Cambodia has taken a major step in the fight against cybercrime by signing the UN Convention against Cybercrime at a ceremony co‑hosted by Vietnam and the United Nations in Hanoi on 25 October 2025. The event brought together representatives from more than 100 countries, with 65 states signing the convention.
By joining the convention, Cambodia strengthens cross‑border cooperation and accelerates lawful access to electronic evidence, key to faster, more effective investigations. The convention sets global standards for handling electronic evidence, criminalizes cyber-dependent offenses, online fraud, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and grooming, and the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images. It also establishes a 24/7 international cooperation network and prioritizes capacity building—enabling faster takedowns, more effective cross-border investigations, and stronger victim support.
APLE was honored to participate in the signing ceremony. APLE Executive Director, Seila Samleang, joined experts from the European Commission, UNODC, and the Global Network Initiative in a Multi-stakeholder Session titled “Translating the UN Convention against Cybercrime into Practice — Pathways and Perspectives to Effective Implementation.” The discussion turned negotiation lessons into concrete proposals: inclusive stakeholder participation, targeted technical assistance and capacity building, clear cooperation priorities, and sustained dialogue among stakeholders, UNODC, and Member States to ensure effective implementation.
Why this matters for children: the convention explicitly criminalizes CSAM (including production, offering, selling, distributing, accessing, possessing, and financing via ICT systems), grooming, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. With common evidence standards and an always-on cooperation network, authorities can respond faster, work lawfully across borders, and provide better care for survivors.
Seila Samleang urged multi-stakeholder engagement, legislative consultation, and robust international cooperation focused on cross-border investigations and survivor-centered support. APLE commended the Royal Government of Cambodia for this crucial move to enhance online child safety. As a member of ECPAT International, APLE will explore meaningful ways to engage government, civil society, tech companies, and academia to support effective implementation at national, regional, and global levels.
