Egypt Signs UN Convention against Cybercrime
Egypt has signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime during the conference hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Convention was signed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat, who led the Egyptian high-level delegation participating in the signing ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by President of Vietnam Luong Cuong, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly, Ambassador of Egypt to Vietnam Hany Mostafa, and heads of delegations of the participating countries.
The UN Convention against Cybercrime is the first comprehensive international legal framework to address cyberthreats and cross-border crimes in the digital space. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, under Resolution No. 79/243.
More than 60 countries have signed the Convention, which aims to enhance measures undertaken to prevent and combat cybercrime more efficiently and effectively, especially in sharing electronic evidence, while also strengthening international cooperation in this field. Furthermore, the Convention is designed to facilitate technical assistance and provide capacity-building training, particularly for developing countries.
The Convention consists of a preamble and nine chapters covering general provisions, criminalization, jurisdiction, procedural measures, international cooperation, preventive measures, technical assistance, information exchange, implementation mechanisms, and final provisions. It will enter into force 90 days after its ratification by 40 countries.
Egypt’s participation in the signing ceremony marks the culmination of its active and pivotal role during the negotiation phase of the Convention since 2021, with the engagement of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, along with several national entities, including the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA). Egypt’s signing of the Convention underlines its commitment to advancing international efforts to combat cybercrime and protect national information infrastructure.
The Egyptian delegation included representatives from various ministries and relevant entities, namely the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), alongside representatives from the Public Prosecution, ACA, and NTRA.
During the signing ceremony, the ICT Minister delivered Egypt’s address, beginning by conveying the warm greetings and profound appreciation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his commendation of Vietnam for hosting this significant event. He also praised the longstanding cooperation between the two countries.
Talaat emphasized that Egypt takes immense pride in its longstanding diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which span several decades and were elevated this year by promoting bilateral ties to the level of a comprehensive partnership. He also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality.
The ICT Minister underscored that this historic gathering represents a milestone toward establishing a safe and more just global system in the digital space, embodying the international community’s commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation toward new and promising horizons. He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. He also referred to the journey of joint UN action, drawing on the values guiding Egypt in the digital era, powered by IT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms.
Talaat explained that Egypt firmly believes justice in the digital era must extend to cyberspace, reinforcing the principle of the rule of law at all times and in all realms, whether in the physical or virtual world. He added that Egypt’s experience has had a constructive impact on enriching UN discussions and presenting an integrated model to guide countries in developing their national systems.
The ICT Minister stressed that the Convention establishes a robust framework for judicial cooperation and opens new channels for cross-border exchange of electronic evidence and legal assistance, thus strengthening the rule of law in the traditional and digital worlds alike.
Over the past two decades, Talaat highlighted, Egypt has diligently built a comprehensive system to safeguard its digital space, integrating legislative frameworks with judicial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and specialized teams within the Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team (EG-CERT). All these entities collaborate to fulfill a unified mission: protecting citizens and institutions and upholding society’s trust in the digital realm, within the framework of the Digital Egypt vision for a secure, inclusive, and sustainable society open to international experiences. He also underlined Egypt’s contribution of its