S/PV.9497Resumption1 Security Council

The President (spoke in Spanish): I would like to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collars of the microphones will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after four minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

Mr. Peñaranda (Philippines): We thank Ecuador for convening today’s timely and important meeting. I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful remarks. Transnational organized crime has a profound and multifaceted impact on international peace and security, undermining the stability of States and the integrity of institutions, affecting human rights and posing significant threats to environmental sustainability. In the post-pandemic era, criminals have exploited advances in technology, misusing information and communications technology to expand the scale and scope of their illicit activities while evading culpability. The Philippines, with a coastline whose total length exceeds 36,000 kilometres, is confronting significant challenges from the illegal trade in drugs and firearms, human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Those crimes, and the illicit financial flows they generate, fuel further illegal activities, including terrorism and armed conflict, with a severe impact on populations in vulnerable situations. A coordinated international effort and robust legal and policy frameworks are essential to combating such crimes. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols, the Philippines has enacted national legislation to implement those treaties. We emphasize the importance of building on the relevant frameworks that have been established at the United Nations, including the Global Compact for Migration, the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Conference of States Parties to the Organized Crime Convention, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. We also recognize the crucial role of regional mechanisms in combating transnational crimes. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime 2016– 2025 exemplifies our region’s shared commitment to preventing, controlling and neutralizing such crimes, while enhancing the capacity of ASEAN member States to address them effectively and in a timely manner. The increasing use of information and communications technology by criminal syndicates to target victims, facilitate their crimes or conceal proceeds is a growing concern. The draft convention on cybercrime, which is currently under negotiation, holds significant potential for clarifying jurisdictional issues and expediting investigation and legal assistance between parties in order to uncover transnational crimes facilitated or amplified by technology. In the Philippines, combating trafficking in persons, particularly when it victimizes women migrants, is a priority. We are actively partnering with other Member States and the private sector to dismantle criminal syndicates — a strategy complemented by its robust legal framework and by international collaborations that have notably increased conviction rates for traffickers, thereby contributing to international peace and security. The illegal trafficking of drugs is another area of concern for us. According to a report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ketamine-induced seizures in our region increased by 167 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021. One approach that has been successful for the Philippines involves leveraging technical assistance and capacity-building to address the significant increase in drug seizures effectively and mitigate the threats posed by such substances to health, peace, order, security and young people’s welfare. Since money is the bedrock of transnational crime, tracking and disrupting flows of money is critical not only to addressing such crimes but also to preventing the use of their proceeds for activities that threaten international peace and security. Collaboration with banks and other financial institutions is key to efforts to confiscate the proceeds of syndicated crime. The Philippines is ready to engage at the highest level, bringing its unique perspective and dedicated efforts to the forefront of the global fight against transnational organized crime. Our readiness to contribute significantly to that vital mission reflects our resolve to be part of essential, actionable solutions in the Security Council.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Mr. Mahmoud (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to congratulate Ecuador and thank it for its initiative to hold today’s important open debate during its presidency of the Security Council for this month, given the threat that multiple forms of transnational organized crime pose to international peace and security. I am also grateful to all the briefers for their valuable contributions, especially Ms. Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Various regions around the world are suffering from an increase in disputes and conflicts that is contributing to the creation of an environment conducive to criminal activities. In turn, that increases the threats facing our countries and the United Nations. In that context, Egypt values UNODC’s efforts to assist countries in addressing transnational organized crime. We especially value the role it plays in providing assistance to developing countries so that they can build their national capacities in relevant sectors. It is therefore important to ensure sustainable and predictable financial resources for UNODC so that it can continue to carry out its vital role. Egypt expresses its grave concern regarding the growing connections among various forms of transnational organized crime, such as crimes of theft, sabotage and illicit trafficking in cultural property to fund terrorism. We believe that all of those crimes are factors that cause and fuel more conflicts. Egypt pays special attention to combating the crime of illicit trafficking in cultural property. The tenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted a resolution in 2020 presented by Egypt in that regard, and we look forward to its implementation by promoting international cooperation in the light of the interlinkages between that crime and other crimes, such as the funding of terrorism. In May, Egypt started its joint presidency, along with the European Union, of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Our priorities include combating terrorism in Africa and strengthening the effectiveness of the Forum to develop conceptual frameworks to combat terrorism and extremism, along with strengthening the participation of women in the Forum and engaging women in all areas of countering terrorism. At the international and regional levels, including Arab and African contexts, Egypt seeks to combat the crime of terrorism. I would like to especially mention the contribution by the African Union Centre for Post- conflict Reconstruction and Development, as well as the Sahel and Sahara Centre for Counter-Terrorism, both hosted by Cairo, for supporting African efforts. Egypt also participates in the Global Coalition against Da’esh in Syria and Iraq. Egypt is also concerned with combating corruption, particularly with regard to the dossier of recovering stolen assets to their countries of origin without any preconditions or bureaucratic impediments and in a timely manner. That will be achieved only through international cooperation and by responding to the request and priorities of relevant developing countries. We would also like to recall the increase in the dif- ferent forms of transnational organized crime risks, as criminal organizations resort to the use of innovative ways, such as information and communications tech- nology (ICT), to perpetrate traditional and new crimes and to ensure funding. In that regard, Egypt looks for- ward to the successful adoption of a comprehensive convention to combat the use of ICT for criminal pur- poses in which international and regional cooperation is highlighted in order to establish programmes sup- porting and building capacities of developing countries so that they can address those crimes. Combating transnational organized crime requires a comprehensive approach. In that context, Egypt pays special attention to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. We seek to implement the obligations contained in the Convention at the national, regional and international levels. During its presidency of the tenth session of the Convention, Egypt was witness to the launching of the mechanism for the review of its implementation. In conclusion, Egypt reaffirms the important role of international cooperation in combating various forms of transnational organized crime, including emerging crimes, and in adopting a comprehensive approach to address its root causes and to make sure we reduce its destabilizing potential and ensure that it no longer poses a threat to international peace and security. Egypt also stresses the importance of recognizing, respecting and promoting the competences of relevant United Nations entities. Egypt is always open to engage in any constructive dialogue in order to achieve that end.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Costa Rica.

