# IGF 2026 WS #277 Assessing and Shaping the UN Convention against Cybercrime

## Description

The UN Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC) establishes a global framework to guide national efforts and facilitate international cooperation to address cybercrime. The UNCC's broad scope for investigative measures means that its implementation may pose significant risks to human rights unless accompanied by strong safeguards in domestic legal systems. The use of cybercrime laws as a basis for enhancing surveillance and curtailing the rights to freedom of expression and other human rights is by now well-documented globally. At-risk groups, including human rights defenders, religious minorities, and journalists, are often targeted under these laws.
The upcoming establishment of a Conference of States Parties and negotiations on an additional protocol to the UNCC could serve to introduce new safeguards, or to further expand the scope for and likelihood of abuse. Decisions to be made at the January 2027 meeting of the UNCC's Ad-hoc Committee will determine whether a broad set of civil society and industry stakeholders will be able to effectively engage in this process going forward.
Ahead of that meeting, this session will bring together representatives from governments, companies, and civil society organizations to unpack what is at stake and consider how best to ensure that broad multistakeholder participation can help foster the trust and transparency necessary to allow for transnational cooperation against cybercrime, while averting transnational repression of human rights.

## Policy Question(s)

What is the scope of reform to cybercrime laws that we should anticipate as the UNCC is ratified and transposed around the world?

What will the negotiations regarding the UNCC’s “supplemental protocol” and “Conference of States Parties” focus on and what outcomes are possible and desirable?

How can stakeholders work together to shape both transposition and ongoing negotiation in order to achieve the UNCC’s objectives while maximizing human rights protections?

## Expected Outcomes

This session will be used to expand and inform existing networks of diverse stakeholders working in collaboration to help shape implementation of and further negotiations on the UNCC. GNI will develop and disseminate a summary of the session, and use the connections developed and strategies discussed to inform further coordination and engagement ahead of next year’s UNCC Ad-Hoc Committee negotiations.

## Reference Document

Reference Document

## Format

Roundtable
**Duration (minutes):** 60
**Format description:** We are hoping to attract a diverse range of participants with distinct expertise and levels of past engagement on the UNCC. We will use the first 30 minutes for initial speaker interventions to level-set and then the remaining 30 minutes for an open, roundtable discussion about next steps.

## Hybrid Format

**Hybrid Format:** GNI will share the agenda and speaker bios in the chat and via physical print-outs in order to make the most efficient use of time. GNI will provide both a physical and virtual moderator in order to help coordinate onsite and online participation. The second half (30 minutes) of the session will be dedicated to participant questions and interventions, with that equal time allotted for in person and virtual participation.

## Organizers

**Organizer 1:** Jason  Pielemeier, 🔒Global Network Initiative

## Speakers

**Speaker 1:** Jessica Jahn, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
**Speaker 2:** Tim Engelhardt, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
**Speaker 3:** Robyn Greene, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
**Speaker 4:** Grace Githaiga, Civil Society, African Group
**Speaker 5:** Raman Jit Singh Chima, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

## Moderator

Jason  Pielemeier, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

## Online Moderator

Samaya Anjum, Technical Community, Intergovernmental Organization

## Rapporteur

Jason  Pielemeier, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

## Participant Benefits

What will participants gain from attending this session?

## SDGs

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
16.1
16.10
16.2
16.3
16.4
16.5
16.6
16.7
16.8
16.a
16.b
17. Partnerships for the Goals
17.13
17.16
17.3
17.6
17.7
17.9