Statement by Kathak Academy (Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC)

Delivered by Mr. Abul Kashem Sheikh, Chairman & CEO
Plenary Session – United Nations Convention against Cybercrime
Theme: Countering Cybercrime

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

It is an honor to address this plenary session on behalf of Kathak Academy, an organization in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council. I thank the United Nations for convening this timely dialogue under the theme “Countering Cybercrime.”

Cybercrime has become one of the most pressing threats of our time. It undermines trust in digital technologies, destabilizes economies, and erodes the safety of individuals and communities worldwide. Beyond financial and institutional damage, cybercrime disproportionately affects the most vulnerable—children, women, and marginalized groups—through exploitation, disinformation, and online abuse.

As an organization dedicated to education, culture, and community development, Kathak Academy recognizes that combating cybercrime requires more than legislation and law enforcement. It also demands awareness, education, and empowerment at the grassroots level. Digital literacy, particularly among youth, is a powerful safeguard against exploitation in cyberspace.

We call for greater international cooperation in three key areas:

1. Capacity building to strengthen the abilities of developing countries to respond to cybercrime.

2. Awareness and prevention programs that equip communities with knowledge to stay safe online.

3. Human rights protection, ensuring that global action against cybercrime upholds privacy, dignity, and freedom of expression.

Mr. Chair,

Kathak Academy remains committed to working with governments, civil society, and the UN system to build safer digital spaces. Cybersecurity is not only a matter of technology, but also of trust, justice, and human development.

Together, we can create a cyberspace that empowers rather than endangers, and that reflects the values of peace, dignity, and shared progress.

Thank you.