Mr. Zavala Porras (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, on behalf of Costa Rica, I congratulate the Republic of Ecuador on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and wish it every success in its work. Costa Rica also thanks Ecuador for convening this open debate, and the briefers for their interventions. Faced with a transnational phenomenon that evolves, adapts easily to the changing geopolitical landscape and takes advantage of crises around the world, Costa Rica wishes to reflect on three points. First, in the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, organized crime and gangs have contributed to the highest homicide rates in the world. In the case of Haiti, we have seen the highest rates of armed violence and instability in decades due to the illicit trafficking in drugs, arms and ammunition. In that country, the Haitian National Police, customs authorities and the coast guard are underresourced and outgunned by heavily armed criminal gangs that have taken over large swathes of territory and terrorize communities with high levels of impunity on a daily basis. In the face of that challenge, Costa Rica highlights the cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Organization of American States to strengthen Haiti’s capacity to investigate, prosecute and try cases of corruption, money laundering and economic crime, as well as to improve the exchange of information with international investigators on transnational organized crime. Those steps are important, but the scale of what is needed in Haiti requires greater international investment and support to restore criminal justice and border control and strengthen the rule of law and its institutions. Secondly, we must work with speed and determination to make cooperative use of information and communications technologies to address the crime of human trafficking. It is also imperative to strengthen collaboration among States, civil society and the private sector; to adopt measures for the identification of victims, as well as to adopt differentiated approaches to their care in the context of migration flows; and to develop gender-sensitive protection and assistance strategies that address the specific experiences and needs of those who have been victims of such crimes. Let me conclude by stressing that one of the unintended consequences of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, adopted in 2000, is to have tackled that phenomenon in silos, treating it as a criminal justice issue and not as a broader threat to international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. In that regard, Costa Rica highlights the need for an integrated approach that addresses the multiple dimensions of transnational organized crime and is able to adapt to and anticipate its evolution.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Austria.

Mr. Pretterhofer (Austria): Austria aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. We congratulate Ecuador on the organization of today’s open debate and commend the Secretary- General; Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Ms. Melani Cammett; and Ms. Victoria Nyanjura for sharing their valuable insights. Transnational organized crime poses a substantial threat to international peace and security, and evidence shows that the problem is growing in an unprecedented manner. According to the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, from 2015 to 2021, organized crime was responsible for as many deaths as all armed conflicts combined. Many criminal groups and networks are fluid, and channels for trafficking one commodity — arms, drugs, human beings — are often used for others as well. While national legal systems, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures and law enforcement play an important role in countering such threats, we require strong and effective multilateral cooperation and frameworks to defeat them. Let me emphasize the importance of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the Mechanism for the Review of its Implementation and the biannual Conference of the Parties to UNTOC held in Vienna. We particularly thank UNODC, as the custodian of UNTOC and its Protocols, for all its hard work on preventing and countering transnational organized crime. We recall resolution 2700 (2023), which welcomed the launch of technical programmes by UNODC to assist national authorities, inter alia, to combat transnational crime. Digitization and other advances in technology are changing global illicit markets and the modi operandi of criminal groups. Traditional approaches towards preventing and combating crimes are simply no longer sufficient. Cybercrime is a global threat to economic development and prosperity, and cybersecurity attacks are a method of modern-day warfare. Cybercriminals are attacking our private sectors and administrations with growing frequency, scale and sophistication. In the face of those growing challenges, Austria attaches great importance to further strengthening international cooperation against cybercrime. Let me highlight the importance of the ongoing work of the ad hoc committee that is negotiating a United Nations convention on cybercrime, the sessions of which alternate between New York and Vienna, and the key role of UNODC in guiding us through that process, inter alia, with the Global Programme on Cybercrime. Another serious concern is the trafficking in human beings, which constitutes a severe crime and a violation of human rights and particularly affects persons in situations of armed conflict, as has been the case in Ukraine over the past one and a half years, owing to Russia’s ongoing illegal and unjustified invasion. Women and children are especially vulnerable to falling victim to traffickers for the purpose of sexual or labour exploitation. In combating trafficking in persons, Austria follows a victim-centred approach, based on human rights and the rule of law, and puts a focus on prevention. Every year, the Austrian Task Force on Combating Human Trafficking organizes an international conference. This year, its discussions focused on related phenomena, such as the smuggling of migrants and other illegal practices that may hamper victim identification, as well as the challenge of countering human traffickers operating via the Internet and the dark web. Given the evolving and increasingly digitized nature of transnational organized crime, it is important to consider the role of youth as part of the solution. Young persons are particularly vulnerable to a variety of organized criminal activities — both as potential victims and as perpetrators recruited at an early age. In situations of instability and conflict, criminal networks seize the vacuum created and thereby offer young persons ways to sustain their livelihoods or protect their families. Only by working together with youth can we ensure that they become an asset rather than part of the problem, through innovative and fresh ideas and approaches to strengthening integrity and raising awareness of the harms of corruption and organized crime. We commend the crucial work in that regard of civil society organizations, such as the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. By generating revenue through illicit activities such as the trafficking of firearms, criminal networks can prolong conflicts. They benefit from situations of instability and weak law enforcement and therefore fund and support drivers of conflict. The current situation in Haiti and the influence of illicit economies on armed conflicts in the Sahel region serve as cases in point and should remain of continued concern for the Security Council. In conclusion, Austria welcomes keeping discussions on countering transnational organized crime on the Council’s agenda to complement the invaluable work of UNODC and strengthen ongoing multilateral processes in New York and Vienna. We also hope to see the importance of combating transnational organized crime addressed in the Pact for the Future. Finding common solutions to those problems benefits all Member States.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Türkiye.

