- Nonprofits are deeply involved in building cyber resilience, particularly in developing countries and underserved communities.
- And guided by principles of the common good, nonprofits champion ethical approaches to cybersecurity.
Examples include the GCA Toolkit for Mission-Based Organisations, which offers a collection of free-to-user resources removing the financial barrier to cybersecurity solutions. Another example is CyberPeace Builders, which matches technical needs with expertise, removing the barrier to skilled workforce.
In light of these contributions, a coalition of cybersecurity nonprofits launched the Common Good Cyber initiative to ensure that the role of nonprofits is adequately recognized, leveraged and supported within the global ecosystem. You can learn more at commongoodcyber.org.
This Friday, on December 6, 2024, the Global Cyber Alliance will convene the OEWG community at a side-event on “The Role of Nonprofits in Cybersecurity” between 13:15 and 14:30 at CR-7. Lunch will be provided from 12:30 to 13:15 at the Vienna Café. We welcome all stakeholders to attend to learn about and discuss these issues in more detail.
