BRICS Declaration supports UN role for cyber-norms

Leaders of the BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) adopted a joint Declaration of their meeting in Xiamen, China. The Declaration expresses support to the central role of the UN with regards to developing norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, and re-confirms the principles of the International law as in the UN Charter – especially related to sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-interference, and human rights and freedoms. The BRICS leaders call again for a UN-based universal regularity binding instrument on combatting cybercrime, and invite for enhanced international cooperation against terrorist use of ICT. The Declaration also announces a BRICS Roadmap of Practical Cooperation on Ensuring Security in the use of ICTs, and the future BRICS intergovernmental agreement. In addition, the leaders advocate for the establishment of internationally applicable rules for security of ICT infrastructure, data protection and the Internet that can be widely accepted by all parties concerned, and jointly build a network that is safe and secure.