The Government of Canada has made a voluntary contribution of CAD 975,000 to the Octopus Project of the Council of Europe in order to promote a global criminal justice response to cybercrime that is both effective and in line with human rights and rule of law requirements.

This new funding will provide much-needed support for enhanced action on cybercrime and electronic evidence in Southeast Asia - a region facing rapidly evolving cyber threats. It will focus on strengthening domestic legislation and criminal justice capacities on cybercrime and electronic evidence in line with the Convention on Cybercrime, its Second Additional Protocol, and related standards.

Canada remains a strong partner of the Council of Europe in international cooperation on cybercrime.  Canada was among the first to sign the Convention on Cybercrime in 2001. It ratified it in 2015, being one of 80 countries worldwide to have joined this treaty thus far. It has also signed both of its additional protocols.

The Council of Europe welcomes this timely contribution of Canada to the Octopus Project, in particular, at a time when trusted partnerships are needed more than ever.

Octopus Project
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime
Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime