Commonwealth training on internet safety praised by Papua New Guinea judges
Judges in Papua New Guinea have commended a new Commonwealth training course aimed at upskilling them to handle cybercrime cases and make the internet safer for their citizens.
Supported by the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth Secretariat partnered with the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence to organise the training in the capital city, Port Moresby on 12 and 13 February 2023.
More than 40 judges and magistrates attended the training, engaging in simulations to deepen their understanding of cyber threats and computer-based offences.
They were equipped with practical skills to apply internationally recognised good practices within their jurisdictions, gather electronic evidence admissible in courts, and foster cross-border cooperation to prosecute cybercrimes.
Covering topics ranging from protecting user data to authenticating digital evidence, the training course aimed to address the challenges judicial officers often face in tackling cybercrimes, particularly in developing countries.
A growing problem
During the opening session, Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, a Supreme Court judge, commended the timely training and drew attention to the changing landscape of Papua New Guinea’s criminal justice system.
He underscored the challenge posed by the surge in cybercrime, which requires new approaches to evidence-gathering compared to traditional crimes.
Justice Gavara-Nanu continued:
“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, Judge Administrator of the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence, echoed Justice Gavara-Nanu’s sentiments, expressing full support for the training on behalf of the country’s Chief Justice, Sir Gibuna Gibbs Salika KBE.
Financial implications
Reports indicate a disproportionate increase in cybercrimes in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for 31 per cent of all incidents remediated around the world in 2023.
Cybersecurity threats were estimated to cost organisations in the Asia-Pacific region about US $1.75…
