Fiji’s ability to combat cybercrime will be enhanced after the proposed ratification of the Budapest Convention, says Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence chair Alex O’Connor.
A round of submissions was delivered before the committee by representatives of the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement and the Fiji Law Society in Suva yesterday.
Mr O’Connor said extreme effects of global cyber threats targeted sectors such as finance, information and communications technology, energy, water, emergency services, health and infrastructure.
He said with international support and assistance, particularly in relation to continued capacity building, Fiji’s criminal justice authorities, including the judiciary, prosecution and law enforcement agencies, would be better equipped.
In his submission, USP deputy vice-chancellor education Professor Jito Vanualailai said as a tertiary institution the university was looking at the convention from two different perspectives.
“One is that if it is ratified by Fiji, whether we have the local capacity and capability to support Fiji and that our ability to fight cybercrime at the forefront of technology in the sense that we should have the skills and knowledge to fight cybercrime,” he said.
“In general, the university believes that the Budapest Convention provides the necessary framework for international cooperation in fighting cybercrime. Therefore, USP supports Fiji in ratifying the Budapest Convention if Fiji wishes to do so.”
Prof Vanualailai also said the institution was systematically developing its human resources in cyber security.
“As an example to this, USP’s internet presence in the global stretch and education network is brokered through the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet), which compels USP to comply with the Budapest Convention given Australia is already a signatory.”
