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Global Programme on Cybercrime Kicks-Off Training for Tanzanian and Ethiopian Officials 

Dar es Salaam, 15 March 2016

The UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime - Eastern Africa delivered a three-day training workshop on Electronic Evidence and Cybercrime for judges and prosecutors from Tanzania and Ethiopia in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Speaking at the opening of the event, the Permanent Secretary (Communications), Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications for the United Republic of Tanzania, Professor Faustin Kamuzora, mentioned that cybercrime is one of the fastest growing types of transnational crime due to the growth of the internet and digitisation. Unprecedented technological advances mean that cybercrime is increasingly easy to commit and harder for law enforcement agencies to stop and prosecute. The complex nature of the crime, where the perpetrators and their victims can be located in different countries, highlights the need to mount an urgent, dynamic, and international response.

In his keynote speech, Chief of the Global Programme on Cybercrime, Mr. Neil Walsh, said that the UNODC national cybercrime capacity reviews conducted in the Eastern Africa region have identified a need for increased cooperation of law enforcement and criminal justice actors, as well as coordination and cooperation at the national level. Mr. Walsh thanked the Government of Tanzania for hosting the cybercrime training and welcomed the generous contribution of the Programme donors, Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan, United States, and the United Kingdom through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Challenges posed by cybercrime can be addressed by providing shared training to law enforcement personnel, as well as prosecutors and judges. The goal of the training is to increase awareness of the principles of cybercrime and understanding of the use of electronic evidence in court. Collaboration with industry and academia is essential to bring an informed angle to regional governments' cybercrime policies.

Through the Global Programme on Cybercrime, the UNODC is committed to improving technical expertise as well as improving national and regional cooperation on issues related to cybercrime. In East Africa, cross-national training will be provided to relevant stakeholders in 2016. Furthermore, the provision of outreach to schools, children, parents, and caregivers forms an essential component of the response.

The current training in Tanzania will cover a wide variety of topics, including an introduction to technology, internet basics, and key concepts regarding sources and types of electronic evidence. Modules identifying the legal aspects of electronic evidence and the role of the judiciary and prosecutors will also be presented. In addition, training material will have a strong focus on topics of online child abuse, exploitation, and protection methods. To underscore these topics, cross cutting issues such as regional cooperation, mutual legal assistance and trans-border access to data will be underscored.

To learn more about the Global Programme on Cybercrime, please visit the UNODC website.