The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime opens for signature in Hanoi

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes opened for signature at a ceremony held on 25 and 26 October 2025 in Hanoi. The signing ceremony was organized during the High-Level Conference themed "Countering Cybercrime – Sharing Responsibility – Securing our Future" hosted by the Government of Viet Nam in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The UN Secretary-General delivered remarks on this occasion.

Seventy-one States and the European Union signed the Convention at the ceremony. The number of signatories at this opening for signature ceremony is one of the most significant for a multilateral treaty deposited with the Secretary-General over the last decade.

The Convention is the first comprehensive global treaty on this matter, which provides States with a range of measures to be undertaken to prevent and combat cybercrime. It also aims to strengthen international cooperation in sharing electronic evidence for serious crimes. Having consistently supported the negotiation process, UNODC now serves as the secretariat of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention and will play a central role in assisting the implementation and promoting the rapid entry into force of the Convention.

Following the ceremony in Hanoi, the Convention will remain open for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 31 December 2026. In accordance with its article 65, the Convention will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.