VIENNA, 19 October - Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, today welcomed the agreement of Member States to strengthen action against organized crime under the Palermo Convention.
The ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime concluded with agreement on a resolution on the establishment of a mechanism for reviewing implementation of the Convention and its Protocols on human trafficking, migrant smuggling and firearms.
"The Palermo Convention and its Protocols on human trafficking, migrant smuggling and firearms remain the primary global tools uniting action against organized crime, to bring perpetrators to justice and support victims," said Mr. Fedotov at the closing of the ninth session.
"The review mechanism can further reinforce criminal justice responses and cooperation through the Convention, as well as help to identify assistance needs and channel development support."
The session also agreed new resolutions on strengthening implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, and on international cooperation.
The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime has achieved near-universal ratification, with 189 States parties. The Protocols have achieved a similarly high level of acceptance, with 173 States parties to the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, 146 to the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol; and 115 to the Firearms Protocol.
At the opening of the session, the UNODC Executive Director also welcomed Sudan's accession to the migrant smuggling and firearms protocols.
The ninth session marked the 15th anniversary of the Palermo Convention's entry into force.
For further information, please contact:
Sonya Yee
Speechwriter and Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-4990
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: sonya.yee[at]un.org
or
Helene Spitzer
Public Information Officer, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-83091
Email: helene.spitzer[at]un.org
or
Anne Thomas
Public Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-5588
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5588
Email: anne.thomas[at]un.org
