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PGA’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, sustainable and democratic world.

Global Cybercrime Campaign

Global Cybercrime Campaign

Background

While the world advances towards digitalization, the use of and dependance on information technology, networks and databases has become more and more pervasive in society. Targeting and illegally exploiting computer systems and data have also become increasingly common. The COVID-19 global pandemic has spurred an unprecedented increase in cyber-based illegal activities both in number and in sophistication.

Developing effective countermeasures has proven to be challenging in the global context, as well as aligning legislation, strategies and policies in a consistent and harmonized manner. Heterogeneous legal frameworks, lack of national strategies, limited criminal justice capacities to counter cybercrime and secure electronic evidence, and information infrastructures that are still scarcely secured in a number of countries, has made societies worldwide vulnerable targets for cybercrime. Moreover, governments struggle in reconciling effective responses to cybercrime with human rights and rule of law requirements online.

Cybercrime, indisputably, also exhibits Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) characteristics in certain manifestations, including actual manipulation of manufacture of existing WMD, with the clear potential for mass destruction/loss of life of large population groupings and/or mass destruction of essential networks and energy supplies, in many instances also essential for human survival. It is an existential threat to humanity. Recent cyberattacks on public utility facilities, including adjusting chemicals in town/city water supplies with the potential to poison whole communities/towns/cities/surrounding regions, is also now an entrenched reality worldwide. Similarly, wholesale cyberattacks on hospitals and other critical/emergency care institutions in many countries worldwide, loss/ransoming of vital digitalized health records for millions of individuals, including many currently hospitalized with serious illness/disease, lives jeopardized by such activities. Another robust example of the close nexus/overlap between cybercrime and WMD is the use of cybercrime/attacks on Nuclear power plants.

The Role of Parliamentarians in Promoting Cybersecurity and Preventing Cybercrime

Both as advocates and lawmakers, Parliamentarians can advocate for the ratification and accession of international treaties which promote cybersecurity as well as the adoption and implementation of cybersecurity legislation in their respective countries to give effect to the obligations they assume under such international treaties. Parliamentarians have ample opportunity in this sphere to encourage their respective Governments to also support, draft and ensure passage of requisite implementing legislation.

The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, with 68 States Parties serves as a guideline for any country developing comprehensive national legislation against cybercrime and as a framework for international cooperation between States Parties to this treaty. The Convention was adopted in November 2001. 2003 has seen the adoption of a First Additional Protocol concerning the criminalization of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems. Reflecting new realities, the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on Enhanced Cooperation and Disclosure of Electronic Evidence was opened for signature in May 2022.

Although a Council of Europe Convention, several non-Council of Europe States were actively involved in the adoption of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, including Canada and the United States, and it is open to ratification/accession by all countries. A growing number of non-Council of Europe countries have already taken this step from several global regions. Significant potential exists, therefore, for PGA Members to make essential contributions in many current Non-State Parties to promote universality and implementation of the .Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, both directly and indirectly, poses one of the greatest threats, if not the greatest, to international peace and security today.

Upcoming Activities
  • February 2024 -  Pacific Regional Parliamentary Workshop, targeting 8 Pacific Island States that are Non-States Parties to the Budapest Convention and its Protocols. Nadi, Fiji
  • February 26 2024 -  Budapest Convention on Cybercrime - New Developments and Progress | Caribbean Region
  • February 29 2024 -  Budapest Convention on Cybercrime - Africa | New Developments and Progress
  • May 2024 -  National Parliamentary Webinar to Promote Accession to the Budapest Convention and its Two Additional Protocols in Malawi Virtual
  • June 2024 -  National Parliamentary Webinar to Promote Accession to the Budapest Convention and its Two Additional Protocols in The Gambia Virtual
  • September 2024 -  National Parliamentary Webinar to Promote Accession to the Budapest Convention and its Two Additional Protocols in Kenya Virtual
  • October 2024 -  National Parliamentary Webinar to Promote Accession to the Budapest Convention and its Two Additional Protocols in Suriname Virtual
  • November 2024 -  National Parliamentary Webinar to Promote Accession to the Budapest Convention and its Two Additional Protocols in Barbados Virtual
Past Activities
Resources

For further Information on PGA IPSP's Cybersecurity Initiative, please contact:

Mr. Peter Barcroft
Senior Director,
International Peace and Security Program
E: 

Mr. Florian Delsert
Program Officer,
International Peace and Security Program
E: 

Campaign Donor

 

Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Weekly Updates for the Global Cybercrime Campaign

Photo by Designecologist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silver-imac-displaying-collage-photos-1779487/

The PGA Weekly Cybercrime Update is prepared by the International Peace and Security Program of PGA and is provided strictly for informational purposes only.

"IDF Cyber Cadets in Pokemon-Inspired Exercise" by Israel Defense Forces is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The PGA Weekly Cybercrime Update is prepared by the International Peace and Security Program of PGA and is provided strictly for informational purposes only.

Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash

The PGA Weekly Cybercrime Update is prepared by the International Peace and Security Program of PGA and is provided strictly for informational purposes only.

Previous Cyber Workshops