Secretary-General's Joint Press Conference with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam on the signing of the Cybercrime convention

Distinguished members of the media,

Xin chào.

I want to begin by thanking the Government and people of Viet Nam for their generous welcome.

It is an honour to be in Hanoi for the signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime — a vital global treaty to protect people in the digital world, and the first criminal justice treaty in more than two decades.

This is a historic moment, and it is fitting that it is taking place here in Viet Nam — a nation that has embraced technology, powered innovation, and become an essential part of the world’s digital supply chains.

Viet Nam understands both the promise of the digital age — and the dangers that come with it.

The internet has connected us in extraordinary ways. Ideas, goods and services move across borders in milliseconds.

But criminals have adapted just as quickly.

Every day, cyberattacks defraud families, shut down critical services, drain economies, and spread horrific child abuse material.

A scam launched in one country can devastate victims across five others — while the evidence is stored in a sixth.

There were no globally agreed rules to stop this. Until now.

The UN Cybercrime Convention gives countries a powerful new tool to prevent and combat cybercrime — while protecting human rights online.

It enables law enforcement to share digital evidence across borders — one of the biggest barriers to justice until now.

It creates a 24/7 cooperation network so countries can trace funds, identify perpetrators, and recover stolen assets.

And for the first time in any international treaty, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is recognised as a criminal offence — a major victory for victims of online abuse.

The Convention is more than a legal instrument. It is a promise:

That no country — no matter the size or level of development — will be left defenceless against cybercrime.

That privacy, dignity and safety must be upheld both offline and online.

And that multilateralism can still deliver solutions, even on the most complex challenges.

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.

The United Nations will support its implementation through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

I thank Viet Nam once again for its leadership — and for being a strong voice for international cooperation.

Together, we can make cyberspace safe and secure for all.

Cảm ơn các bạn

Question: Good afternoon. My name is [inaudible] from the Vietnam News Agency. I would like to address my question to the UN Secretary-General, and my question is, after the signing ceremony today in Hanoi, what do you think the signing countries should do? How should they show their political commitments to ensure the effective implementation of the convention. Thank you. 

Secretary-General: The most important is to ratify as quickly as possible, and then to establish the mechanisms of implementation also, as quickly as possible. Naturally, with the privilege to the possibility to have effective international cooperation in this regard. 

Question: From AFP. Mr. Secretary-General, so far, the convention has received 65 signatures. However, there was some concern by rights groups and also from the cybersecurity Tech Accord, which included big names like Meta or India’s Infosys. They referred this document as, I quote, a compromise document, also in quote, could criminalize cybersecurity researchers and allow states to cooperate on almost any criminal act they choose. What's your comment on this? Thank you.

Secretary-General: Well, first of all, this is the first criminal international treaty in which human rights are specifically protected. Second, research activities are explicitly protected in this regard. And so, that concern was fully taken into account in the drafting of the convention. On the other hand, it is also clear that the convention refers to criminal investigation, and so it cannot be used for any forms of surveillance or others that could be linked to violations of human rights. And even more, if a State has a suspicion that another State might use the information provided with violations of human rights, the convention explicitly allows the State not to exchange information. 

So, if there was a document in which there was a huge concern in relation to the protection of human rights, it is this document. And as I said, it refers to criminal investigation and criminal investigation that must be done with due process and with the fundamental respect for human rights.