The Parliament has approved Maldives’ accession to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention of Cybercrime, with unanimous support from all members present during the vote.

The Convention, adopted by a UN resolution in December 2019, represents the first international treaty aimed at preventing and combating cybercrime. It will be open for signing in Vietnam from 25 to 26 October.

The Parliament Committee on Foreign Relations emphasised that becoming an early signatory would allow the Maldives to play an active role in shaping global policies and regulations related to cybercrime. The Committee further highlighted that the Convention would strengthen the country’s capacity to address cyber threats through enhanced cooperation in sharing electronic evidence for serious offences.

The Convention sets out key measures that member states must implement to prevent cybercrime and improve their digital security frameworks. The Committee noted that participation in the treaty would bolster the Maldives’ cybersecurity infrastructure and enhance the investigative capabilities of relevant authorities.