UN General Assembly Approves Pioneering Cybercrime Convention

For informational purposes only – not an official document

UNIS/CP/1184
24 December 2024

NEW YORK/VIENNA, 24 December (UN Information Service) – The United Nations General Assembly has today ratified a new treaty aimed at preventing and addressing cybercrime, culminating a negotiation process that spanned five years.

The UN Convention against Cybercrime seeks to more effectively prevent and combat cybercrime through enhanced international collaboration and by offering technical support and capacity-building assistance, particularly aimed at developing nations.

“We exist in a digital era, where information and communication technologies present vast opportunities for societal progress, yet also heighten the risk of cybercrime. With the endorsement of this Convention, Member States possess the tools and resources necessary to bolster international collaboration in preventing and combating cybercrime, thus safeguarding individuals and their rights online,” remarked the President of the UN General Assembly Philémon Yang.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) acted as the secretariat throughout the discussions. 

“The approval of this significant convention represents a substantial triumph for multilateralism, marking the first global anti-crime accord in two decades. It constitutes a vital advancement in our mission to tackle crimes such as online child exploitation, sophisticated internet fraud, and money laundering,” noted UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.

“In the contemporary digital landscape, cybercrime is increasingly ubiquitous and harmful, prey upon the susceptible and costing our economies trillions annually,” she continued. “UNODC is prepared to support Member States in signing, ratifying, and executing this novel treaty by equipping nations with the resources, assistance, and capacity-building support required to shield their economies and protect the digital realm from cybercrime.”

The General Assembly passed the resolution without a vote. UN Member States, incorporating insights from civil society, academia, and the private sector, had deliberated on the text for over five years.

The Convention will be available for signing at a formal event to be held by Viet Nam in 2025 and will take effect 90 days following ratification by the 40th signatory.

UNODC will maintain its role as the secretariat to the Ad Hoc Committee, tasked with negotiating a draft protocol to augment the Convention, as well as for the upcoming Conference of the States Parties.

To view the full text of the Convention, click here.

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For additional information, please contact:

Sonya Yee
Chief, UNODC Advocacy Section
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: unodc-press[at]un.org