Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea were invited to join the Convention on Cybercrime during the 1509th Ministers’ Deputies meeting. This five-year invitation aims to strengthen support for these nations through the Council of Europe’s capacity-building projects, increasing the number of participating states within the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) to 96.
On October 9, 2024, during the 1509th Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea were formally invited to accede to the Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention. This invitation is valid for five years and stems from ongoing capacity-building initiatives supported by the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC). The accession of these nations will enable them to receive enhanced assistance through the GLACY-e and Octopus Projects, fostering improvements in their cybercrime legal frameworks.
With the addition of Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea, the total number of states that are either Parties or have signed the Convention now stands at 76, with an additional two nations having signed and 18 extended invitations to accede. Consequently, there are a total of 96 countries participating as Parties or observers within the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY), underscoring the global commitment to establishing robust cybercrime laws and cooperation among nations.
The Convention on Cybercrime, commonly referred to as the Budapest Convention, is the first international treaty aimed at addressing internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. Introduced in Budapest in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, the Convention plays a critical role in responding to the growing threats posed by cybercrime. The invitation extended to Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea is part of broader efforts by the Council of Europe to bolster global cybersecurity capacity and promote effective legal frameworks in the digital space.
In summary, the recent invitation for Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea to accede to the Budapest Convention represents a significant step in advancing international collaboration in combating cybercrime. This initiative, supported by capacity-building projects from the Council of Europe, illustrates a continuing commitment to enhance legal and institutional frameworks worldwide. With these new invitees, the participation in the Convention shows promising growth in global cybersecurity efforts.
Original Source: www.coe.int
