Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is proud to partner with Somalia in supporting integrated national and regional action against drugs, organized crime and terrorism.
Challenges include threats from Al-Shabab and other terrorist groups, piracy and other forms of maritime crime, as well as human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
In line with Security Council Resolution 2385, UNODC is working closely with the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group and the Government to counter linkages between transnational organized crime and terrorism.
Together, UNODC and Somalia have established maritime policing units to patrol territorial waters to counter piracy, illegal fishing, migrant smuggling and arms trafficking.
This is also critical to combat the illegal charcoal and sugar trade helping to sustain Al-Shabaab.
We are supporting criminal justice reforms, including by bringing the country's prison system in line with international standards.
By strengthening capacities for rehabilitation and reintegration, these efforts also seek to counter radicalization to violent extremism.
As part of the Better Migration Management initiative, UNODC works with Somalia and other countries in Eastern Africa to strengthen legislative frameworks to better identify, investigate and prosecute human trafficking and migrant smuggling, with a focus on disrupting criminal networks and protecting the lives and rights of victims.
Here I would like to commend the role of Ambassador Mariam Yassin Hagi Yussuf, Somalia's Special Envoy on Children's and Migrants' Rights, in promoting awareness of the threats of migrant smuggling in Somalia and beyond.
I also very much welcome Somalia's stated intention to accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and appreciate the work of the Parliament to fast-track ratification and adapt national legislation, with the technical support of UNODC.
The Conference of the Parties to UNTOC next month in Vienna will be an excellent opportunity for further progress.
UNODC remains committed to strengthening our work with Somalia and partners, to build on recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa, and advance peace, stability and justice in the country.
Thank you.
