A/AC.291/L.15 Preamble The States Parties to the present Convention, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, [agreed ad referendum] Noting that information and communications technologies, while having enormous potential for the development of societies, create new opportunities for perpetrators, may contribute to the increase in the rate and diversity of criminal activities, and may have an adverse impact on States, enterprises and the well-being of individuals and society as a whole, [agreed ad referendum] Concerned that the use of information and communications technology systems can have a considerable impact on the scale, speed and scope of criminal offences, including offences related to terrorism and transnational organized crime, such as trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants, the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and ammunition, drug trafficking and trafficking in cultural property, Convinced of the need to pursue, as a matter of priority, a global criminal justice policy aimed at the protection of society against cybercrime by, inter alia, adopting appropriate legislation, establishing common offences and procedural powers and fostering international cooperation to prevent and combat such activities more effectively at the national, regional and international levels, Determined to deny safe havens to those who engage in cybercrime by prosecuting these crimes wherever they occur, [agreed ad referendum] Stressing the need to enhance coordination and cooperation among States by, inter alia, providing technical assistance and capacity-building, including the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, to countries, in particular developing countries, upon their request, to improve national legislation and frameworks and enhance the capacity of national authorities to deal with cybercrime in all its forms, including its prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution, and emphasizing in this context the role that the United Nations plays, Recognizing the increasing number of victims of cybercrime, the importance of obtaining justice for those victims and the necessity to address the needs of persons in vulnerable situations in measures taken to prevent and combat the offences covered by this Convention, [agreed ad referendum] Determined to prevent, detect and suppress more effectively international transfers of property obtained as a result of cybercrime and to strengthen international cooperation in the recovery and return of proceeds of the crimes established in accordance with this Convention, Bearing in mind that preventing and combating cybercrime is a responsibility of all States and that they must cooperate with one another, with the support and involvement of relevant international and regional organizations, as well as non governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and private sector entities, if their efforts in this area are to be effective, Recognizing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all relevant efforts to prevent and combat the offences covered by this Convention, in accordance with domestic law, Mindful of the need to achieve law enforcement objectives and to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in applicable international and regional instruments, Acknowledging the right to protection against arbitrary or unlawful interference with one’s privacy, and the importance of protecting personal data, 2/41 V.24-14137