A/64/PV.96 General Assembly
It was so decided.
Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2009, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 104 to the Third Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to consider agenda item 104 directly in plenary meeting, under heading H, “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations”?
It was so decided.
104. Crime prevention and criminal justice High-level meeting on transnational organized crime The President (spoke in Arabic): Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 64/179 of 18 December 2009, the General Assembly will now convene its special one-day high-level meeting on transnational organized crime, aimed at fostering universal adherence to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime — the Palermo Convention — and the Protocols thereto and at strengthening international cooperation. As mentioned in my background document to Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers in a note dated 6 June 2010, this high-level meeting will consist of an opening plenary meeting and an informal panel discussion followed by a formal plenary meeting. Today, I invite Member States to acknowledge the significant contribution of many Governments, national and international law-enforcement agencies and judges, who have paid a high price in the fight against transnational organized crime. Many of them have lost their lives defending justice and human liberty. In this context, I should like especially to highlight efforts made by the Governments of Italy and Mexico, which, for decades, have vigorously fought organized crime and syndicates, losing some of their most dedicated prosecutors and judges, such as Judge Giovanni Falcone of Italy. His work and sacrifice paved the way for the adoption of the Palermo Convention. I believe that the best way for Member States to pay tribute to those who fall victim to transnational organized crime all over the world is to accede to and implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols. I shall now make a brief introductory statement. We meet today to discuss the phenomenon of transnational organized crime and to reflect on the best solutions to address it. Indeed, crime has turned into a global business, operating in collusion with legitimate activity. It now represents far more than localized violence; it has turned into a pervasive threat to the security of entire States and regions. Organized crime is a plague on the rule of law and legitimate institutions throughout the world. Drug cartels are spreading violence in Latin America. West Africa is under attack from drug traffickers, who are gaining profit and, at times, political power. Collusion between insurgents and criminal groups threatens the stability of West Asia, the Andes and parts of Africa, fuelling the trade in smuggled weapons, the plunder of natural resources and piracy. We are currently witnessing the widespread revival of these kinds of crime. Furthermore, the escalating collusion between previously unconnected criminal networks is also alarming. Heroin traffickers, for example, have made available their infrastructure to facilitate cocaine traffickers at the regional level. In return, cocaine traffickers help heroin traffickers gain new markets at the local level. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has shown in numerous reports how organized crime constitutes a threat to peace and stability. It is also a serious cause of destabilization in fragile countries. The failure to grasp the enormity of this challenge may bear grave consequences, considering the growing capacity of criminals to subvert Government institutions, undermine economic and social structures and fuel regional crises. Organized crime is also a development issue. In countries ravaged by crime and corruption, development and economic performance cannot take hold. The General Assembly has pledged its commitment to fighting organized crime in several important resolutions, but these efforts need greater coherence and coordination. We must take a tougher stand against organized crime. We must mainstream our fight against crime into broader programmes. Today’s meeting is an indispensable step in that direction. Ten years ago the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. In the 2005 World Summit Outcome (resolution 60/1), Member States expressed grave concern at the negative effects on development, peace and security and human rights posed by organized crime, and at the increasing vulnerability of States to such conduct. We must therefore prosecute and punish the criminals involved and protect and assist victims and their families. We must spur Governments and all members of society into action in order to reduce the vulnerability of victims, increase the risks to criminals and reduce demand for illegal goods and services. This high-level meeting presents us with an occasion to revitalize our collective and individual resolve to prevent and combat organized crime. Let us today send a strong signal from the Assembly that transnational organized crime must be stopped before it spreads even more fear, poverty and violence with impunity. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
I am honoured to address this special high-level meeting. Transnational organized crime has become a multinational security threat. That is the message of the report entitled “The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment”, issued today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
As the threat grows, so too does its prominence on the international agenda. Organized crime has been the focus of recent meetings in Brazil and Austria at which Member States called for stepped-up efforts to prevent crime and promote justice. The Security Council has considered the issue several times in recent months in relation to the trafficking of drugs, human beings and weapons, and with respect to
troubling developments and emerging patterns in West Africa and Somalia.
Organized crime is also a growing concern of regional organizations, including the African Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of American States and the Economic Community of West African States. And yet, the international community must still do more. Our ability to deliver justice is not evolving as quickly as the criminals’ skill at evading justice. As a result, States and markets are being infiltrated. Police and armies are being outgunned. Security is under threat.
The blueprint for counteracting this threat already exists: the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime — the Palermo Convention — and its three Additional Protocols. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Palermo Convention. Let us mark this milestone by sharpening the world’s leading international crime-fighting instrument. The Conference of the Parties will meet in Vienna in October to promote and review the Convention’s implementation. I urge members to develop a review mechanism like the one that was developed for the United Nations Convention against Corruption last November in Doha, Qatar. This would help States identify criminal justice needs and track major progress.
We must use the rich and detailed measures contained in the Palermo Convention to combat money laundering, to confiscate and seize criminal assets, to
end bank secrecy, to carry out joint investigations, to protect witnesses, to exchange information and to provide mutual legal assistance.
Our efforts must of course be firmly anchored in the rule of law, both at the national and international levels. The United Nations has established the inter- agency Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group to focus our efforts in this crucial area. We must use every means available to help law enforcement transcend borders, just as criminal networks do. We owe this to all victims of organized crime and to all those who are risking their lives every day in the defence of justice. To find transnational organized crime, we too must organize. We must work together. We must act with even greater determination than our adversaries do.
I thank participants for coming together in support of these critical goals. The work is not only vital to reducing crime; it will also increase security, justice and development for all.
I thank the Secretary-General for his statement.
Before adjourning the meeting, may I remind members that, as announced in the Journal, immediately following this plenary meeting there will be a panel discussion, entitled “Transnational Organized Crime as a multidimensional threat: How to promote a coherent and holistic response through the universal adherence to and full implementation of the Palermo Convention and its Protocols”, in this Hall.
The meeting rose at 10.45 a.m.