Hanoi: Angola became the 60th state to sign the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime during an official signing ceremony presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, held at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Angolan delegation present at the ceremony in Hanoi was led by the Attorney General, H©lder Fernando Pitta Gr³z. The signature on behalf of the Angolan state was formalized by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Angola to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Fernando Miguel.
The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime is the first universal legal instrument to combat cybercrime, approved by the UN in the last 20 years. The treaty aims to harmonize national legislation on cybercrime, strengthen international cooperation, and create modern mechanisms for investigation and the collection and sharing of electronic evidence between member states.
According to the statement, the Convention covers not only purely technological crimes but also traditional crimes committed using digital means. It also promotes the training of legal practitioners and the transfer of technology to developing countries, with the aim of effectively tackling an increasingly global and sophisticated criminal phenomenon.
Angola actively participated in the drafting of the Convention through a multisectoral and multidisciplinary technical group coordinated by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), under the direction of Deputy Attorney General Gilberto Mizalaque Vunge. The negotiation process lasted for about three years, involving working sessions at the United Nations offices in Vienna and New York.
After signing, the process will proceed to ratification by the competent Angolan state authorities, culminating in the deposit of the instruments of ratification with the United Nations. According to reports, 72 member states have already signed the Convention, which will enter into force after 40 instruments of ratification have been deposited. The document will remain open for signature until December 31, 2026.
By acceding to this treaty, Angola now has an important instrument for international cooperation in combating growing cybercrime. It will benefit from technical assistance, specialized training, and standardized legal references to strengthen its legal framework on computer crime and mutual legal assistance.