Joint Statement on the Proposed Cybercrime Treaty Ahead of the Concluding Session January 23, 2024

Joint Statement on the Proposed Cybercrime Treaty Ahead of the Concluding Session January 23, 2024 We, the undersigned organizations and individual experts call on the state delegations participating in the concluding session of the United Nations (UN) Ad Hoc Committee to ensure that the proposed Cybercrime Convention (the Convention) is narrowly focused on tackling cybercrime, and not used as a t. [...] Civil society groups have contributed time and expertise to improve the draft and fully align it with existing human rights law and standards, the principles of the UN Charter and the rule of law, as well as best practices to provide legal certainty in efforts to improve cybersecurity. [...] Throughout the negotiations over the last two years, civil society groups and other stakeholders have consistently emphasized that the fight against cybercrime must not come at the expense of human rights, gender equality, and the dignity of the people whose lives will be affected by this Convention. [...] Robust and meaningful safeguards and limitations are essential to avoid the possibility of abuse of relevant provisions of the Convention that could arise under the guise of combating cybercrime. [...] We are particularly concerned that the latest draft of the Convention: • Remains over-broad in the scope of the range of the activities it requires states to criminalize.