UK (Commonwealth Union)_ Judges in Papua New Guinea have lauded the novel Commonwealth training initiative designed to enhance their capacity in handling cybercrime cases, thereby fostering a safer online environment for their populace. In collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence, the Commonwealth Secretariat, backed by the United Kingdom, orchestrated the training in Port Moresby. Over 40 judges and magistrates participated in the training, engaging in simulations to deepen their comprehension of cyber threats and computer-based crimes.
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The training equipped them with practical knowledge to implement internationally recognized best practices within their jurisdictions, including the collection of electronic evidence admissible in courts and the promotion of cross-border cooperation for prosecuting cybercrimes. Encompassing subjects from safeguarding user data to validating digital evidence, the objective of the course is to address the unique challenges that judicial officers encounter when confronting cybercrimes, especially in developing nations.
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During the inaugural session, Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, a Supreme Court judge, lauded the timely training and emphasized the evolving landscape of Papua New Guinea’s criminal justice system. He also highlighted the challenges as a result of the surge in cybercrime, which necessitate novel approaches to evidence gathering compared to conventional crimes. Justice Gavara-Nanu also emphasized the need for support from the Commonwealth Secretariat to address these cases comprehensively, spanning investigation, detection, prosecution, and adjudication, which are pivotal concerns for judges and magistrates as adjudicators. He said, “We need assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat to deal with these types of cases, from investigation [and] detection to prosecution and adjudication, which is what concerns judges and magistrates as adjudicators.”
John Carey, the Judge Administrator of the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence, also supported Justice Gavara-Nanu’s sentiments, offering full endorsement for the training on behalf of the country’s Chief Justice, Sir Gibuna Gibbs Salika KBE. According to reports, there is a disproportionate rise in cybercrimes in the Asia-Pacific region, constituting 31 percent of all remediated incidents worldwide in 2023. Accordingly, cybersecurity threats have resulted in an estimated US $1.75 trillion in economic losses for organizations across the Asia-Pacific region, roughly equivalent to the size of South Korea’s economy, the world’s 13th largest.
Addressing participants remotely, Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Professor Luis G. Franceschi highlighted the critical need to enhance the skills of judicial officers to effectively adjudicate cybercrime cases. Franceschi also emphasized that the knowledge and skills acquired through training would enable judges and magistrates to identify practical solutions to the myriad challenges in ensuring a safer internet for all. He said, “Our research shows a particular need for enhancing the skills of judicial officers to effectively adjudicate cybercrime cases. The knowledge and skills you will gain through training will help you identify practical solutions to the many challenges faced by our countries in making the internet a safer place for everyone.” He also urged magistrates and judges to maintain vigilance against cyber threats by revising their security protocols, practices, and policies on a regular basis. He also assured them of the Commonwealth’s unwavering support in this endeavor.
Further, Anne Macro, the United Kingdom’s Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, reaffirmed in her address the nation’s dedication to guaranteeing a secure and reliable digital environment for all individuals. She underscored that the United Kingdom would persist in collaborating with global counterparts, such as the Commonwealth Secretariat, in order to accomplish this objective. Additionally, the Commonwealth Secretariat has provided training to over a thousand law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judicial officials representing the 55 member countries of the Commonwealth.
