Background
Resolution 40-11, adopted by the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly, stipulated that ICAO should continue developing tools to enhance security awareness and security culture. It identified security culture as a top priority and designated 2020 as the Year of Security Culture (YOSC).
With the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacting aviation in 2020, the ICAO Council decided to extend the YOSC to 2021.
Additionally, the year 2021 commemorated the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, the worst act of unlawful interference in the history of aviation. The importance of understanding the threat to aviation and promoting best practices in security throughout all aviation operations remained imperative.
Aims and Objectives
In order to ensure the success of the YOSC, ICAO focused on the following priority activities:
- Execute a global security culture campaign, which will support the organization of national, regional and global events to raise security awareness in aviation;
- Intensify collaboration with States and industry in supporting efforts to promote security culture in the greater aviation community, where security is everyone's responsibility;
- Issue relevant guidance on practical security culture communication strategies, plans and campaigns; and
- Continue to offer training and assistance focused on promoting an effective and sustainable security culture within all organizations involved in civil aviation.
Global Involvement
States, the United Nations family, International and Regional Organizations and industry were encouraged to support and promote the YOSC. All were invited to share security culture best practices; for example guidance material, toolkits, e-learning tools, short films, pamphlets and articles that establish and encourage a positive security culture.
All were also encouraged to support the implementation and delivery of practical security culture events and initiatives throughout 2021 and beyond in aviation operations.
