On the morning of October 25, the Opening Ceremony and High-level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) were solemnly held at the National Convention Center with the theme "Fighting cybercrime, sharing responsibility, towards the future".
President Luong Cuong chaired the ceremony with the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Lao Dong respectfully introduces the full text of the Vietnamese translation speech of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the opening session:
"Dear Mr. Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
Dear delegates,
I am honored to be with you in Hanoi to attend this historic event.
I would like to thank Vietnam for hosting this signing ceremony and Vietnam's leadership in connecting us.
The last time I visited this proud country in 2022, I was reminded of Vietnam's inspiring future and its important role in the global electronics supply chain.
This makes Hanoi a suitable host for this event. This is a city that embodies the spirit of the digital age - innovation, capacity and connection.
The United Nations is proud to cooperate with Vietnam to make this day a reality.
Dear Ladies and gentlemen,
We are living in an era of extraordinary technological change.
Goods and services are transported with just one click.
The idea spread globally faster than we could process it.
And the devices in our bags connect us across continents and across oceans immediately.
The digital age has narrowed the gap between us, while expanding the opportunities ahead of us.
However, each technological revolution leaves a black shadow.
In recent years, cyberspace has become a fertile land for criminals, giving them unprecedented reach and the ability to move at unimaginable speeds just a decade ago.
Every day, sophisticated scams deceive families, rob livelihoods and deprive billions of dollars from our economy.
Horrifying child sexual abuse content leaves lifelong injuries.
Illegal cash flow, hidden through cryptocurrency and digital transactions, finances the trafficking of drugs, weapons and terrorism.
Businesses, hospitals and airports were paralyzed by ransomware attacks.
Disadvantages do not stop at finance: They erode trust in our institutions, undermine the rule of law and cause real-world harm.
In cyberspace, no one is safe until everyone is safe.
A vulnerability anywhere can make people and institutions everywhere victims.
That is why we need a strong, collective and global response.
Up to now, the world still lacks a common legal framework to unify our efforts.
That has changed today.
After more than four years of complicated negotiations, member states have reached their first criminal justice treaty in more than two decades.
The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime is a powerful, legally binding tool to strengthen our collective defense capabilities against cybercrime.
It is a commitment that basic human rights such as privacy, dignity and safety must be protected both in person and online.
This is a testament to the continuous strength of multilateralism in providing solutions.
And that is a commitment that no country, no matter how developed, will not be protected from cybercrime.
The treaty has created a number of major breakthroughs.
One of the most important breakthroughs is the sharing of cross-border digital evidence.
This has long been a major obstacle to justice for perpetrators in one country, victims in another, and data stored in a third country.
The treaty provides a clear roadmap for investigators and prosecutors to eventually overcome this barrier.
This is also a victory for victims of online abuse.
For the first time in any international treaty, spreading sensitive images without consent is considered a violation of the law.
The Convention also encourages strong protections for victims including access to recovery, compensation and the removal of illegal content.
By creating binding obligations, the Convention turns our commitments into practical protections.
This Convention supplements the Treaty of the Future and the Global Digital Treaty, aiming to narrow the digital gap and enhance global digital cooperation.
This Convention is also in line with the goals of the newly established Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the International Committee for independent Sciences on AI.
Together, these commitments and mechanisms create a solid foundation to ensure a safe and secure digital space.
Dear Ladies and gentlemen,
Today's signing ceremony is an important milestone in our joint journey towards a safer digital world.
But that was just the beginning.
The real power of the Convention will lie in turning the signatures into concrete actions.
The treaty must be ratified and take effect immediately, without delay.
The Convention must be implemented effectively and fully.
And the Convention must be signed by both sides and implemented daily.
The United Nations is here to accompany you on this path.
Through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - Secretariat of the Convention - we will help countries implement this Convention, build capacity, strengthen investigation and deepen cross-border cooperation.
Let's seize this moment and maximize the potential of this landmark deal.
Let's build a cyberspace that respects the human rights and dignity of everyone.
And let's make sure that the digital age brings peace, security and prosperity to everyone.
Thank you! ".
