The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Committee on Peace andInternational Security gathered in Hanoi on March 29 to discuss adraft resolution on cyber warfare, which has become a serious threat topeace and global security.

Participants at the event,organised as part of the on-going 132nd IPU Assembly in Hanoi ,agreed that the increasing use of the internet and interconnectedcomputer systems have resulted in a sharp rise in the number of cyberattacks. Today, almost every political, economic or military conflictentails a cybernetic component, they concurred.

Speakingat the meeting, Vu Xuan Hong, Chairman of the Vietnam Union ofFriendship Organisations, said Vietnam has built a legal frameworkin the field, including laws on telecommunications, radio frequencies,information technology, and science and technology. The country is alsoto issue a Law on Information Security, he added.

Vietnam has actively joined in developing resolutions at internationalconferences in the field, particularly relating to information safety.

The Vietnamese representative suggested that the IPU issue a jointstatement calling for every country to commit to avoid the use of cyberwarfare in any form against other nations.

The UnitedNations should promptly build an international convention ensuring cybersecurity and safety, stated Hong, adding that member countries shouldincrease cooperation in personnel training and share more information onpreventing and combating cyber crime.

He also argued thatIPU member countries should strengthen capacity building to ensureinformation security by developing a legal basis defining the rights andresponsibilities of individuals and organisations participating inonline activities.

A resolution on “cyber warfare – a serious threat to peace and global security” is expected to be passed on March 31.-VNA