(15th meeting) Reconvened concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes

International Delegates Convene to Forge Consensus on Cybercrime Convention

In a significant gathering of international delegates and observers, the Chair addressed the assembly, acknowledging the critical juncture of their discussions and the collective decision to reconvene at 3 p.m. later that day. This move was in response to the requests of numerous delegations, signalling a strong desire to continue the dialogue towards consensus. The Chair communicated that ongoing consultations held promise for a consensus to be achieved that afternoon and requested patience and understanding from the attendees for the postponement, emphasizing the importance of leaving room for a unanimous agreement.

During the session, a representative from Tonga spoke on behalf of the Pacific Island Forum, representing 14 Pacific region member states, including Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. The representative expressed their profound gratitude to the Chair, the Chair’s team, and the Secretariat for their relentless work, which resulted in the draft texts of the convention, interpretative note, and resolution. The Pacific Island Forum acknowledged that while not all of their proposed amendments had been included in the revised drafts, they appreciated the incorporation of some of their feedback.

The Pacific Island Forum’s commitment to achieving consensus was evident, despite the fact that not all member states had been able to participate in the negotiations in person due to competing priorities and limited resources. The representative highlighted the significance of the convention in their collective fight against cybercrime, a pervasive issue that has affected nations globally, including those in the Pacific region. The necessity of the convention was stressed, with the Pacific Island Forum members indicating their readiness to accept the draft as it stood in a spirit of compromise.

The Chair responded positively to Tonga’s statement, noting that it boded well for the afternoon’s session. The Chair’s optimism about reaching a consensus was palpable, and they encouraged the attendees to continue fostering a spirit of consensus. The Chair concluded the meeting segment with the intention to reconvene later in the afternoon, leaving the participants with a sense of anticipation for the next phase of discussions.

Overall, the transcript revealed a diplomatic effort to navigate complex international negotiations, with a focus on cooperation, compromise, and the shared goal of establishing a framework to combat cybercrime. The willingness of the Pacific Island Forum to accept the draft convention, despite some reservations, reflected a broader commitment to international collaboration and the pursuit of common objectives. The Chair’s leadership in steering the discussions towards consensus was a key factor in the positive outlook for the upcoming session.

Chair:
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, representatives of member states, observers, states, ladies and gentlemen, partners, dear colleagues, as you are aware, we are at a crossroads and at the request of numerous delegations, I am transmitting their request and to resume our work this afternoon at 3 p.m. It appears that certain consultations are still underway that would allow us to adopt by consensus this afternoon. So I ask for your indulgence. I know that it is rather unpleasant to make this decision to postpone because everyone has their plans, but let us leave some room and an opportunity for consensus. Are there any objections? Thank you very much. I thank you very sincerely for this support for consensus. Tonga, I apologize, Tonga is requesting the floor. Tonga, please, our colleague from Tonga wants to take the floor.

Tonga:
Madam Chair, I once again have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Pacific Island Forum. We are present here in New York, namely Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and my home country, Tonga. We the Pacific Islands Forum countries would like to express our sincere gratitude for the tireless efforts of you, your team, and the Secretariat, which has resulted in the texts of the draft convention, interpretative note, and resolution. Upon reviewing these, we acknowledge that some of our comments have been taken into account as evident in the revisions made, and we thank you for this. While we recognize that not all of our requested amendments have been incorporated, we are committed to securing consensus. Madam Chair, this committee has spent over two and a half years elaborating this convention, and although not all of our 14 members have been able to participate in person due to competing priorities and limited resources, we have had members representative of our region in these negotiations since the beginning. The Pacific Islands Forum members look to this convention to help in our fight against cybercrime, which has left no nation or region untouched, including ours. We need this convention. Therefore, Madam Chair, the Pacific Islands Forum support the adoption of this convention by consensus in this final session. In a spirit of compromise, we are willing to accept the draft in front of us. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chair:
Thank you very much. This augurs well for this afternoon. Thank you very much to all. I encourage you to keep encouraging consensus even further, and I’ll see you back here this afternoon.