The GLACY-e joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe teamed up with the EL PACCTO 2.0 programme to facilitate the implementation of the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) in Latin American countries. The regional workshop was hosted by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation or Development (AECID), in the Training Center of the Spanish Cooperation in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, during 20-22 May 2024.
The Convention on Cybercrime, as well as its Second Additional Protocol, provide the most comprehensive international standards and tools for an effective cooperation among criminal justice authorities on cybercrime and the collection of electronic evidence in relation to any crime. Opened for signature in May 2022, the Protocol’s purpose is to further enhance international cooperation and facilitate cross-border access to electronic evidence in criminal investigations, whilst ensuring a strong system of human rights and rule of law safeguards.
While awaiting for the Protocol to enter into force, countries need to bring their national laws in line with its provisions in a consistent manner, as well as to ensure that their institutional framework is enabled to implement the required responsibilities.
In Latin America, five countries are already signatories, and more are in the process of signing the Protocol. In this context, over 50 representatives of LATAM countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Panama, and Peru), as well as international experts facilitated by the GLACY-e end EL PACCTO 2.0 projects joined the workshop and contributed to the discussions on the provisions of the Protocol and other international and regional instruments for police and judicial cooperation. Moreover, the workshop facilitated debates on the practical implementation of the Protocol, different options for its implementation, as well as necessary legislative reforms at national level.
The regional workshop held in Cartagena de Indias is the first in a series of events aimed at supporting countries that have either signed or are in the process of signing the Protocol to discuss challenges and necessary support in its implementation at national level.
Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime
Training Center of the Spanish Cooperation in Cartagena