Saudi Arabia participated in the reconvened concluding session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, which aimed to counter cybercrime.
The Kingdom was represented by a delegation led by National Cybersecurity Authority and several national entities, in addition to the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom to the UN in New York, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The meeting took place from July 29 to August 9, 2024, at the UN headquarters in New York.
Convention on Cybercrime
The committee meeting resulted in a draft for a UN convention against cybercrime, after 5 years of continued collaboration among UN member states on issues related to the convention.
The convention is the first multilateral treaty against cybercrime under the UN umbrella in more than 20 years. It is also the first binding international agreement under the UN umbrella to combat cybercrime, amid the accelerating rise in cyber threats.
The new convention aims to promote and reinforce measures to prevent and counter cybercrimes, enhance international cooperation in this regard, and encourage and support human and technical capacities to combat cybercrime.
New Actions
During the concluding session of the committee, the member states agreed to criminalize a number of actions, including illegal access to systems, compromising or manipulating data, as well as crimes related to child sexual abuse.
Moreover, the member states agreed on a draft resolution of the UN General Assembly on the adoption of this convention. This will pave the way for signing the convention at the UN headquarters in New York until December 31, 2026, for all UN member states and regional economic integration organizations.
The convention will enter into force on the 90th day following the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession by member states.
Furthermore, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime will play a pivotal role in supporting the convention implementation. It will serve as the Secretariat of the Conference of the States Parties to the convention, oversee the organization of implementation monitoring mechanisms, provide technical support, and provide the necessary mechanisms for effective international collaboration.
Saudi Arabia Leadership
During the negotiation process, Saudi Arabia presented several proposals regarding the convention articles. It also worked with other Arab countries to address common issues discussed in the draft convention.
This aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to foster Arab cooperation in cybersecurity. As a result of Saudi Arabia’s efforts, the Arab League established the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers in 2023, with its general secretariat and executive office in Riyadh.
