Maldives signs UN convention against cybercrime

The Maldives has signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, in a move described as a pivotal step towards a safer, more secure digital future.

The UN General Assembly adopted the UN Convention against Cybercrime in December 2024, marking the first international treaty on criminal justice in more than two decades.

The adoption of the document came after five years of negotiations among UN member states, with the participation of experts, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

The Convention was opened for signature during a high-level conference held on Saturday at the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel signed the Convention on behalf of the Maldives during the conference, making the country among the first signatories of the new treaty.

In a post on X after the signing, Khaleel described it as a “historic moment.”

“This marks a pivotal step toward a safer, more secure digital future,” he wrote.

Khaleel said that the limited resources of Small Island Developing States like the Maldives, make them especially vulnerable to cyber threats.

“But we refuse to let these challenges limit our ambitions. By signing this Convention, we commit to stronger prevention, criminalization, and international cooperation to combat cybercrime,” he wrote.

The Maldivian Parliament gave its approval for the Maldives to become a party to the UN Convention against Cybercrime on October 15.

The Convention will enter into force 90 days after ratification by 40 states.

Addressing Saturday’s conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Convention as a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen collective defenses against cybercrime, and one that delivers major breakthroughs.

One of the most significant breakthroughs is the sharing of digital evidence across borders.

This has long been a major obstacle to justice — with perpetrators in one country, victims in another, and data stored in a third.

The Convention provides a clear pathway for investigators and prosecutors to finally overcome this barrier.

For the first time in any international treaty, the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images is recognized as a criminal offence.

The Convention also encourages strong protections for victims, including access to recovery, compensation, and the removal of illicit content.

Like other countries, the Maldives has seen a rise in cybercrime in recent years. In December 2024, the country enactedlegislative amendmentsto better tackle cybercrime. And in August, the country established a Cyber Security Center.