About Project
Connecting the UN Global Mechanism with the wider community working on cyberspace in practice.
A Bridge in Both Directions
Cyberspace underpins daily life, from hospitals and power grids to banking, transport and communications. It is also increasingly exploited for malicious operations against the infrastructure on which these services depend, with consequences for economies, national security and people's livelihoods.
States have spent two decades negotiating how to behave responsibly in cyberspace, and have now established a permanent forum to continue that work. The Global Mechanism (GMech) is the United Nations' first permanent intergovernmental process dedicated to responsible State behaviour in cyberspace.
Non-governmental stakeholders play a critical role in governing cyberspace, yet the routes through which their expertise can meaningfully contribute to these multilateral processes remain narrow.
Cyber Meridian is an initiative that was established to strengthen multistakeholder engagement with the GMech, serving as a bridge between governments and the wider community of technical experts, industry, civil society and academia. The connection runs in both directions.
Into the GMech
Cyber Meridian brings practical experience, technical expertise and evidence from across regions, sectors and communities, particularly those that have had limited engagement with UN cyber processes.
Out from the GMech
It helps practitioners and stakeholders better understand States' priorities, concerns and areas of convergence, making intergovernmental discussions more accessible and relevant to those working on cyberspace in practice.
The aim is not simply to increase stakeholder participation. It is to strengthen the connection between international cyber diplomacy and the technical, operational and societal realities of cyberspace.
How It Works
Cyber Meridian follows the GMech's annual cycle so that expertise reaches delegations at critical junctures in the discussions.
1. Cyber Diplomacy Trends Survey
An annual survey explores how States and stakeholders see the direction of the process, what delegations need and where the wider community sees opportunities to contribute.
2. Global Consultations
Global consultations take place ahead of each Dedicated Thematic Group (DTG) cycle and plenary session, focusing on the themes States are due to discuss. Operators, incident responders, researchers, legal practitioners and civil society organizations contribute practical experience and evidence from across regions and sectors.
3. Evidence for Delegations
Consultation findings, complemented by targeted research, are distilled into concise reports. These are shared directly with delegations and published on both the Cyber Meridian and GMech websites.
4. Technical Briefings
Alongside official sessions, Cyber Meridian convenes briefings where those who build, operate and defend the systems under discussion can speak directly with the delegations negotiating about them.
5. Broadening Participation
Targeted outreach widens participation in the process by bringing in perspectives from under-represented regions and from industry and operators new to UN cyber discussions, with particular attention to gender diversity. Annual training helps those unfamiliar with the process engage effectively.
Cyber Meridian is funded by Global Affairs Canada.