Today, 10 August 2023, Japan became the second state to ratify the Second Additional Protocol to the Cybercrime Convention on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence, after Mr Hiroyuki UCHIDA, Consul General, Permanent Observer of Japan to the Council of Europe, deposited the instrument of ratification, in the office of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić and in the presence of Mr Jörg Polakiewicz.

This treaty provides for more effective tools for the co-operation and the disclosure of electronic evidence across borders limited by a strong system of safeguards. Furthermore, it brings the Convention on Cybercrime up to date, so that it remains the most relevant and effective international framework for meeting the challenges of cybercrime and electronic evidence in the years ahead.

To date, the Protocol has been signed (but not yet ratified) by 41 other states and ratified by Serbia. The Protocol needs 5 ratifications to enter into force.

• Council of Europe: Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Treaty Office webpage)
• Council of Europe: Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (dedicated webpage)
• Watch the short explainer video on the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime – in English / in French / in Spanish.