As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Minister for Information, Communications and Transport of Kiribati,

Deputy Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation of Sierra Leone,

Director General of the Ministry of Trade of Fiji,

Ambassador of Czechia, dear Petr,

Distinguished representative of Benin,

Excellencies,

Members of the Cybercrime Convention Committee,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Council of Europe is this year celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Today, you are offering a very welcome contribution to our anniversary with three more countries acceding to our Budapest Convention on Cybercrime –

Benin, Fiji and Kiribati.

With the first of these also acceding to its First Additional Protocol.

Following Sierra Leone’s accession in April –

This brings the total number of states parties up to the number of 75.

Throughout three-quarters of a century, the Council of Europe has applied its values and standards to the evolving and defining challenges facing our continent.

The Cybercrime Convention is a particularly good and important example of this –

It is a flagship treaty and a highly respected international standard in its field –

A record of more than 130 countries so far have aligned their legislation with its provisions.

Key to the success of this treaty is the fact that its provisions are robust, adaptable and technology neutral –

And with the Second Additional Protocol we are taking one more step.

With this, justice reaches further into cyberspace, while making sure we respect and safeguard human rights and the rule of law.

Georgia signed the protocol earlier this week.

Czechia and Sierra Leone sign here today –

With that, the number of signatories to this new Protocol is now 46, which is remarkable given that it was opened for signature only two years ago.

I sincerely hope a number of countries will now ratify the protocol.

So that in the near future it can reach the minimum number of five ratifications needed to enter into force.

Only Serbia and Japan have so far taken the additional step of ratifying it, so I encourage all parties to accede to the Protocol as soon as possible.

Dear friends,

Let me also take this opportunity to say a few words on another milestone.

This ceremony takes place in the margins of the Cybercrime’s Committee’s 30th plenary –

And it is a pleasure to congratulate all experts and colleagues on this Committee, who have worked so hard to facilitate the effective use and implementation of the Cybercrime Convention and its protocols. 

Thank you for your attention.