Cybercrime poses an ever-evolving global threat, which requires a global response. The complex nature of the crime as one that takes place in the border-less realm of cyberspace is compounded by the increasing amount of evidence of all sorts of traditional crime in digital form. Perpetrators of cybercrime and their victims are located in different regions, and its effects can ripple through societies around the world, highlighting the need to mount an urgent, dynamic, rule of law-based and international response.
UNODC response
UNODC promotes long-term and sustainable capacity-building in the fight against cybercrime through supporting national structures and action. Specifically, UNODC draws upon its specialized expertise on criminal justice systems to provide technical assistance in prevention and awareness-raising, legislative reform, revamping of law enforcement capabilities, international cooperation, forensic support as well as in data collection, research and analysis on cybercrime.
The UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime develops tailored technical assistance and capacity-building in support of Member States’ efforts in preventing and combating cybercrime. [more]
The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 2024. The Convention is a comprehensive global treaty, which provides States with a range of essential tools and measures to combat the criminal use of information and communication technologies. UNODC is mandated to promote and support the ratification and implementation of the Convention. [more]
The General Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, which approved a draft convention in August 2024. The Ad Hoc Committee is further mandated by the General Assembly to hold sessions to prepare the draft rules of procedure for the Conference of the States Parties, and to negotiate a draft protocol supplementary to the Convention, addressing, inter alia, additional criminal offences as required. [more]
Between January 2011 and April 2021, UNODC supported the work of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group to Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime. The Expert Group undertook a comprehensive study on cybercrime and held substantive discussions among practitioners, policy makers and experts from Member States about countering cybercrime. [more]
