By Emeka Aginam
While calling for concerted efforts to combat cybercrime eating deep into the socio-economic fabric of nations of the world, participants at the just  international forum on Cybersecurity rose up from the conference outlining  effective responses to cybercrimes taking  place in the cyber world.

With about  100 participants from across the globe that  attended the forum  organized by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in conjunction with the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the UK Cabinet Office of Cyber Security (OCS),  the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Hon Ms. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, spoke about how cybercrime has evolved over the years and how the threat levels have increased.

She noted the importance attached by the Commonwealth governments to Cybersecurity and the mandate granted to the Secretariat to address Cyberscurity.

She re-affirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to keep pushing for an international cooperation in the fight against Cyber crime.

For Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the Chief Executive Office of the CTO while echoing  these sentiments noted that  CTO was  always keen to collaborate with sister agencies such as ITU in order to develop the capacity of its members to manage and develop their ICT sectors.

ICT enabling governance and society brings along with it associated risks requiring innovative strategies of which Cybersecurity is a key element.

That, according to him,  was the primary reason for the CTO to organise this forum even as the  the number of participants and the engagement of organsiations from both public and private sectors justifies the CTO’s decision to undertake the organising of such an event.

While delivering the key note address, Rt Hon Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Minister of State for Security and Counter-Terrorism, spoke of her commitment to tackling the complex issues surrounding cyber security, including Cyber-crime and Cyber-espionage.
She  stressed the critical importance of international cooperation by like-minded countries and the vital role of International organisations such as the UN-sponsored Internet Governance Forum, the International Telecommunications Union and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation itself.

In a brief remark, Rt Hon Alun Michael, UK Member of Parliament for Cardiff South & Penarth entreated governments across the world to wake up to the task of ensuring that Cyber crime is contained and prevented from thriving.

He was of the opinion that the Commonwealth is well placed to become a worthy example of international cooperation.

Representing industry Mr Tony Osborn, Symantec Security Expert, said “International discussion and dialogue plays an important role in addressing online threats which are maturing at an incredible pace. Symantec welcomes the opportunity to share our experiences and knowledge with those at the forefront of protecting online users across the world.”

Other participating companies from the industry included Research In Motion UK, IBM and Microsoft.
Among the key issues being covered are Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, Identity Theft and Child Protection and also strategies available to policy makers and regulators to address Cyber threats such as setting up organizational structures, promoting international cooperation and implementing legal and technical measures.

The speaker faculty represents a cross-section of global thought leaders representing International organisations, European and UK institutions, industry and importantly, developing countries.

A report of the CTO Cybersecurity Forum will be presented at a meeting of the Commonwealth IGF to be held during the Internet Governance Forum in Vilnius on 14-17 September 2010.

With a history dating back to 1901, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international development partnership between the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, businesses and civil society organisations. CTO provides the international community with effective means to help bridge the digital divide and achieve social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries unique knowledge-sharing programmes in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).