Allison Pytlak
Program Lead, Cyber Program, Stimson Center (website)
twitter: @a_pytlak
email: apytlak [at] stimson [dot] org
Program Lead, Cyber Program, Stimson Center (website)
twitter: @a_pytlak
email: apytlak [at] stimson [dot] org
cyber | gender
Allison Pytlak is the Program Lead of the Cyber Program at the Stimson Center. Her work in this area has examined inter-state cyber operations and international governance structures with a focus on United Nations (UN) processes and frameworks.
In her prior role with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Pytlak monitored and reported on the UN’s working group on state behavior on cyber space and played an important role as a liaison and advocate for civil society participation. She has researched, published, and provided numerous trainings about the gendered and human rights-based dimensions of cyber security and diplomacy.
Prior to joining Stimson, Pytlak managed WILPF’s disarmament program where she contributed to its monitoring and analysis of UN disarmament processes including on cyber security and advanced feminist perspectives on international security topics through research and advocacy. Pytlak has worked within international civil society disarmament networks for more than 15 years, including as former staff of the Control Arms Coalition and on the governance body of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
She holds an Honours B.A. in International Relations from the University of Toronto and an M.A., also in International Relations, from the City University of New York where her graduate research focused on inter-state cyber conflict. Pytlak is a 2018 UN Women Metro-NY “Champion of Change” and co-host of the podcast series “Think & Resist.”
Recent Publications:
Allison Pytlak is the Program Lead of the Cyber Program at the Stimson Center. Her work in this area has examined inter-state cyber operations and international governance structures with a focus on United Nations (UN) processes and frameworks.
In her prior role with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Pytlak monitored and reported on the UN’s working group on state behavior on cyber space and played an important role as a liaison and advocate for civil society participation. She has researched, published, and provided numerous trainings about the gendered and human rights-based dimensions of cyber security and diplomacy.
Prior to joining Stimson, Pytlak managed WILPF’s disarmament program where she contributed to its monitoring and analysis of UN disarmament processes including on cyber security and advanced feminist perspectives on international security topics through research and advocacy. Pytlak has worked within international civil society disarmament networks for more than 15 years, including as former staff of the Control Arms Coalition and on the governance body of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
She holds an Honours B.A. in International Relations from the University of Toronto and an M.A., also in International Relations, from the City University of New York where her graduate research focused on inter-state cyber conflict. Pytlak is a 2018 UN Women Metro-NY “Champion of Change” and co-host of the podcast series “Think & Resist.”
Recent Publications:
- "Reimagining Cyber Arms Control," Stimson Center, August 22, 2024.
- "Advancing Accountability in Cyberspace: Models, Mechanisms, and Multistakeholder Approaches," Stimson Center, July 2024. *
- "US Department of State Releases International Cyberspace and Digital Strategy," Stimson Centre, June 25, 2024. *
- "Addressing International Cyber Peace and Security - What Role for the UN Security Council?" Stimson Center, June 11 2024.
- Cyber Proposals with Allison Pytlak, ‘The Arms Control Poseur,’ a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme, May 2, 2024 (Recorded December 20, 2023).
- "The UN Security Council Discusses Cyber Threats to International Security," Stimson Center, April 15, 2024.*
- "First Committee Briefing Book 2023," Reaching Critical Will, September 2023. *
- "Discord and diplomacy: reviewing outcomes from the UN’s cyber working group," Stimson Center, August 14, 2023.
- "Striking the Right Balance: A Commentary on the Fourth Substantive Session of the OEWG on the ICTs," Directions blog, April 14, 2023. *
- "Download in Progress: Addressing the Gender Dimensions of Cyber Security," Stimson Center, March 8, 2023.
- "Exploring Human-Centric Cyber Security," Humanitarian Disarmament, February 6, 2023.
- "CCW Report, Vol. 10, No. 11," Reaching Critical Will, November 22, 2022.
- "First Committee briefing book 2022" Reaching Critical Will, September 16, 2022.*
- "Action, Accountability, and Ambition," Cyber Peace & Security Monitor, Reaching Critical Will, Vol. 2, No. 6, July 22, 2022.
- "Autonomous Weapons and Questions of Ethics, Control, and Accountability," CCW Report, Vol. 10, No. 4, June 3, 2022.*
- "Advancing a Global Cyber Programme of Action: Options and priorities," Reaching Critical Will, WILPF, May, 2022.
- "Report from the ATT working group and preparatory meetings: The Horrific Harms of Selling Arms," ATT Monitor, Reaching Critical Will, May 5, 2022.
- "Cyber Peace & Security Monitor: Vo. 2 No.," Reaching Critical Will, April 5, 2022.
- "Cyber Peace & Security Monitor, Vol. 2 No. 3," Reaching Critical Will, December 21, 2021.*
- "CCW Report, Vol. 9 No. 9," Reaching Critical Will, December 9, 2021.*
- "First Committee Monitor: Volume 19, No. 5," Reaching Critical Will, November 5, 2021.*
- "First Committee Monitor," Volume 19, No. 4, Reaching Critical Will, October 22, 2021.*
- "First Committee Monitor," Volume 19, No. 3, Reaching Critical Will, October 16, 2021.*
- "First Committee Monitor," Volume 19, No. 2, Reaching Critical Will, October 9, 2021.*
- "CCW Report," Volume 9, No. 7, Reaching Critical Will, October 4, 2021.*
- "First Committee Monitor," Volume 19, No. 1, Reaching Critical Will, October 3, 2021.*
- "CCW Report," Volume 9, No. 6, Reaching Critical Will, September 23, 2021.*
- "The Narrative Must Change: Prospects for the 2021 UNGA First Committee," Humanitarian Disarmament, September 22, 2021.
- "First Committee Briefing Book 2021," Reaching Critical Will, September 2021.*
- "Editorial: The fuel that perpetuates conflict," ATT Monitor, Vol. 14, No. 4, Reaching Critical Will, September 8, 2021.
- "Editorial: A world on fire," ATT Monitor Vol. 14 No. 4, August 27, 2021.
- "UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution on international arms transfers," ATT Monitor Vol. 14 No. 4, August 27, 2021.*
- "CCW Report Vol 9 Issue 4," Reaching Critical Will, August 14, 2021.*
- "Editorial: Act today for a better tomorrow," in Small Arms Monitor Vol. 11, Issue 2, Reaching Critical Will, August 4, 2021.
- "More of the Same, or Can Things Change? Prospects For BMS7," in Small Arms Monitor Vol. 11, Issue 1, Reaching Critical Will, July 25, 2021.
- "CCW Report," including "Editorial: The imperative of preventing autonomous violence," Reaching Critical Will, July 13, 2021.*
- "Editorial: Preventing diversion of attention," ATT Monitor, Vol. 14, No. 2, Reaching Critical Will, May 5, 2021.
- “Editorial: What will it take," ATT Monitor, Vol. 14, No. 1, Reaching Critical Will, April 25, 2021.
- "Programming Action: Observations From Small Arms Control For Cyber Peace," Reaching Critical Will, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, February 2021.
- "Who Rules Cyberspace? Engaging Civil Society," Chatham House (Podcast), November 12, 2020.
- "Cyber," First Committee Monitor, Vol. 18, No. 3, Reaching Critical Will, October 25, 2020.
- "The twists and turns of UN cyber diplomacy," First Committee Monitor, Vol. 18, No. 1, Reaching Critical Will, October 8, 2020.
* indicates additional authors