On 23 November 2023, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully hosted a Cybersecurity/ICT Fair in Sarajevo. The primary goal of the event was to increase awareness and networking possibilities among stakeholders from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the surrounding region, including the public sector, businesses, academia, women, and youth. This distinctive platform serves as a crucial space for professionals and decision-makers to exchange best practices while supporting increased collaboration in the field of cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the meaningful participation of women and youth.
Bradley Shelton, Senior Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH, underlined the event’s inclusive tone, emphasizing the organization’s firm belief in the significance of collaboration among a wide range of participants: “Most of us are well aware of the enormous benefits and possibilities afforded by digital technology. Nevertheless, we frequently lack awareness about the threats that its poor management poses to human rights, safety, and security.”
The event stressed the urgent need for a collaborative effort to address cybersecurity concerns, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement. The fair provided a platform for participants to explore opportunities for co-operation, share insights, and develop relationships that would help to safeguard a more secure digital landscape.
The Cybersecurity/ICT Fair is part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s broader initiative and commitment to enhancing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity in proactively preventing and effectively responding to security threats originating from cyberspace, in line with its international commitments as an OSCE participating State. Support for the development of a comprehensive cybersecurity framework strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the establishment of dedicated Computer Emergency Response Teams, is crucial to these efforts.
