Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea have been invited to join the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. This invitation, valid for five years, results from capacity-building projects by the Council of Europe. With these changes, a total of 96 states are now involved in the Cybercrime Convention Committee.
On October 9, 2024, at the 1509th Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea received invitations to accede to the Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention. This invitation, which remains valid for five years from the date of its adoption, is a culmination of capacity-building initiatives facilitated by the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC). Acceptance of this invitation will enhance the support offered by the Council of Europe through its GLACY-e and Octopus Project initiatives. Following these invitations, there are now 76 states that have officially become Parties to the Convention, while two additional states have signed it, and 18 are on the list of invitees. This increases the total participation in the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) to 96 states, which includes both Parties and observers.
The Convention on Cybercrime, commonly referred to as the Budapest Convention, is an important international treaty aimed at combating cybercrime through enhanced cooperation between countries. The Council of Europe established the conference in 2001 and has continually promoted its accession among nations with the aim of developing a unified framework for addressing cyber threats. Recent efforts have included capacity building through various projects which provide technical assistance and resources to member states, facilitating their integration into the cybercrime legal framework.
In summary, the invitation extended to Kenya, Malawi, and Papua New Guinea to accede to the Budapest Convention marks a significant step in the global fight against cybercrime. This development underscores the importance of international cooperation and the role of the Council of Europe in supporting countries to enhance their cybercrime legislative frameworks. As more states join this convention, the collective response to cybercrime will undoubtedly become more robust and effective.
Original Source: www.coe.int