Mr. Ekren (Türkiye): We thank the Secretary- General and all the briefers for their valuable presentations. Transnational organized crime and terrorism remain key challenges that continue to hinder the efforts to maintain international peace and security, achieve sustainable development and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights. The nexus between organized crime and terrorism, and their heavy engagement in drug trafficking, cannot and should not be disregarded. Human trafficking is among the most serious forms of organized crime. It is a clear violation of human rights and a serious offence to human dignity and integrity. That global problem bears immense costs for the social and economic fabric of our societies. As the country hosting the largest refugee population, Türkiye attaches the utmost importance to protecting the rights and dignity of migrants, refugees and victims of trafficking. We believe in the need to deal with cross-cutting issues, including human trafficking, forced migration, labour, sustainable development and human rights, in a holistic manner. Illicit drug trafficking poses a serious risk to international security and stability, particularly through the growing global organized crime network. Türkiye, owing to its geographical location, has long been fighting against illicit drug and precursors trafficking. We are fully committed to the three international drug control conventions and see their full and universal implementation as crucial for the effectiveness of the system. We are actively contributing to the work of regional and international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the International Narcotics Control Board. Drug trafficking fuels terrorism, which in turn perpetuates the drug trade. To break that vicious cycle, the international community must collaborate more closely than ever before, sharing intelligence, resources and best practices. Türkiye continues to be an ardent promoter of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. For years, we have been at the forefront of countering terrorist organizations with a broad spectrum of ideologies, be it Da’esh, Al-Qaida, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat, the People’s Protection Units or the Fethullah Gülen terrorist organization. Those groups and others have been operating across national borders, running training camps, acquiring financial resources and operating media outlets to disseminate their propaganda and glorify their vicious acts abroad. The PKK terrorist organization fully illustrates the symbiotic nature of terrorism and transnational organized crime. That terrorist network engages in the trafficking and marketing of drugs across Europe. Drug trafficking remains one of its indispensable financial sources. Countering the financing of terrorism and anti-money laundering efforts should also be at the centre of the international community’s approach to effectively address the problem in all its aspects. We commend the work of the Financial Action Task Force in that respect. The increasing use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for criminal purposes also deserves our attention. The malign use of ICTs further exacerbates the adverse impacts of threats on fundamental freedoms, which requires a concerted international response through strong cooperation between States and relevant stakeholders. As newer and more sophisticated methods, including the use of ICTs for criminal purposes, continue to emerge, countering organized crime and terrorism is becoming more complex. We need to develop effective strategies, strengthen our cooperation and build a safer future. Türkiye will continue to contribute to international efforts to that end.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): Twenty years after its entry into force, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is more relevant than ever. Technology and globalization have enabled organized crime networks to expand globally as they seek out vulnerable contexts to exploit. Weak or absent criminal justice institutions and rule-of-law protections make conflict fertile ground for such approaches. Conflicting parties desperate to fund their violent activities can be willing accomplices. The success of criminal networks pursuing both political and business interests not only results in heightened violence and undermines the rule of law but also erodes the very foundations of human security. Our response to those who exploit the openness and opportunities of globalization for criminal purposes critically relies on the well- functioning and rules-based international cooperation outlined by the Convention and the Protocols thereto. Addressing corruption in all its forms is a key aspect of both the fight against transnational organized crime and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16. Both petty and large-scale corruption hinder millions of people every day from the full enjoyment of their human rights in areas such as health care, social services and justice. They deprive young people of economic opportunities, fuel irregular migration, weaken national institutions and foment popular grievances that give rise to violent conflict and insecurity. In conflicts around the globe, fighting against corruption and peacebuilding go hand in hand when it comes to strengthening transparent governance, accountability in the security sector, civilian oversight and democratic control mechanisms. With its comprehensive approach, encompassing prevention, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation and asset recovery, the United Nations Convention against Corruption provides a legal basis to address corruption in its many facets. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime calls on States parties to measures to promote integrity and to prevent, detect and punish the corruption of public officials. In partnership with the Basel Institute on Governance, Liechtenstein supports the fight against green corruption, including the illicit funds drawn from the illegal wildlife trade, forest crime, illegal mining and other environmental crimes. Working together with public and private partners, the project aims to support law-enforcement capacities to confiscate the proceeds of crime and end impunity for those officials exploiting our planet for personal gain. Modern slavery and human trafficking are particularly cruel manifestations of transnational organized crime. While slavery is outlawed around the globe by customary international law, it continues to exist in various forms in all parts of the world. More than 50 million people live in conditions of slavery, the majority of them women and girls. An estimated $150 billion in revenue is generated every year by forced labour alone. As its key international SDG project, Liechtenstein has developed Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST), which addresses the role of financial institutions in the fight against this global scourge in the areas of compliance, responsible investment and financial innovation. We look forward to widening our network of partnerships in the implementation of FAST, both among Governments and other stakeholders.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to Mrs. Samson.

