Abstract
<jats:p>From 2021 to 2025, the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) played a central role in advancing the Framework for responsible state behaviour in the ICT environment. Over the course of its mandate, the OEWG adopted three annual progress reports and a final report. These outcomes helped further develop the existing framework and led to the establishment of a new permanent forum: the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs. In addition, the OEWG discussions also generated substantial material on how UN Member States addressed key issues related to ICTs and international security, which were not captured in the agreed reports. This report provides an analysis of the evolution of the process and a detailed account of those discussions, including major themes and trends, across the main pillars of the framework: threats, rules, norms and principles, international law, confidence-building measures, capacity-building, and regular institutional dialogue.</jats:p>