Online | 28–29 June 2021
The Second African Forum on Cybercrime is organized by the African Union Commission, the European Union and the Council of Europe (GLACY+ and Octopus Project) in partnership with other organisations and comes as a reassurance of the joint commitment to work together towards finding new modalities of strengthening international cooperation against all forms of cybercrime.
Why the need for a Second African Forum on Cybercrime?
More than 50 African countries that took part in the First African Forum on Cybercrime (October 2018) agreed on the need to encourage further cooperation and exchange of experience within African continent, thus establishing the African Forum on Cybercrime as a recurrent initiative, to be organised every two years. The Second African Forum on Cybercrime will build on the conclusions drawn in 2018 and will focus on promoting mutual dialogue among national institutions and international organizations. The Forum will be an opportunity to assess the progress achieved by the many African countries that initiated legislative and policy reforms in the area of cybercrime and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and practical experience from successful operations conducted in these years.
Who is the Second African Forum on Cybercrime addressed to?
Countries will be invited to nominate 10 participants each, particularly, including policy makers and legislators, representatives from the criminal justice sector (prosecutors, judges, law enforcement), delegates from ministries responsible for the implementation of cybercrime and cybersecurity policies, and other national stakeholders with an active role in the cybercrime domain.
How will the Forum take place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the workshops will be held remotely, via a video-conferencing platform. In parallel to the online participation in the event, interested countries and organizations can organize local “hubs” to broadcast all or part of the Forum sessions. Simultaneous interpretation from and to EN / FR / PT / AR will be provided.
How can I register to participate in the Forum?
Agenda of the Second African Forum on Cybercrime (Main Event) | EN
Day 1 – Cybercrime policies and legislative updates in Africa [28 June]
- High-level welcome and opening remarks
- Setting the scene and goals of the event
- Cybercrime legislation in Africa – Relevant updates
- Policing Cybercrime and Protecting Human Rights in Africa – Ensuring an Appropriate Balance through Policies and Legislation
- Cyber security and cybercrime policy updates
- Lack of data protection legislation as enabler of cybercrime
- Data protection legislation as enabling factor for digital innovation plans
- Key takeaways of day 1
Day 2 – International cooperation on cybercrime and e-evidence [29 June]
- Policing and prosecuting cybercrime through international cooperation: prospects and challenges
- Policing and prosecuting cybercrime through international cooperation: online child safety
- Enhanced cooperation on cybercrime and electronic evidence – the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention
- Creating synergies for a coordinated approach to capacity building in Africa
- The way ahead – Recommendations from the Second African Forum on Cybercrime
In parallel to the online participation in the main event, regional hubs are organized by the Council of Europe (30 June) and INTERPOL (29 June – 6 July).
- The Council of Europe will host a parallel hub dedicated to cybercrime investigations in practice. It is expected to bring together speakers from several international organizations and African countries and facilitate the sharing of experiences among participants on new trends in cybercrime and ways to fight cybercrime at the regional and international level. Registration to the main event on 28–29 June 2021 grants access to the Council of Europe Hub on 30 June 2021 as well.
- INTERPOL will host the regional hubs through its four offices in Harare (Zimbabwe), Nairobi (Kenya), Yaoundé (Cameroon) and Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). For registration to the INTERPOL regional hubs and further information, please contact the INTERPOL Secretariat.
Council of Europe parallel hub [30 June]
Council of Europe parallel hub - cybercrime investigations in practice
- Welcome and opening of the session
- Investigations on cybercrime in Africa, the scenario and the law enforcement perspective
- Investigating online frauds in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic
- Child-safety online – investigation and capacity building
- The use of darknets and virtual currencies to facilitate cybercrimes
- Conclusions and key take-aways
INTERPOL regional hubs [29 June, 30 June, 6 July]
East Africa Hub on training strategies
- Welcome and introduction of participants
- Briefings on Cybercrime Initiatives in Africa
- Cybercrime Training: Strategies and Curricula
- Developing Training Strategies and Curriculum
- Key takeaways
Central Africa Hub on malware response
- Welcome and introduction of participants
- Briefings on Cybercrime Initiatives in Africa
- Malware Investigation Practices
- Developing Capabilities on Response Capabilities
- Key takeaways
West Africa Hub on international cooperation
- Welcome and introduction of participants
- Briefings on Cybercrime Initiatives in Africa
- Briefings on Cybercrime Initiatives in West Africa
- International Cooperation on Cybercrime
- Challenge and perspectives: presentation by member countries
- Key takeaways
South Africa Hub on specialised units
- Welcome and introduction of participants
- Briefings on Cybercrime Initiatives in Africa
- Specialized Cybercrime Units
- Developing Capabilities of Specialized Units
- Key takeaways
General Resources
- Budapest Convention on Cybercrime | EN / FR / PT / AR
- Acceding to the Budapest Convention | Leaflet / Full report
- First Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems) | EN / FR
- Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention | Draft text approved by the T-CY / Negotiations page
- Council of Europe: Specialised cybercrime units. Good practice study (2011)
- Council of Europe: The functioning of the 24/7 points of contact for cybercrime (2009)
- Council of Europe: Reports on cybercrime reporting system (2014)
- Council of Europe: Cybercrime strategies (2012)
- INTERPOL: Guide for criminal justice statistics on cybercrime and electronic evidence (2020)
- Council of Europe: Comparative analysis of the Malabo Convention of the African Union and the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2016)
Resources received from participants to the event
- The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL): AFRIPOL Cybercrime Strategy
- National Prosecuting Authority South Africa, Thersia Du Toit-Smit: Cyberbullying Dilemma. A Case for Ubuntu
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Presentations