Representatives from five Pacific countries (Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Zealand), gathered in Nadi, Fiji for the regional exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation on cybercrime and electronic evidence through the 24/7 Network established under the Cybercrime Convention (Budapest Convention).
The two-day event, held between 4–5 August 2025, was organised by the Council of Europe under the GLACY-e and Octopus projects. It brought together 24/7 Points of Contact (POC) (police, prosecutors, and ICT professionals) who engaged in practical exercises and peer exchanges led by the Head of Operations of Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC) and the representative of the 24/7 POC of the Serbian Police.
The exercise provided hands-on experience on the international cooperation tools under the Articles 29, 30 and 31 of the Convention on Cybercrime, including templates for request of data, and steps to be taken in handling the request. Discussions also covered the use of Standard Operating Procedures, equipping the 24/7 POC with resources and roles and responsibilities.
By the end of the event, participants enhanced their understanding on how to structure and operate effective 24/7 POC and how to expedite cooperation in relation to cybercrime investigations and electronic evidence. As more Pacific Islands States will join the Budapest Convention, regional and international collaboration through the 24/7 Network is expected to become a cornerstone of effective and expedited response to cyber threats in the region.
GLACY‑e project webpage
Octopus Project webpage
Cybercrime Programme Office (C‑PROC)
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
Article 35 of the Convention on Cybercrime (full text)
The 24/7 POC Network established under the Convention on Cybercrime