UN Secretary-General Calls for Collective Action Against Cybercrime

Strategic Insights -

In a historic ceremony in Hanoi on October 25, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the UN Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) as a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen collective defences against cybercrime, while addressing its signing ceremony in Hanoi. The Convention is a first-of-its-kind criminal justice treaty in more than two decades, delivering a number of major breakthroughs in addressing the increasing menace of cybercrime.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen collective defences against cybercrime, and address its signing ceremony in Hanoi.
  • The Convention delivers a number of major breakthroughs, including the sharing of digital evidence across borders, and the recognition of non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as a criminal offence.
  • The Convention encourages strong protections for victims of online abuse, including access to recovery, compensation, and the removal of illicit content.
  • The Convention turns commitments into practical safeguards, complementing the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, which seek to bridge the digital divide, and strengthen global digital cooperation.
  • The Convention's implementation must be ratified and entered into force, without delay; and lived up to every day, by every party.
  • The UN will help countries bring the Convention into force, build capacity, strengthen investigations, and deepen cooperation across borders through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Office of Legal Affairs.

Statistics:

  • Five years of complex negotiations between Member States resulted in the delivery of the UN Cybercrime Convention.
  • The Convention provides a clear pathway for investigators and prosecutors to overcome the barrier of sharing digital evidence across borders.
  • The Convention recognises non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as a criminal offence for the first time in any international treaty.
  • The digital age has become fertile ground for criminals to commit cybercrimes with unprecedented reach and speed, causing billions of dollars in losses and real-world harm.

Sources:

  • United Nations
  • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
  • Hanoi Convention (UN Convention against Cybercrime)