In March, 1999, the Meetings of Ministers of Justice or other Ministers or Attorneys General of the Americas, recognizing the spread and potential magnitude of cyber-crime for OAS member states, recommended the creation of an intergovernmental expert group, within the framework of the OAS, with responsibility for:

1. Completing a diagnosis of criminal activity which targets computers and information, or which uses computers as the means of committing an offense;





2. Completing a diagnosis of national legislation, policies and practices regarding such activity;





3. Identifying national and international entities with relevant expertise; and





4. Identifying mechanisms of cooperation within the inter-American system to combat cyber crime.

Since its creation, the REMJA Working Group on Cyber-Crime has met in Washington DC on a total of five occasions: May, 1999; October, 1999; June, 2003; February, 2006; and November, 2007. 

Beginning at its Second Meeting, the Group has issued recommendations intended to improve the ability of OAS member states to detect and prevent cyber-crime, as well as foster international cooperation on the topic.  Recommendations used by the Working Group are in turn submitted to the next REMJA meeting for consideration and adoption. 

Significant developments have taken place since the Group’s inception in 1999, within the framework of the recommendations issued by the Group and adopted by the REMJA.