Morocco on Saturday signed the United Nations Treaty on Cybercrime during an international conference held in Hanoi, attended by representatives of more than 60 countries and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Kingdom was represented at the ceremony by Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi, who hailed the signing as a “historic moment” and a “symbolic milestone in UN action over the decade.”
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, the treaty will officially enter into force 90 days after ratification by Member States. It represents the first international legal framework dedicated exclusively to combating cybercrime.
In his address, Ouahbi described the agreement as a decisive step forward in the fight against emerging forms of criminality, noting that it also reflects an exemplary model of international cooperation.
He explained that the digital revolution has made the Internet an integral part of daily life but has also facilitated the rapid expansion of cyber offenses that now threaten political and economic stability worldwide.
Morocco, the minister recalled, has played an active role in shaping the convention since the creation of the intergovernmental committee tasked with drafting the text, following UN General Assembly Resolution 75/282. The Kingdom participated in all negotiation stages, contributing substantially to the final document.
Ouahbi noted that achieving consensus amid today’s complex geopolitical climate was not easy, as discussions often revolved around politically and technically sensitive issues. The final agreement, he said, demonstrates a collective understanding of cyber threats and a renewed commitment to judicial and technical cooperation.
Highlighting the increasing global risks posed by cyberattacks, Ouahbi warned of their deep impact on societies—socially, economically, and psychologically.
He also pointed to the “resurgence of extremist groups using digital platforms to spread violence and terrorism,” stressing that strengthening cybersecurity has become a global necessity to protect individuals, societies, and international stability.
Morocco, he emphasized, has long been part of the international effort to bolster cybersecurity, adopting a series of national laws and strategies to develop its digital economy while ensuring citizen safety. The country has enacted specific legislation on cybersecurity and updated its penal and procedural codes accordingly.
The justice minister also underlined the importance of enhancing international cooperation to improve access to digital evidence, calling it one of the main challenges facing judicial authorities worldwide. He reaffirmed Morocco’s readiness to fully collaborate with its partners to ensure the effective implementation of the new UN convention.
Initially proposed by Russia in 2017, the treaty was adopted by consensus after years of negotiations, becoming a cornerstone of the global response to cybercrime and digital security challenges.