Mrs. Samson: I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina; the potential candidate country Georgia; and Andorra align themselves with this statement. We thank Ecuador for addressing this subject today, enabling us to better understand and address transnational organized crime, which plays a significant role in sustaining armed conflict, terrorism and corruption and in compromising the rule of law. Organized crime groups use their large illegal profits to infiltrate the economy and public institutions, eroding the rule of law and fundamental rights and undermining people’s right to safety and their trust in public authorities. Conversely, that destabilizing impact further strengthens organized crime groups by providing fertile ground for their growth. In recent years numerous illegal activities have moved to the online environment, making it both easier for perpetrators to coordinate and more difficult for law- enforcement authorities to detect and prosecute them. That is probably the biggest challenge in this area and a new threat that we must prioritize. We therefore welcome all the efforts of the United Nations focusing on the fight against cybercrime and call for enhanced debates and strengthened cooperation on the issue. The transnational threats and evolving working methods of organized crime groups, operating both off- and online, require a coordinated and targeted international response. That is why we insist on the full implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols by all States parties, and we reiterate our support to the work of relevant United Nations entities, in particular the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Within the EU, the main activity of organized criminal groups is drug trafficking. The activities of criminal networks have evolved in their scale, sophistication and violent consequences, creating a wave of violence that has hit the innocent as well as members of criminal organizations, resulting in the deaths of a number of children this year alone. Organized criminal networks often take advantage of those living in poverty and hardship and exploit them through human trafficking. The EU is committed to fighting human trafficking networks based on a human rights, victim-centred and gender-responsive approach. We are working closely with international partners to address those threats. For example, the EU has enhanced its support to anti-drug-trafficking operations in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The EU is also assisting countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in improving their drug policies. Furthermore, we are currently negotiating international agreements for the exchange of information between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and a number of Latin American countries. The EU’s Global Illicit Flows Programme is dedicated to building national capacities to counter illicit trafficking and to investigate and prosecute organized criminal groups. Apart from drug trafficking, our priorities include arms trafficking and environmental crime, which is a key driver of climate change. The EU also supports almost 50 ongoing UNODC projects, amounting to a total contribution of more than $230 million, and together with its member States covers around 35 per cent of UNODC’s budget. While national authorities are on the front lines in the fight against organized crime, global partnerships are paramount in ensuring effective cooperation as well as information and knowledge exchanges among national authorities. We encourage the Security Council to continue to address the links between transnational organized crime and conflict in cooperation with other United Nations bodies, regional organizations and Member States. The full version of this statement is available on our website.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand.

