Peru and the European Union join forces to combat cybercrime

In recent years there has been an increase in cybercrime in Peru. This increase in crimes committed through information and communication technologies is of concern to the Peruvian State and led to the creation of the Multisectoral Working Group (GTM) to elaborate the ‘National Strategy to confront cybercrime’ with the aim of combating this type of crime.

The GTM is made up of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Police, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Supervisory Body for Private Investment in Telecommunications, entities that will be responsible for developing a strategy that provides a structured framework to ensure an effective and coordinated response in the prosecution and punishment of cybercrime in Peru.

In addition to the meeting of the MWG, a workshop was held, given by Spanish specialists, in which the fight against cybercrime was addressed, with support and technical assistance through the European project ‘Support of EU law enforcement in the fight against drugs and organised crime in Peru’.

During the event, the Minister of Justice, Eduardo Arana, mentioned the context in which the Multisectoral Working Group was established and explained the importance of its work. ‘The Ministry of Justice, and all the organisations that make up this group, are convinced of the urgency of developing this strategy, as this phenomenon has increased alarmingly and puts children, adolescents, young people and older adults at risk’. He also thanked the European Union (EU) for its support and technical assistance. ‘I am sure that, with the joint effort and the will of all, we will lay the foundations for a safer and fairer Peru, including in cyberspace,’ he added.

For his part, the EU’s Head of Cooperation in Peru, Jerome Poussielgue, expressed his concern about this type of crime, given that these are situations on a global scale that affect all countries equally. ‘We want to support the efforts of the State in its modernisation process, and we can support it with European experience and through a partnership that we want to be direct and sincere,’ he concluded.

The growth of information and communication technologies at the global level poses new challenges for states, both in terms of technology and security. It is now necessary for countries to join forces to combat this type of crime, which occurs without borders.