With the United States Congress ratifying the Cybercrime Convention and President Bush signing it into law, the Council of Europe has officially adopted it and has announced January 1, 2007, as the official effective date for the international treaty.

In addition, the 46-nation Council of Europe announced that a $250,000 donation from Microsoft will help launch a program designed at helping member states to implement the Cybercrime Convention. The program will help states enact national legislation in line with the Convention and support training of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement agents in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes.

The educational program budget is 1.7 million euro ($2.1 million) over 30 months, and having received the Microsoft donation, the Council can give the green light to the initial phases. Additional private donations may be accepted in the future to help offset the cost of the program.

According to CoE statement, assistance from the new program will be available to CoE member states and to non-European countries that are prepared to bring their legislation in line with the Cybercrime Convention.

The text of the convention and more information can be found here.