Mr. Chindawongse (Thailand): Thailand is pleased to be taking part in this signature event under Ecuador’s presidency of the Security Council, and we are confident that your tenure will be fruitful and constructive, Mr. President. We also commend China for its productive presidency last month. Today’s open debate is timely, as transnational organized crime poses serious threats to international peace and stability and to our efforts to achieve sustainable development in every region. Our appreciation goes to Ecuador for highlighting how detrimental transnational crime is to peace, security and stability all over the world, and to the Secretary- General and all the briefers for their valuable views and insights on this often-underemphasized challenge to human security. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the casualty rates resulting from organized crime since the beginning of this century are equal to those resulting from all armed conflicts across the world combined. Moreover, the growing risks and challenges posed by transnational networks, new actors and new emerging technologies have been highlighted in the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda (A/75/982). Despite transnational organized crime’s grave effects and growing challenges to sustainable development and global peace and security, it continues to be one of the most underrated risks in the world. We need coherent and coordinated responses among Member States and the relevant United Nations entities if we are to combat such transnational threats. Thailand would therefore like to share some of its views on the issue. First, closer cooperation on border management and law enforcement among Member States is vital to tackling transnational organized crime, particularly among neighbouring countries or those in the same region. Globalization has enabled transnational criminal activities to emerge, multiply and be sustained in many parts of the world, and South-East Asia is no exception. The region is facing threats from transnational criminal groups that have taken advantage of increased regional connectivity to expand their operations in order to commit the illicit trafficking of drugs, persons, wildlife and timber. The more porous the border, the more those crimes penetrate. Such transnational threats require effective border management, which cannot be carried out unilaterally. Thailand is therefore cooperating with its neighbours to monitor and detect flows of transnational criminals and their activities. At the subregional level, Thailand is helping to advance the 1993 Mekong Memorandum of Understanding on Drug Control to address challenges related to illicit drug production, trafficking and use. At the regional level, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to addressing transnational crimes with enhanced border-management cooperation — a conceptual and operational framework initiated by Thailand that is becoming a premier tool for addressing such challenges. The conceptual framework was accomplished with the support and cooperation of UNODC. ASEAN’s recent twenty-sixth Meeting of Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs, held in August, welcomed Thailand’s proposal to develop an ASEAN border- management cooperation road map, which aligns with our long-term goal of establishing a safe, secure, integrated and interconnected ASEAN community. Secondly, digitalization and advanced technologies have made a profound contribution to the evolving na- ture of transnational organized crime. Digitalization is responsible for the rise of cyberdependent and cyber- enabled criminal activities. Promoting digital literacy could therefore help provide viable solutions to the problem. The increasing prevalence of human traffick- ing and migrant smuggling resulting from online scam operations has made addressing those issues a priority for the Thai authorities. Apart from legal measures, a more holistic approach could help to address the prob- lem, since promoting development can help to em- power and lessen the vulnerability of potential victims. Thirdly and lastly, Thailand recognizes the importance of the support provided by the international community and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts aimed at combating transnational organized crime, and calls on them to enhance their cooperation with regional organizations. Thailand is of the view that coherent, system-wide United Nations action is essential to combating transnational organized crime. In that regard, we encourage the Security Council to continue to work closely with UNODC and other relevant United Nations entities in fighting these threats. The UNODC continues to do a great deal of useful work and deserves our continued support. We also call on relevant United Nations entities, namely UNODC and INTERPOL, to assist national authorities through the exchange of best practices and experiences on tackling transnational organized crime in all aspects — from border control to tracing financial flows and detecting corruption. In conclusion, Thailand firmly believes that efforts to address transnational organized crime and its rapidly evolving nature should be holistic. Efforts at national, regional and global levels should be in sync. Our efforts to address illicit transnational criminal activities are vital steps towards reducing the risks to global peace and security and to advancing human security for all.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Mr. Zahneisen (Germany): I want to thank Ecuador for organizing this important debate today. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and all the briefers. At the outset, I would like to underline that Germany fully aligns itself with the statement delivered just now by the Observer of the European Union. Many delegations today stated that transnational organized crime not only fuels and sustains armed conflict, finances terrorism and leads to record levels of violence in numerous countries and regions, but it also erodes State institutions, democratic governance and the rule of law, and it exacerbates corruption and economic inequality. For those reasons, Germany welcomes today’s debate. We urge the Security Council to keep this important topic on the agenda and use today’s momentum to push forward in developing an international framework for action to counter transnational organized crime. It goes without saying that any successful strategy in this field must be multidimensional by nature, involving integrated security cooperation, the centrality of strengthening the rule of law — as was rightly stated by the Secretary-General this morning — and preventive responses to address the root causes. We cannot allow ourselves any complacency with regard to the effects of transnational organized crime, as we are now witnessing the devastating impact of organized crime in Haiti. In that regard, Germany strongly welcomes the international commitment to deploy a multilateral security support mission, led by Kenya, and we stand ready to support it. In line with the concept note (S/2023/933, annex), allow me to present two important points that warrant follow-up. The first has to do with drug-related organized crime, which, of course, is a phenomenon with profound global impact, and we need a global strategy. At the same time, we believe that it is important to strengthen local activities, as well. Germany supports affected countries, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, in their efforts to promote good governance and the rule of law to counter the spread of drug-related organized crime. We welcome the many innovative projects of the Peacebuilding Fund in Honduras and other Central American countries in order to counter the destabilizing effects of gang violence in the region. For us, the success of those projects