Shanghala concerned about cybercrime increase

WINDHOEK, 14 MAY  – Minister of Justice Sakeus Shanghala has expressed concern about potential threats caused to cyber security by cybercrime in Namibia.
Shanghala was speaking on Monday during the commencement of the 27th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Austria.
“Namibia has experienced cyberattacks in the realm of electronic banking transactions and this prompted us to come up with a draft bill on electronic transactions and cybercrime,” he said.
Shanghala added that due to rapidly evolving technologies, the legislation needs to be drafted flexibly, taking into account the need for legal certainty and precision, while catering for the country’s ability to cooperate with other countries on matters of jurisdiction.
He articulated appreciation for the “significance of the ongoing thematic discussion”, which he believes, provides an opportunity to all parties taking part to exchange views on related issues.
He further expressed appreciation for the work of the Inter-Governmental Expert (IGE) Group on Cybercrime to conduct a comprehensive study on the problem of Cybercrime, adding that Namibia would continue supporting the group.
The CCPCJ, which is organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is taking place under the theme, ‘Criminal justice responses to prevent and counter cybercrime in all its forms, including through the strengthening of cooperation at the national level and international levels’.
IGE functions as the platform for further discussion on substantive issues of cybercrime and cyber security.
Shanghala acknowledged that Namibia’s main challenge currently, is the fact that the country is already lagging behind the criminal networks and that a short-sighted and limiting approach in this regard poses a serious challenge to progress.
“As states, our shared objective should be to find common standards that will enable us to effectively criminalise cybercrime.”
He cited the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which affirms that there can be no sustainable development without peace and vice versa.
“In light of this affirmation, we all have to join forces to reduce conflict, violent crimes and discrimination and more importantly, we have to employ all our efforts to ensure inclusion and good governance in our respective jurisdictions.”
The CCPCJ is chaired by Ambassador Lotfi Bouchaara of Morocco and over the days, will discuss resolutions addressing crime prevention and criminal justice in the context of the 2030 sustainable development agenda and preventing and countering human trafficking, among others.
Close to 90 events are scheduled to take place on the side-lines of the CCPCJ session, which is expected to end on 18 May.
NAMPA