On 21 July 2026, the GLACY-e joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe contributed to the session of the Commission for Constitution and Legislation of the Uruguayan Senate, where legislators debated a landmark reform of the country's Criminal Procedure Code incorporating new rules on electronic evidence.
The draft provisions on procedural powers on electronic evidence were developed by a technical working group coordinated by the Deputy Secretariat of the Presidency, with the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministries of Interior, Education and Culture, in close collaboration with the GLACY-e project. The provisions reflect strong alignment with the procedural powers set out in the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), demonstrating Uruguay's commitment to modernising its legal framework in line with international standards.
Through a remote intervention the GLACY-e project manager welcomed the significant progress made by Uruguayan authorities since the collaboration began in 2022, when the project first engaged with legislators to align national legislation with the Convention's standards on cybercrime offences. As a result of these sustained efforts, Uruguay was formally invited to accede to the Budapest Convention in February 2023.
The session also featured interventions by renowned Council of Europe experts from Argentina and Chile, who engaged virtually with Uruguayan legislators throughout the meeting and advised on international standards and best practices.
The Budapest Convention currently has 82 state Parties, including 10 countries from Latin America, and remains the most comprehensive international standard to date, providing a coherent framework on cybercrime and electronic evidence, as well as a basis for international co-operation. During the session, the practical benefits of the Convention, including its 24/7 network and enhanced co-operation with private sector entities were highlighted.
The Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC) remains committed to supporting Uruguay throughout the reform process, offering continued technical assistance through expert meetings, policy advice and legal review.
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC)