Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Convention on Cybercrime

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Convention on Cybercrime (also known as the “Budapest Convention”) which has served as a cornerstone for global action against cybercrime. Opened for signature in November 2001 in Budapest, Hungary, the Convention established itself as the first international treaty on cybercrime with truly global impact. For a quarter of a century, it has inspired and guided the development of cybercrime legislation worldwide, and it continues to serve as the main source of inspiration for emerging initiatives, including the new United Nations treaty on cybercrime.

The Budapest Convention remains the most relevant international agreement on cybercrime and electronic evidence. It not only mandates the criminalisation of offences committed against and by means of computers but also provides robust procedural law tools to secure electronic evidence and to facilitate international co-operation among its Parties. Importantly, it is not only a cybercrime treaty: its procedural powers and cooperation mechanisms apply broadly to any offence involving electronic evidence.

Thanks to its technology-neutral language, the Convention has continued to respond effectively to the evolving and complex challenges of crime in cyberspace since its adoption.

From the very beginning, the Convention was designed with global reach in mind, aiming to transcend the membership of the Council of Europe. Countries such as Canada, Japan, South Africa, and the USA participated directly in its negotiation. The Convention remains open for accession by any country willing to implement its provisions and engage in international cooperation, a gateway that many States have already embraced.

As we celebrate 25 years since its opening for signature, we invite you to explore the Convention's effects, its achievements over the past decades, and the challenges that lie ahead in combating cybercrime globally.