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Empowering Women for Cyber Tech

01.10.2024

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Empowering women for CyberTech is one of the strategic objectives of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C). By joining forces with our partners Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za informacijsko varnost, CEP - Centre for European Perspective, Women4Cyber Slovenia and Women4Cyber Montenegro we worked with women from different industries and administrations across the region on understanding the political, economic, societal and technical context in which cyber threats occur and empowering them to champion, lead and develop new talent for the cyber industry. 

Over the two days, from 29 September to 1 October, 18 women cyber experts from the public and private sectors from the Western Balkans, gathered at WB3C for a workshop to learn, share knowledge and discuss gender based crimes that occur in the digital space and how to stay safe. We covered a number of topics, from understanding the context which gives rise to cybercrime, to raising awareness, developing and empowering new talent for cyber tech and leveraging the existing expertise and leadership we have among women in the region, to champion women's greater participation and leadership in this industry.  

By working in partnership with leading organizations specializing in women4cyber, we reinforce the importance of regional and international cooperation in tackiling cybercrime and building our collective response to growing cyber threats in the Western Balkans region and globally.


OSINT Training for Law Enforcement

Today, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) launched a specialized training program designed to equip law enforcement professionals from the Western Balkans with practical skills in open-source intelligence (OSINT) and digital investigations. The training is being led by Brigadier Chief Cyril C. of the French National Police, WB3C's in-house trainer, whose extensive expertise ensures participants gain valuable insights grounded in real-world investigative experience.

The program combines theoretical learning with practical exercises, enhancing participants' ability to identify threats, gather digital evidence in lawful ways and support informed decision-making. 

The training will address critical aspects of digital evidence preservation, security checks to prevent data leaks, and safe navigation of the darknet. 

Additionally, participants will develop skills in data collection and metadata analysis to extract valuable insights from publicly available information.
This initiative is designed for English-speaking law enforcement officers, particularly those attending WB3C training for the first time, reinforcing their capacity to address emerging digital threats.

European People's Party Visit to WB3C

Yesterday, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the European People's Party, led by Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Sahmanovic accompanied by State Secretary of the Ministry for Public Administration Dragisa Janjusevic and Aleksandar M. Andjic, Montenegro's National Coordinator for WB3C. 

Director of WB3C, Gilles Schwoerer, along with Katarina Zajec, Minister Counsellor at the Slovenian Embassy in Podgorica, greeted the delegation. They provided a tour of our facilities and presented an overview of WB3C's mission and ongoing initiatives. In addition, our cybercrime experts introduced the guests to WB3C's cyber investigations curriculum, highlighting how we are equipping participants with practical skills to address real-world cybercrime challenges.

During the visit, our guests expressed interest in learning more about WB3C’s partnerships and shared ideas on how these collaborations could be further leveraged with EU stakeholders to support cybersecurity efforts in the region. Their insights contributed to a productive and friendly exchange, reinforcing the importance of strong partnerships in advancing regional cyber resilience.

Balkan Cybersecurity Days 2025

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) has the pleasure of hosting the 3-day Balkan Cybersecurity Days 2025 conference, co-organized by DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance in collaboration with CIRT.ME and supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This conference reflects WB3C’s ongoing partnership with DCAF, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening cybersecurity capabilities across the Western Balkans.

The conference opened yesterday at the Naučno-tehnološki park Crne Gore / Science Technology Park of Montenegro, bringing together around 150 cybersecurity professionals from across the region. Opening remarks were delivered by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, alongside British Ambassador Dawn McKen and Montenegrin Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj, whose Ministry is leading on the digital and cyber agenda in Montenegro. Franziska Klopfer, Principal Programme Manager at DCAF, and Serge Droz, Member of the Board of Directors at FIRST, also shared their perspectives on strengthening partnerships and enhancing cyber resilience.

In his address, Gilles Schwoerer highlighted WB3C’s central role in providing sustainable, long-term capacity building to the region across three pillars: cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyberdiplomacy, but also our role in strengthening regional cooperation and supporting the EU alignment process for all Western Balkans administrations. 

Over the three days, the conference will continue with expert-led discussions and specialized training sessions designed to equip participants with practical skills in addressing emerging cybersecurity challenges.


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Disclaimer: Translations of the original content written in English into other languages are AI generated by Weglot.