International cooperation in combating online sexual acts against children during armed conflicts: context of the UN draft Convention against cybercrime

Abstract

The draft text of the UN Convention against cybercrime represents a significant collaborative effort by the UN Ad Hoc Committee, member states, and various stakeholders. However, additional considerations are warranted, particularly regarding the detrimental impact of cybercrime on human rights during armed conflicts. Children, as the most vulnerable social group in such scenarios, are at heightened risk of both offline and online sexual exploitation and abuse. In the absence of a robust legal framework, authorities in conflict zones are unlikely to engage effectively in international cooperation to combat these transnational crimes. Therefore, it is imperative to include a specific provision within the draft convention to ensure its applicability in addressing transnational crimes related to child pornography and other forms of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children during armed conflicts.