This is a call for applications to participate in the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, which was established in accordance with General Assembly resolution 74/247 of 27 December 2019, entitled “Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes” and will hold its first session in New York on 17-28 January 2022.
On May 26 2021, the General Assembly adopted resolution 75/282, in which it decided to invite to the substantive sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee, as appropriate, representatives of interested global and regional intergovernmental organizations, including representatives of United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and funds, as well as representatives of functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as observers (operative paragraph 7).
The General Assembly also reaffirmed that representatives of non-governmental organizations that are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, may register with the secretariat in order to participate in the sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee (operative paragraph 8).
In the same resolution, the General Assembly requested the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, in consultation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to draw up a list of representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector, including those with expertise in the field of cybercrime, who may participate in the Ad Hoc Committee, taking into account the principles of transparency and equitable geographical representation, with due regard for gender parity, to submit the proposed list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis and to bring the list to the attention of the Ad Hoc Committee for a final decision by the Ad Hoc Committee on participation (operative paragraph 9).
Considering the area of work of your organization, you may be interested in participating in the Ad Hoc Committee, as per the above-cited resolution. Interested stakeholders are thus welcome to apply by filling out the application form at the latest by midnight on 1st December 2021, New York time. The form may be accessed at this link.
We recommend that you apply upon receiving this call, even if your participation is not yet certain, as there will no possibility to apply at a later stage.
More information on the Ad Hoc Committee is available on its website.