UNODC
The UN Convention against Cybercrime.
New York, 25 September 2026: Thirteen additional countries signed the United Nations (UN) Convention against Cybercrime in September 2026, bringing the total number of signatories to 95 countries and signalling growing commitment to tackling online crime and making the internet safe for everyone.
The new signatories are Albania, Botswana, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, San Marino, Timor-Leste and Yemen. They join 82 other countries who have signed the Convention, the full list of which can be found here.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, the Convention is the first global treaty focused on strengthening international cooperation against cybercrime. It aims to enhance countries’ ability to prevent and combat cybercrime and to improve cooperation across borders when addressing offences such as online fraud, ransomware attacks, identity theft and other crimes.
The treaty comes at a time when the harms of cybercrime are increasingly felt internationally. As all aspects of daily life move online, cybercrime has come to affect people, businesses and governments everywhere.
In 2025, nearly three quarters of the world’s population had accessed to the Internet, according to the International Telecommunication Union. While greater connectivity brings enormous opportunities, it also increases exposure to cyber threats.
Today, criminals can use widely accessible technologies to carry out sophisticated crimes with unprecedent ease. Cybercriminals can operate from one country and target victims in another. Effectively addressing these cross-border crimes requires fast and coordinated international action.
The Cybercrime Convention provides a common framework to help authorities cooperate more quickly in gathering and preserving electronic evidence for investigating crimes that span multiple jurisdictions.
The treaty addresses a wide range of cyber-enabled crimes, from fraud and financial scams to offences linked to organized criminal activity. It also includes measures aimed at strengthening protections for children online, recognizing the growing risks posed by exploitation and grooming through digital platforms.
Beyond supporting investigations, the Convention encourages countries to provide assistance to victims and to strengthen prevention efforts. This includes raising public awareness, investing in training and building resilience against cyber threats before incidents occur.
The surge in signatories reflects broad international recognition that cyber threats require global solutions. Momentum is building toward a faster and more coordinated international response to cybercrime for the improved protection of people, industry and institutions around the world.
The UN Cybercrime Convention must be ratified by 40 countries before it can enter into force. Three countries (Azerbaijan, Qatar and Vietnam) have ratified as of 30 September 2026.
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