is yet another reason to urge all Member States to support increased financing for the Peacebuilding Fund through assessed contributions. The second point is that illegal trafficking of wildlife has significant implications — not only for the biological diversity of the affected country, but also for the maintenance of peace and security. It is not a fringe issue. In terms of volume and profits, illegal wildlife trade is comparable in size to the illegal trafficking in arms and drugs. Against that backdrop, Germany is committed to supporting national and regional efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking. For example, we work closely with Nigeria to build their capacity for the implementation of the first-ever national strategy to combat wildlife and forest crime. Moreover, Germany is proud to have initiated, in 2015, together with Gabon, the General Assembly resolution entitled “Tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife” (General Assembly resolution 69/314), its latest iteration having been readopted by the General Assembly by consensus in August (General Assembly resolution 77/325). I want to share a final thought on the close linkage between terrorism and transnational organized crime, which was the very subject of a meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission in June. The discussion there clearly showed the importance of complementing security-centred responses with multidimensional peacebuilding approaches. We also highlighted the potential of early-warning tools. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has conducted ground- breaking research showing that illicit economies connected to transnational organized crime — activities such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle-rustling or firearms trafficking — are strong, early and reliable indicators for a future rise in armed group activities and that monitoring those indicators will enable Governments to act preventively to counter both transnational organized crime and violent extremist groups. We ought to explore that approach further. Let me conclude by assuring you, Mr. President, that Germany will continue to work closely with affected countries, United Nations agencies and the Security Council to address the challenges posed by transnational organized crime. We encourage the Security Council to continue a regular exchange on best practices and promising approaches, in close collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Mr. Prabowo (Indonesia): We thank Ecuador for its leadership in initiating this important discussion on transnational organized crime. My delegation also thanks the Secretary-General for his remarks and his emphasis on transnational organized crime’s multifaceted impact on global peace and security. Indeed, not only does transnational organized crime threaten international stability, it also significantly undermines the capacity of countries to respond effectively to global security challenges. It sow seeds of distrust among nations, weakens economies and can even fuel armed conflict. In the global era, not only has advanced digital technology used by criminal networks for trafficking and other illicit activities erased traditional boundaries, but it also presents a constantly evolving critical threat that demands international cooperation. Against that backdrop, I propose three strategic points of action. First, we must enhance country capacities. It is essential to bolster national abilities to counter the threat of transnational organized crime through capacity- building and technological cooperation. As highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report on improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons (A/78/119), synergy between enhanced national capacities and robust legal frameworks are vital to effectively address transnational organized crime. On our part, we approach synergy through such initiatives as the national action plan for the prevention and handling of human trafficking crimes 2020- 2024, which exemplifies Indonesia’s dedication to fortifying legal frameworks in tandem with building national capacity. It focuses on protecting vulnerable groups and building a resilient foundation for long- term protection and enforcement in countering human trafficking crimes. Secondly, we must strengthen regional cooperation. The fight against transnational organized crime cannot be won in isolation. Regional and cross-regional collaboration are key. Initiatives such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) focus on specific regional challenges and solutions, while frameworks like the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime tackle problems from a cross-regional point of view. During Indonesia tenure as Chair, ASEAN made significant strides by adopting the Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology, specifically addressing the exploitation of technology, which sets a strong example and substantial advancement in combating that issue. On another front, the Bali Process, with its 2023 Adelaide Strategy for Cooperation, emphasizes a proactive approach to tackling the changing patterns of smuggling, trafficking and related crimes across regions. Thirdly, we must further bolster the effective fulfilment of the mandates of relevant United Nations bodies and agencies in tackling transnational organized crime. Empowering the relevant United Nations bodies and agencies to fulfil their mandates can significantly enhance the efficacy of our joint efforts against transnational organized crime, thereby reinforcing our comprehensive strategy for global peace and security. One way to do so is through sanctioning early-warning mechanisms that monitor trends of transnational organized crime. Such mechanisms can provide valuable insights for pre-emptive action and policy formulation at the international level. They can also support the Council initiative on peace and security by pinpointing potential hotspots where transnational organized crime could undermine stability or escalate conflicts. In conclusion, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to a collaborative effort in combating transnational organized crime. We advocate robust international cooperation, an enhanced legal framework and comprehensive strategies that address both the immediate effects and the underlying causes of those crimes. Through our collective efforts, we aspire to create a safer and more secure world for future generations.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Kanu (Sierra Leone): Sierra Leone thanks the Ecuadorian presidency of the Security Council for the month of December for convening this important open debate. We congratulate you, Madam, on assuming the presidency. We also thank the briefers for their important contribution to the debate. Regrettably, there has been a proliferation of transnational organized crime. This development can now be considered an epidemic and, at such a scale, a global security crisis that is clearly a threat to international peace and security. There is gang violence in cities; sexual exploitation, especially of children; forced labour; the drug epidemic; and indiscriminate and uncontrolled killings of people through gun violence. Sierra Leone therefore notes with serious concern the increasing threats posed by transnational organized crime to international peace and security. Transnationalorganizedcrimeandrelatedcorruption exacerbate inequalities and hamper efforts towards the building of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, and of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. The consequences thereof include the potential erosion of States’s capabilities and authority. A comprehensive approach is therefore needed to make progress in addressing the drivers of transnational