The Government of the United Kingdom, as represented by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, made a further voluntary contribution to the Octopus Project implemented by the Council of Europe.

The contribution amounts to GBP 100,000 and is dedicated to supporting the International Conference on Strengthening Co-operation on Cybercrime and E-evidence in Africa, taking place between 6-7 March 2023 in Bouznika, Morocco.

The Octopus Project, based on voluntary contributions from State Parties and Observers to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), aims to support countries worldwide in strengthening their criminal justice capacities in line with this Treaty, its protocols and related standards, as well as to address additional challenges that came to the forefront in the course of 2020.

The United Kingdom is a Party to the Convention on Cybercrime since 2011, being one of the 68 countries worldwide to have joined the Treaty thus far. It is also one of the 36 States signatories of the Second Additional Protocol and is actively engaged in the search for solutions to render the sharing of electronic evidence for criminal justice purposes more efficient.

The Council of Europe gratefully acknowledges United Kingdom’s support through the Octopus Project. 

 Council of Europe: Octopus Project webpage

 Council of Europe: International Conference on Strengthening Co-operation on Cybercrime and E-evidence in Africa (dedicated webpage)

 Council of Europe: Convention on Cybercrime (dedicated webpage)

 Council of Europe: Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence (dedicated webpage)