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Cybercrime Forum Brings Together International Experts in Pacific Region

The Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC) has organized a major forum in Bucharest, Romania, bringing together international experts from the Pacific region to discuss the latest trends and challenges in combating cybercrime.

High-Level Speakers and Panel Discussions

The three-day event featured a range of high-level speakers and panel discussions on topics such as:

  • The international legal framework for cybercrime
  • Regional trends
  • Best practices for gathering electronic evidence

Key Highlights

One of the key highlights of the forum was the presentation by Australia’s Cyber Ambassador Dr. Tobias Feakin on partnering with Pacific Islands countries to combat cybercrime. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies, and industry stakeholders in tackling this complex issue.

Other notable speakers included:

  • Branko Stamenkovic from the Council of Europe, who discussed the Budapest Convention and its implementation in Pacific Island countries
  • Federal Agent Matthew Sprague from the Australian Federal Police, who presented on trends in cyber-enabled transnational crime in the region
  • Fernando Fernandez from INTERPOL, who spoke about analyzing electronic evidence

Case Studies

The forum also featured a range of case studies, including:

  • A presentation by Leotrina Macomber from the Attorney General’s Office of the Kingdom of Tonga, who discussed the country’s experiences developing legislation to implement the Budapest Convention

Networking Opportunities

In addition to the technical sessions, the event provided opportunities for participants to network and share best practices in combating cybercrime. The forum was attended by delegates from over 15 Pacific Island countries, including:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Fiji
  • Samoa
  • Tonga

C-PROC’s Role

The C-PROC has been a driving force behind efforts to combat cybercrime in the Pacific region, providing technical assistance and capacity-building programs to support law enforcement agencies and governments in their fight against this complex threat.

Forum Participants

  • Ana Elefterescu, Project Officer, Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe
  • Leotrina Macomber, Crown Counsel, Attorney General’s Office, Kingdom of Tonga
  • Sasae Walter, Secretariat Coordinator, PILON Secretariat, Apia, Samoa

Contact Information