organized crimes, including the illicit flows of weapons and finance. That can be achieved only through multilateral action and cooperation. The 2023 World Drug Report notes that the harms caused by drug trafficking and illicit drug economies are contributing to and compounding transnational organized crime threats, from instability and violence to environmental devastation. Regrettably, illicit drug markets continue to expand in terms of harm as well as scope, from the growing narcotics supply and drug sales on social media platforms to the relentless spread of synthetic drugs, which are cheap and easy to manufacture anywhere in the world, and some of which are deadly in even the smallest of doses. Sierra Leone is gravely concerned about the linkage between organized crime and the funding of terrorism, which serves as a driver of instability. That endangers peace and prolongs conflicts. It is a clear concern for the West African region and the Sahel. In tackling transnational organized crime, we continue to strongly urge for the control of small arms and light weapons and the curbing of their illicit flow across borders. Member States, particularly in affected regions, are called upon to strengthen border management to effectively tackle organized crime across borders and criminal activities. Sierra Leone supports the view that transnational organized crime can take many forms and is constantly evolving, adapting to political, economic, social conditions and markets, creating new forms of crime, extracting profits through increasingly complex networks and methods and recruiting or affecting the young population. Regrettably, trafficking networks adapt their methods and routes to changes in technology, legislation, supply sources and demand. To source and sell illicit firearms, for example, organized criminal groups have gained the logistical capacities to ship arms across the globe and interact with petty criminals, terrorists and non-State armed groups alike. The epidemic of transnational organized crime can be tackled only by urgent, coordinated global action, greater cooperation among States and regions and by investing and making technology available to States, particularly developing States. In order to combat this scourge, Sierra Leone will put forward three action points as part of the myriad tools that may be available to States. The first is the comprehensive and effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the universal instruments against terrorism, which provide an agreed framework to strengthen preventive measures, bring criminals to justice and mitigate the destabilizing potential of organized criminal groups. The second is capacity-building and technology transfer to countries, particularly in the global South, by countries with the relevant technology and resources to do so. In pursuance of that, we encourage Member States to allow joint investigation teams and cooperate to facilitate the collection, sharing and exchange of analysis and information, with a view to countering transnational organized crime as a threat to international peace and security. The third and final point is that cooperation between the relevant United Nations agencies and regional organizations should be enhanced to ensure a holistic, coherent and coordinated approach to fighting organized crime.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of El Salvador.

Mrs. González López (El Salvador) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, allow me to express my delegation’s support to Ecuador for the valuable efforts it is making as President of the Security Council this month. We also express our gratitude for this opportunity to hold an open debate on the threats posed by transnational organized crime, which is an issue of great importance to my country. The full version of my statement has been sent to the Secretariat; in summary, we wish to state that El Salvador recognizes that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime provides an important framework for joint actions to be taken against this scourge. In the light of all the legal elements established in that Convention, to which El Salvador is party, we must consider the particular realities in specific countries, such as mine, meaning that we should assess this phenomenon from an ascending perspective and in terms of complementarity. First of all, we need to evaluate the practices and measures implemented at the local and national levels in line with the domestic law of each State, as well as the specificities of this scourge. Then, those measures must be strengthened at the regional and international levels, based on a framework of international legal cooperation. The Government of the Republic of El Salvador has strengthened its legal framework and public policy to ensure prevention and to effectively combat the various forms of transnational organized crime, as well as the various links that it may have with acts of terrorism. Our national monitoring plan is the main public policy allowing us to tackle the phenomenon of gangs, which have caused upheaval in Salvadorian society for so many years. This successful policy has allowed us to significantly decrease the number of homicides and other crimes committed by such groups crossing our borders. As such, the national monitoring plan has made it possible to recover trust in State security institutions, including the public prosecutor’s office, which has bolstered reforms to prevent, detect and control money and asset laundering, among other things. Moreover, in regional terms, El Salvador has also stepped up its participation in such mechanisms as the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America. As stated previously, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is the most relevant example of a robust multilateral instrument in this field. However, that does not prevent us from continuing to explore how to improve these procedures, given for example the rapid advances and progress in information and communications technologies. Such progress requires the updating of the measures necessary to prevent the use of emerging technologies by non-State actors for malicious ends, particularly when it comes to the risk of the proliferation of weapons, including weapons of mass destruction. In addition, it is important to bear in mind the human and socioeconomic dimension of transnational crime since it directly affects actual and potential victims of various transnational crimes, particularly people facing vulnerability as a result of poverty or marginalization. As such, prevention, participation and the establishment of inclusive social policies and programmes with a gender and age perspective can all contribute to the ability of States to tackle this matter, as well as new challenges, in a comprehensive manner. We reiterate our commitment to the full implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda. Young people have an important role to play in building more just and peaceful societies, and their participation is fundamental to the implementation of peace initiatives and agreements, as well as to conflict prevention. To that end, we believe that adequate financing must be guaranteed for instruments such as the Peacebuilding Fund and its Youth Promotion Initiative. Lastly, official development assistance and the support of the United Nations system, through its agencies, funds and programmes, particularly UNODC, are key tools for addressing prevention and providing care to the victims and survivors of criminal activities carried out by transnational criminal organizations and for promoting capacity-building in the area of criminal justice in Member States, which enables us to combat this despicable scourge.