UNIS/CP/1183
24 December 2024

Statement by Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly:

Adoption of UN Convention against Cybercrime: Strengthening international cooperation for combating certain crimes committed by means of information and communications technology systems and for the sharing of evidence in electronic form of serious crimes.

24 December 2024

I welcome the landmark adoption of a new international convention on cybercrime by the United Nations General Assembly.

This remarkable step represents the first UN international legal instrument on crime-related issues in over 20 years, and it comes at exactly the right time.

Technology is transformative and is building remarkable bridges across borders and barriers, and opening new pathways for humanity.

But cybercriminals are misusing those advances, and cybercrime is becoming more pervasive and destructive every day.

In this age of artificial intelligence, blockchain encryption, and digitized services, cybercrime is finding new spaces to exploit.

It is giving rise to new forms of crime, amplifying traditional forms of crime, and disrupting economies and industries.

It is targeting the most vulnerable and undermining the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is eroding trust in our digital infrastructure, our institutions, and in each other, and it is moving across jurisdictions like never before.

The need for cooperation and action has never been greater.

That is why the new international convention on cybercrime is a landmark step.

The new convention is a basis for more effective criminal laws and procedures, as well as stronger international cooperation.

It will also provide a roadmap for preventive measures and technical assistance.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is ready to work with countries and partners to put this important convention into action.

By safeguarding digital spaces, we can build a safer world for all.

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