High level discussions are underway in Port Vila to review Vanuatu’s cybercrime legislation to see how it aligns with international conventions on human rights and the rule of law.

It’s organised by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the Vanuatu Government, and attended by senior representatives of the Office of the Public Prosecutor, OGCIO, Vanuatu Police Force, commercial banks, telecommunication companies, and VBTC.

Vanuatu has been working closely with the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe to explore how to strengthen Vanuatu’s cybercrime legislation. Of particular focus is building the capacity of local agencies to detect and prosecute cybercrime. In addition, the review is looking at what should be criminalized and how to cooperate with other jurisdictions to tackle cybercrime. Opening the consultations was Vanuatu’s Director-General in the office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Greigoire Nimbtik, who stressed the importance Vanuatu places on tackling cybercrime in the country. He noted that with advances in technology, cybercrime was growing in proportion and becoming a major threat

Vanuatu’s concerns were supported by Manuel De Almedia Pereira who manages the cybercrime programme for the Council of Europe. He detailed graphic examples of child pornography, human rights abuses, and data theft in cyber space and urged Vanuatu to continue working on collaborating with other states and agencies to strengthen legislation and policies around cybercrime .

The cybercrime consultations conclude this Friday by which time it should be a lot clearer on what provisions of Vanuatu’s existing cybercrime legislation needs to be redrafted.