The Framework also reflects international best practice and the existence of model laws and other instruments of public international law in each area of concern. However, the Framework is not itself a model law, thereby focusing the debate within the Task Force on the nature of the provisions being recommended to Partner States and avoiding the need for detailed scrutiny of specific draft provisions. This approach reflects not only the progress of the law reform process already underway within certain Partner States, but is also a pragmatic response to the work that has already been carried out in various forums and intergovernmental organisations. The following discussed the areas in which it is recommended that legal provisions are adopted. Each topic is considered separately, although a Partner State may obviously, for reasons of legislative efficiency, decide to develop a draft bill addressing one or more topic. Where measures address more than one topic, however, it should be borne in mind that the nature of the political debate generated by each topic can differ considerably, such that controversy and resistance to the adoption of provisions on one topic may impact adversely on the adoption of the whole package of law reform proposals. For example, measures facilitating electronic transactions, could be less controversial than measures enhancing authority in the investigation of computer crime. 2.1 Electronic transactions The overriding objective of a measure on electronic transactions is to facilitate the use of electronic means of communication to enter into and execute legal acts. The range of acts covered by the term ‘electronic transactions’ are not confined to commercial agreements for the purchase goods, products or services, but also encompasses interactions with government and administrative bodies, in either a commercial or non-commercial context. 2.1.1 General provisions As with any legislative measure, there are certain matters that need to be addressed at the outset to aid interpretation and implementation of the measure. This section highlights four such issues: purpose and policy; sphere of application; variation and statutory definitions. When adopting a measure on electronic transactions, governments have certain aims and objectives that the measure is intended to achieve. Such policy objectives can be expressly stated in the legislative instrument, e.g.: (a) To facilitate domestic and international electronic commerce by eliminating legal barriers and establishing legal certainty; (b) To encourage the use of reliable forms of electronic commerce; (c) To facilitate electronic filing of documents with Government and to promote efficient delivery of Government services by means of reliable forms of electronic communications; 6

Select target paragraph3