Photo: United Nations
The official UN Convention against Cybercrime, signed by 72 Member States this weekend.
Hanoi (Viet Nam), 25 October 2025 – Seventy-two countries have signed a landmark United Nations treaty in Hanoi aimed at tackling cybercrime – a move Secretary-General António Guterres hailed as a historic step toward a safer digital world.
Adopted by the General Assembly in December 2024 after five years of negotiation, the Convention against Cybercrime establishes the first universal framework for investigating and prosecuting offences committed online – from ransomware and financial fraud to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
“The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime,” said Mr. Guterres at the signing ceremony today.
“It is a testament to the continued power of multilateralism to deliver solutions. And it is a vow that no country, no matter their level of development, will be left defenceless against cybercrime.”
The signing ceremony was hosted by Viet Nam in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drawing senior officials, diplomats and experts from across regions, including 2,514 delegates from 119 countries.
Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, noted that the road had been “long and challenging. Over 420 hours of formal negotiations and countless hours of informal negotiations involving more than 150 Member States and enriched by 160 stakeholders from intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the private sector.”
In a report made to the General Secretary of Viet Nam Tô Lâm on the event, the Government of Viet Nam stated that the event marked “a significant turning point in the international community’s joint efforts to establish a global cooperation framework for a safe, trustworthy and humane cyberspace.”
A global framework for cooperation
The new treaty criminalises a range of cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, facilitates the sharing of electronic evidence across borders and establishes a 24/7 cooperation network among States.
It also makes history as the first international treaty to recognise the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as an offence – a significant victory for victims of online abuse.
It will enter into force 90 days after the 40th State deposits its ratification.
Read more about the Convention here.
Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA.
(from left) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, State President of Viet Nam Luong Cuong, and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly at the opening ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime.
A collective defence for the digital age
In his remarks, Mr. Guterres warned that while technology has brought “extraordinary progress,” it has also created new vulnerabilities.
“Every day, sophisticated scams defraud families, steal livelihoods and drain billions of dollars from our economies,” he said. “In cyberspace, nobody is safe until everybody is safe. One vulnerability anywhere can expose people and institutions everywhere.”
Ms. Waly agreed, noting that we are “seeing cybercriminals bring multinationals to their knees, decimate smaller organizations and use developing countries as testing grounds for their techniques.”
The Secretary-General emphasized the Convention represents “a victory for victims of online abuse” and “a clear pathway for investigators and prosecutors” to overcome barriers to justice when crimes and evidence cross multiple borders.
By providing a global standard for electronic evidence, the treaty aims to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies while safeguarding privacy, dignity and fundamental human rights.
Next steps
At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, Mr. Guterres highlighted that “now, we must turn signatures into action. The Convention must be ratified quickly, implemented fully, and supported with funding, training and technology – especially for developing countries.”
Ms. Waly underscored that UNODC is already working to help achieve these goals. “We have developed a ratification methodology that accounts for different legal systems and capabilities,” she said. “And beyond ratification, our Office will provide tailored technical assistance on implementation.”
UNODC’s years of experience supporting over 60 countries to respond to cybercrime – together with its mandates, expertise and relationships – gives the Office a strong head-start on working together with Member States to implement the new Convention, she added.
A safer cyberspace for all
The new convention is expected to reshape how countries tackle cybercrime at a time when digital threats are rising sharply.
For many governments, particularly in the Global South, the treaty represents an opportunity to access training, technical assistance and real-time cooperation channels.
“Let us seize this moment,” Mr. Guterres said. “Let us build a cyberspace that respects everyone’s dignity and human rights – and ensure that the digital age delivers peace, security and prosperity for all.”
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