computer-crime provisions, step up investigations and ensure effective international cooperation among authorities. The idea of a treaty was recently supported by the European Ministers of Justice at their 23 rd Conference, held in London on 9 June 2000 (Resolution Nยฐ 3) and its expected that further support will be given to the text by the G8 as well. The European Union already backed the text in 1999 by means of a joint position.
Given the importance of the subject, non-member States, such as Canada, Japan, South-Africa and the United States, also actively participate in the negotiations. It is hoped that other countries will join the treaty and no computer-crime havens will eventually emerge to defeat its purpose. P Pe et te er r C Cs so on nk ka a, Council of Europe 330 FOOTNOTES 1 Lawyer at the Directorate General I (Legal Affairs) of the Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex.Any views expressed hereafter are personal. 2 The text of the draft Convention can be found on the following website: . 3 See Recommendation Nยฐ R (89) 9 on computer-related crime, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on