Guinea-Bissau Joins 71 Other Nations in Signing Landmark UN Cybercrime Convention in Hà Nội

HÀ NỘI, VIETNAM – Guinea-Bissau has officially become a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, participating in a landmark ceremony held in Hà Nội, Vietnam, on October 25-26, 2025. A representative from Guinea-Bissau joined delegates from 71 other countries in signing the treaty, marking a significant step towards enhanced global cybersecurity cooperation. The event saw government delegations from over 110 countries gather in the Vietnamese capital.

A New Global Framework for Digital Security

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hà Nội Convention, was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 after five years of extensive negotiations. This treaty represents the first comprehensive global framework designed to investigate and prosecute a wide range of online offenses. UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the convention as a 'historic step toward a safer digital world,' emphasizing its role as a 'powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime.'

Key Provisions and Objectives

The convention criminalizes various cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offenses, aiming to address the escalating threat of cybercrime, which is projected to cost trillions of dollars annually. Key provisions include:

• Facilitating the sharing of electronic evidence across borders.
• Establishing a 24/7 cooperation network among signatory states.
• Criminalizing cyber-dependent crimes, online fraud, and online child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
• Recognizing the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as an offense, a first for an international treaty.

The treaty is designed to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies while safeguarding privacy and human rights, providing a global standard for electronic evidence. It will enter into force 90 days after the 40th state deposits its ratification.

International Context and Concerns

The signing ceremony, co-chaired by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Vietnamese State President Lương Cường, was hosted by Vietnam in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). While widely praised for its potential to foster international cooperation, the convention has also faced criticism from human rights organizations, NGOs, academics, and technology companies. Concerns have been raised regarding the treaty's broad language, which critics argue could lead to expanded state surveillance and potential abuses of power without sufficient human rights safeguards. Despite these concerns, the convention is seen by many as a crucial tool in the ongoing fight against transnational cybercrime.