Peru banks welcome Budapest Convention move

Peru's association of commercial lenders Asbanc applauded a decision by lawmakers to adhere to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

Peru will join more than 60 nations that have signed the treaty, drawn up in 2001 by a group led by the Council of Europe.

The convention, the Council of Europe says, "serves as a guideline for any country developing national legislation against cybercrime and as a framework for international cooperation between State Parties to this treaty."

Areas targeted include infringements of copyright, fraud, child pornography and network hacking. Key aims include boosting cooperation and improving the technical capacity of officials of signatory states.

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"We are grateful that congress has approved the adhesion of Peru to the Budapest Convention," Asbanc president Martín Naranjo said in a statement. "This agreement will help Peru to obtain international cooperation and to become more effective in preventing and sanctioning acts that put at risk the confidentiality or integrity of systems, networks or data, among other IT crimes."

Asbanc said the move by congress does not require the repeal, modification or introduction of local laws.

In a statement, the Council of Europe said the vote by Peru's congress "will allow the Government of Peru to deposit the instrument of accession at the Council of Europe and to become a Party to this treaty in the very near future."

Sixty-two nations are already party to the convention. Latin American countries on the list are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama and Paraguay.

Last June Colombian lawmakers voted to adhere to the agreement.

Mexico is currently an observer party.