TMCnet News
ITU: ITUaEUR(TM)s Asia-Pacific Regional Cybersecurity Forum Urges International Cooperation Against CybercrimeHyderabad, India, Sep 24, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- ITU's Regional Cybersecurity Forum for the Asia-Pacific region opened today in , with the aim of reinforcing international cooperation and developing a harmonized approach to combating cybercrime. Hosted by India's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, with the support of the government of Australia through its Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), the event brings together 120 participants from 19 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, to discuss and debate issues related to building cybersecurity capacity. The Forum was opened by Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, and the Indian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Thiru A. Raja. Mr Al Basheer expressed his hope that the event would succeed in promoting increased cooperation and coordination among different stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region. He noted the progress already made in international collaboration through the signing of an important MoU between ITU and the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) last year, which is making state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures and early warning systems available to ITU Members. IMPACT's Global Response Centre helps nations identify potential cyber threats, and the organization also offers a range of tools to help countries establish national Computer Incident Response Teams. "These services allow countries to prepare themselves against cyber threats, while at the same timing ensuring coordination and cooperation at the national and international levels," said Mr Al Basheer. More than 30 countries around the world have already joined the ITU-IMPACT initiative, and administrations present at the forum were actively encouraged to become members. As more countries join together to fight the rising tide of cyberthreats, cybercriminals will no longer be able to easily exploit the current widespread lack of preparedness, cooperation and collaboration. In his inaugural address to forum delegates Mr Raja stressed the need for a coordinated international approach. "I am hopeful that the deliberations at this forum will open up the new chapter of cooperation and set an example for collaborative action across the world that our region would like to emulate." he said. The latest in a series of ITU Regional Cybersecurity Forums held in all world regions over the past few years, the event also provides focused training on developing national cybersecurity strategies; on building 'national watch' programmes, early warning and incident response capabilities; and on issues surrounding the drafting or reviewing of legislation aimed at criminalizing the misuse of ICTs. The Asia Pacific Regional Cybersecurity Forum is taking place just two weeks before the opening of ITU TELECOM WORLD in Geneva, where cybersecurity and child online safety are also high on the agenda. At this event, which is expected to attract many Heads of State, Heads of Government and industry leaders, along with over 300 exhibitors from over 40 countries, experts will come together to consider best practices, share information on cybersecurity development activities, and learn about activities coordinated by ITU and other entities aimed at building cybersecurity capacity in their region. For more details on the ITU Regional Cybersecurity Forum for Asia Pacific website see www.itu.int/ITU-D/cyb/events/2009/hyderabad/ For more information, please contact: Sarah Parkes Senior Media Relations Officer ITU Tel: +41 79 599 1439 E-mail: [email protected] Souheil Marine Head, ICT Applications and Cybersecurity ITU Tel: +41 22 730 5323 E-mail: [email protected] About ITU ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For nearly 145 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems and addressed the global challenges of our times, such as mitigating climate change and strengthening cybersecurity. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums, such as ITU TELECOM WORLD, bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications and ICT industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world. From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from convergence in fixed- mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice and TV broadcasting to next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world. Visit our Web site at http://www.itu.int/newsroom CONTACT: Sarah Parkes, Senior Media Relations Officer, ITU Tel: +41 79 599 1439 e-mail: [email protected] Souheil Marine Head, ICT Applications and Cybersecurity, ITU Tel: +41 22 730 5323 e-mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.itu.int ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. |