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UN PhotoVIET NAM / GUTERRES CONVENTION AGAINST CYBERCRIME
STORY: VIET NAM / GUTERRES CONVENTION AGAINST CYBERCRIME
TRT: 5:03
SOURCE: UNITED NATIONS IN VIET NAM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 25 OCTOBER 2025, HANOI, VIET NAM
25 OCTOBER 2025, NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, HANOI, VIET NAM
1. Various shots, Secretary-General António Guterres arriving at the National Convention Centre
2. Various shots, family photo
3. Various shots, Convention Centre
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime. It is a promise that fundamental human rights such as privacy, dignity, and safety must be protected both offline and online. It is a testament to the continued power of multilateralism to deliver solutions. And it is a vow that no country, no matter their level of development, will be left defenceless against cybercrime.”
5. Various shots, Guterres speaking at the Convention Centre
6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“By creating binding obligations, the Convention turns our commitments into practical safeguards. It complements the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, which seek to bridge the digital divide, and strengthen global digital cooperation. And it is consistent with the objectives of the recently established Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to be established in the United Nations. Together, these commitments and mechanisms form a strong foundation to make digital spaces safe and secure.”
7. Various shots, Guterres speaking at the Convention Centre
8. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The true power of the Convention will lie in turning signatures into tangible action. It must be ratified and entered into force, without delay. It must be implemented, effectively and in full. And it must be lived up to every day, by every party. The United Nations is here to walk this path with you.”
9. Various shots, signing ceremony of the Convention on Cybercrime
10. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It enables law enforcement to share digital evidence across borders — one of the biggest barriers to justice until now. It creates a 24/7 cooperation network so countries can trace funds, identify perpetrators, and recover stolen assets. And for the first time in any international treaty, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is recognised as a criminal offence — a major victory for victims of online abuse.”
25 OCTOBER 2025, CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY, HANOI, VIET NAM
11. Various shots, Courtesy call with H.E. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam
25 OCTOBER 2025, NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, HANOI, VIET NAM
12. Various shots, bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister
25 OCTOBER 2025, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HANOI, VIET NAM
13. Various shots, meeting with H.E. Tran Thanh Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly
Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime.”
The world’s first global convention to prevent and respond to cybercrime opened for signature today (25 Oct) in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Sixty-five states signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which still must be ratified by each State according to its own procedures.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Secretary-General highlighted that the Convention is “a promise that fundamental human rights such as privacy, dignity, and safety must be protected both offline and online. It is a testament to the continued power of multilateralism to deliver solutions. And it is a vow that no country, no matter their level of development, will be left defenceless against cybercrime.”
The Convention against Cybercrime seeks to respond to the growing threat posed by cybercrime, acknowledging that the misuse of information and communications technology is enabling crimes like terrorism, human trafficking, financial crimes and drug smuggling on an unprecedented scale. It aims to make the prevention and response to cybercrime more effective by strengthening international cooperation, technical assistance and capacity building, particularly for developing countries.
Guterres said, “By creating binding obligations, the Convention turns our commitments into practical safeguards,” adding it complements the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, which seek to bridge the digital divide, and strengthen global digital cooperation.
It is also consistent with the objectives of the recently established Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to be established in the United Nations, the UN chief noted.
“Together, these commitments and mechanisms form a strong foundation to make digital spaces safe and secure,” Guterres stressed.
The Secretary-General reiterated that the true power of the Convention will lie in turning signatures into tangible action.
He said, “It must be ratified and entered into force, without delay. It must be implemented, effectively and in full. And it must be lived up to every day, by every party. The United Nations is here to walk this path with you.”
At a joint press encounter with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Phạm Minh Chính, on the signing of the Cybercrime Convention, Guterres explained that the Convention enables law enforcement to share digital evidence across borders — one of the biggest barriers to justice until now. It creates a 24/7 cooperation network so countries can trace funds, identify perpetrators, and recover stolen assets.
“And for the first time in any international treaty,” the UN chief highlighted, “the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is recognised as a criminal offence — a major victory for victims of online abuse.”
The UN Convention against Cybercrime was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024. It will enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 40th signatory.
Guterres also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.
Later today, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Viet Nam’s support for multilateralism and the United Nations. The Secretary-General and the General Secretary discussed Viet Nam’s progress in achieving sustainable and inclusive development. They also discussed the international situation in its different dimensions.
At the National Assembly, Guterres held a meeting with H.E. Tran Thanh Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly.
On Saturday evening, the Secretary-General will head to Kuala Lumpur, where he will attend the ASEAN-UN Summit, chaired by Malaysia. On the sidelines of the Summit, he will engage in a number of bilateral discussions with counterparts at the ASEAN meetings, as well as with the Malaysian hosts. And on Monday, the Secretary-General will hold a press conference.
The Secretary-General will be back in New York on 28 October.
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