Between 17 and 21 April 2023, the inaugural EU:CD Fellowship cohort participated in the Fifth session of the United Nations Ad-Hoc Committee on Cybercrime in Vienna, Austria.
The Ad Hoc Committee has been tasked to elaborate a comprehensive international convention on countering the misuse of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes. By participating, the fellows had the opportunity to further develop knowledge and skills to meaningfully engage in international cooperation against cybercrime.
In addition to participating in the negotiations, the EU:CD Fellowship consisted of roundtables and briefings with key stakeholders. Starting with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, the secretariat presented the role of the office and the UN more broadly in facilitating the process. On day two, the fellows exchanged with the delegation of the European Union to the AHC, as well as representatives from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice. On day three, the fellowship held a roundtable briefing with representatives of civil society, including the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the NGO Alliance on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Access Now, the Cyber Peace Institute and Epicenter Works. Lastly, on day four, the fellows exchanged with industry representatives on the Ad-Hoc Committee negotiations, including the International Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft.
The fellowship programme also included public side events on cybercrime and human rights and law enforcement cooperation, as well as delegate receptions hosted jointly with the United Kingdom and the Women in Cyber Fellowship, and by the permanent representatives of the United States and Japan, respectively.
In order to fulfil its mandate, the chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee is expected to share a zero-draft of the treaty in June, and hold two additional negotiating sessions in 2023 and 2024. In July, 2023, the EU:CD Fellowship will also participate in the fifth session of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies in New York.
