The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted the UN Convention against Cybercrime, or the Hanoi Convention, as this landmark global treaty will be signed in Vietnam’s capital city next year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Hanoi Convention, consisting of nine chapters and 71 articles, was unanimously approved by the UNGA during a session at its headquarters in New York on Tuesday, marking the joint efforts of the international community to combat increasing cybercrime and protect countries from digital threats.

This is the first time Vietnam has been chosen to host the signing ceremony for a UN convention, a new milestone in the country’s international legal cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told local media on Wednesday.

The international treaty, named the Hanoi Convention, will be open for signature at a formal ceremony in Hanoi in 2025.

“This convention is the culmination of nearly five years of negotiations among UN member states, including Vietnam, to establish a multilateral legal framework for combating cybercrime,” Deputy Prime Minister Son stated.

The Hanoi Convention is the first international anti-crime treaty adopted by the UN in two decades.

The rapid advancement of digital technologies not only offers immense benefits for human development but also brings significant risks, including security threats that jeopardize the sustainable development of many nations, the official noted.

Cybercrime is estimated to cause global losses of around US$8 trillion in 2023, with projections reaching $10.5 trillion by 2025 -- exceeding the annual GDP of many economies.

In response, the UN has adopted the Hanoi Convention as a comprehensive legal framework to address the urgent need for international cooperation and uphold the rule of law in cyberspace.

The convention demonstrates the UN’s central role in coordinating international efforts to respond to cybercrime, a current pressing issue facing the world.

As the first global legal framework for cyberspace, the convention requires the participation of all countries in preventing and fighting cybercrimes, Deputy PM Son said.

It helps bridge the gaps between laws of nations, creates an around-the-clock cooperation mechanism, enhances common efforts for cross-border crime prevention, and speeds up their digital transformation, he stated. 

In addition, the convention ensures a balance between the rights and obligations of all nations, fosters technical assistance and capacity-building for the international community’s common benefit, and serves as a model for future international frameworks on digital technology, such as governance of artificial intelligence.

“The UN’s selection of Hanoi as the venue for signing the convention has placed a significant milestone in Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy and in the partnership between Vietnam and the UN over the past 47 years,” the official commented.  

As the host country for the signing ceremony, Vietnam will have an opportunity to strengthen its role as a responsible and trusted member of the international community, further promote multilateralism, and contribute to global efforts to ensure cybersecurity for every country. 

This event is expected to create a favorable premise for successfully implementing the country’s digital transformation strategy, the ministry said.

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