PRIME MINISTER HON. SITIVENI RABUKA'S RESPONSE TO ORAL QUESTION – 190/2025 IN PARLIAMENT

Oral Question - 190/2025
Hon. Ratu Josaia Niudamu to ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Civil Service and Public Enterprises, Trade, Co operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications - Can the Prime Minister update Parliament on the work undertaken by the Ministry in alignment with the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime.

· Honorable Speaker Sir,
· Honorable Ministers and Assistant Ministers,
· Honorable Leader of Opposition,
· Honorable Members of Parliament, and
· Ladies & Gentlemen

Ni sa bula vina'a and a very good morning to you all.

Mister Speaker, I thank the Honourable Member for the question.

The Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications has been actively leading Fiji's participation in international efforts to bolster our cybersecurity posture, including coordinating capacity building and cooperation efforts in combating cybercrime.

Mister Speaker, the landmark United Nations Convention against Cybercrime is the first of its kind at the UN level and provides a global framework to strengthen cooperation among the 193 UN members in addressing the growing threat of cybercrime and addressing online child sexual exploitation and abuse while also safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. In fact, it is the first UN criminal justice treaty in over 20 years.

I am proud that Fiji, through the Ministry of Trade Cooperatives, MSMEs and Communications and with the strong support of the Solicitor-General's Office, actively participated in the more than three-year negotiation process of this landmark treaty, which was ultimately adopted-by consensus and without the need for a vote-on Christmas Eve last year.

There was a signing ceremony for the Convention on 25 and 26 October and 72 Parties signed the Convention.

Fiji's Intention to Sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime
Mister Speaker, Cabinet has endorsed that Fiji sign this Convention and which builds upon the solid foundation laid through our accession to the Council of Europe's Budapest Convention. It further underscores our recognition that cybercrime is a transnational challenge that demands a coordinated and united global response.

Once we have signed this Convention, our next step will be to undertake the necessary legislative reforms to align our national laws with its provisions, as well as with the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention, which we signed in June 2025. We are partnering with the Council of Europe for this. We will then look at ratification processes which will be tabled before this August House.

The encouraging news is that the UN Convention against Cybercrime is well aligned with, and builds upon, the Budapest Convention-the very framework that guided the development of our Cybercrime Act.

We are determined to ensure Fiji plays its part as a responsible member of the international community, ensuring our citizens and businesses are better protected from the harms of cybercrime, while contributing to a safer and more secure digital environment globally.

Vinaka Vakalevu


Potential Supplementary Question:
How is the Budapest Convention different from the UN Convention against Cybercrime?

Response:
Both treaties have the overarching goal of combatting cybercrime and three key differences are as follows:

The Budapest Convention is the world's first international treaty on cybercrime and was developed by the Council of Europe, negotiated by 46 Council of Europe Member States and opened for signature in 2001. The Budapest Convention came into force in 2004.

The UN Convention against Cybercrime, on the other hand, has been developed under the United Nations framework, was negotiated by 193 UN Member States and was opened for signature on 25 October 2025. This will only come into force once 40 Member States have ratified it. As of now, it has not come into force.

The UN Convention against Cybercrime is open to all 193 UN Members whereas the Budapest Convention is open to Council of Europe (COE) Members and for non-COE Members, upon being invited by the Council of Europe.

Regarding the scope of the two international treaties, the Budapest Convention focuses on harmonising national laws, improving investigative techniques, and strengthening international cooperation in tackling cybercrime. The UN Convention against Cybercrime builds on the Budapest Convention and seeks to create a more inclusive framework that addresses the needs of developing countries, capacity building, and safeguards for human rights.

In signing both treaties, our criminal justice authorities will have all the necessary tools that are on offer to combat this global challenge of cybercrime.