Thank you, minister, Chair, distinguished delegates.

I am here as Chair of the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the umbrella body coordinating civil society engagement with the crime and justice mandates of the UN.

We actively participated through the Ad Hoc Committee which negotiated this treaty, alongside a wide cross section of active civil society, private sector and  intergovernmental stakeholders.

The breadth and depth of that engagement between states and other stakeholders was impressive and mutually beneficial, and we have always appreciated the spirit and nature of these exchanges – including here this weekend in Hanoi.

Throughout the process, strong and detailed positions were conveyed by private sector and civil society alike – on the convention’s scope, on human rights, and on effective implementation.

There were also clear disagreements between member states on some of these issues throughout the negotiations.  But despite these challenges, Member States did agree to the convention, at the UN General Assembly level.

To have done so, on the complex and multifaceted issue of cybercrime, in today’s fragmented world was a remarkable achievement, and a testament to a common commitment to supporting multilateralism and to combatting cybercrime.

Since the negotiations began, and every day since, the problems of cybercrime and of how criminals use the internet to carry out crimes across borders, and to evade detection, have got undoubtably worse.

You only have to read the latest news report on cyber scam centres, or cyber attacks on governments and private sector alike, to see how quickly things are evolving – and how devastating these criminal operations can be – on both an economic and human level.

It is without question that law enforcement faces serious challenges in responding, and even in keeping up with the pace of change in these criminal markets.

But the implementation of this Convention cannot be a task that falls on governments and law enforcement alone.  It will require a transnational, transsectoral approach.

The Ad Hoc Committee was recognised for its inclusive approach to multi-stakeholder voices, including NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and academic institutions.

This model can also ensure that the Conference adheres to the principles of effectiveness, inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency outlined in Article 57(b), and to ensuring adherence to the vital safeguards included in the Convention to uphold human rights and the rule of law.

Active engagement and a meaningful integration of civil society, the private sector and academia, in the Conference of Parties, and in national implementation, will undoubtedly contribute to effective implementation, in line with the model and spirit of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Thank you.