New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations General Assembly adopted , Tuesday, a new convention to prevent and combat cybercrime, at the end of a five-year negotiation process.
The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime aims to prevent and combat cybercrime more efficiently and effectively, including by enhancing international cooperation and providing technical assistance and capacity-building support, especially for developing countries. According to the United Nations daily news bulletin,
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, said: "With the adoption of this convention, Member States now have the tools and means to enhance international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime and protecting people and their rights online."
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime explained in a statement it published after the adoption of the convention that it served as the secretariat for the negotiations.
The Executive Director of the Office, Ghada Waly, said that the adoption of this historic convention is a major victory for multilateralism, and represents the first international treaty to combat crime in 20 years.
She stressed that it is a crucial step forward in efforts to address crimes such as online child sexual abuse, sophisticated online fraud and money laundering.
“In today’s digital age, cybercrime has become more widespread and destructive, exploiting the vulnerable and draining trillions of dollars from our economies each year,” she added.
The General Assembly adopted the resolution without a vote. Member States, with input from civil society, academia and the private sector, negotiated the text for more than five years.
The treaty will be opened for signature at a formal ceremony hosted by Viet Nam in 2025. It will enter into force 90 days after ratification by the 40th signatory.
Secretary-General welcomes adoption of the treaty
In a statement attributable to his Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the adoption of the treaty.
He said the treaty is a testament to the success of multilateralism in difficult times and reflects the collective will of Member States to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat cybercrime.
He added that the treaty creates an unprecedented platform for cooperation in the exchange of electronic evidence, victim protection and prevention, while ensuring the protection of human rights online.
The UN chief expressed confidence that the new treaty will strengthen a secure cyberspace. He called on all States to join and implement the Convention in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.