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Mr. Pérez Ayestarán (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): First of all, let me welcome the convening of today’s open debate, which is an ideal opportunity for starting a discussion on the approach we should take to addressing the various manifestations of transnational organized crime and its attendant challenges and threats, and, even more important, on the need to find multilateral solutions based on the Charter of the United Nations to properly confront a complex global issue. We would like to begin by congratulating Ecuador on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and wishing it every success. For the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, combating transnational crime in all its forms and manifestations is a political and programmatic priority, especially considering that it can be a source of financing for other scourges such as international terrorism. The Government of Venezuela has therefore worked tirelessly for years to promote practical efforts, both internally and externally, to reduce and eradicate such reprehensible crimes, which are a threat to development, human rights and social peace for peoples and entire nations. We based that complex effort on our national Constitution and progressive laws and on proactive and timely measures taken by our public authorities, including the Comptroller General, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the Office of the Ombudsman and the power of the people — in other words, an organized nation. The participation of the police and security services has also been key in this unrelenting fight. With a high level of professionalism, they have been implementing various initiatives to prevent and combat crime throughout the country, which has led to a significant reduction and elimination of mafias of all kinds in recent years, and has resulted in a robust investigative network aimed at preventing impunity. That is all part of a comprehensive commitment by the Venezuelan Government as a whole to ensuring public security, which has also been recognized by the international bodies with which we work closely and actively. In that regard, we consider the institutional cooperation frameworks in this area, both multilateral and bilateral, to be the ideal way to advance global collective action to combat transnational crime. They must be based on the principles of transparency, respect and sovereign equality, and in line with international law. Special mention should be made of agreements under the umbrella of the United Nations, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as other multilateral instruments. Such instruments contain not just the legal framework but the spirit and essence that should guide this shared struggle — cooperation and dialogue, based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including those referring to national sovereignty, non-intervention in internal affairs and the sovereign equality of States. In that regard, we want to emphasize that a politicized focus on combating transnational organized crime can never help to eradicate transnational criminal mafias. Quite the contrary — it will create only conditions that prevent cooperation, which is the sole sustainable way to combat them, and will actually aid their expansion and scope, ultimately jeopardizing economic development and harming the victims of a despicable scourge. As part of this important commitment, it is Venezuela’s duty to state clearly and categorically that the Security Council must make a clear differentiation in its capacity to take action with respect to issues linked to transnational organized crime in its various manifestations, limiting itself strictly to the mandate conferred on it by the Charter and its own relevant resolutions. It cannot allow the notion of its involvement in such issues to create an imbalance in the multilateral institutional structure related to this issue, including United Nations conventions and the many successful and effective bilateral and regional projects around the world. The ability of States to move forward collectively with international institutions and other nations in activities and programmes aimed at preventing and combating organized transnational crime is a sovereign right. Claiming that it is a threat to international peace and security could go beyond the Council’s mandate and has the potential to result in political, legal and social nonsense by seeking to point fingers at individual countries in the face of global tragedies that no nation can escape. Attempting to criminalize States or citizens per se, or failing to clearly define distinctions within the concept of terrorism, can have serious implications that go beyond the spirit of the founding Charter of our Organization. In that regard, for example, our country has underscored that the issue of international migration cannot be addressed from a perspective of securitization. We cannot criminalize migrants. We must stress that combating mafias involved in trafficking in persons and in migrant smuggling is a collective task that requires urgent cooperation on our part. We are also opposed to all crimes that may be committed by criminal networks against migrants and denounce the various kinds of exploitation that many are often subjected to. We therefore urge everyone to put aside ideologies and begin a global dialogue on migrants, without exception and in the sole interest of migrants. Before we persecute migrants, we must denounce the main intellectual authors of migration crises, who on a pretext of defending human rights — which the authors never respect and do not really uphold — have created instability all over the world and throughout history to advance their own geopolitical and geoeconomic goals, destabilizing Governments with false rhetoric about peace and democracy. If they were genuinely interested in human rights, sustainable development and the peace and security they are always talking about, they would refrain from actions that threaten those values, such as the criminal imposition of so-called sanctions, which are themselves a push factor in migration flows. Considering all of that, Venezuela would again like to take this opportunity to denounce a genuine and sophisticated manifestation of transnational crime that is a cause of poverty and exclusion and threatens effective cooperation in every area. By that we mean the illegal imposition of unilateral coercive measures on sovereign States, which affect more than a third of humankind in more than 30 countries around the world. The immediate and full lifting of those measures would help lead to an environment conducive to progress in effectively combating criminal mafias, in efforts that should always be based on dialogue and cooperation. We also categorically reject the publication of unilateral lists that claim to assess the efforts of other States to combat transnational organized crime and its various manifestations. It is an unusual and immoral practice that is out of touch with reality and does not contribute to the climate of respect, dialogue and cooperation we need in order to make headway in combating and preventing this critical global challenge. Instead, it increases confrontation, which benefits criminal mafias. Furthermore, given the increase in the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, we believe it should be a priority for the United Nations to formulate a universal legally binding instrument to combat this modern manifestation of crime, which has permeated every area of life and even poses a threat to the security of critical infrastructure and other key social and economic elements. We therefore call for the redoubling of efforts in favour of the early finalization of the treaty currently under negotiation, confident that it would serve to complement and further strengthen the normative legal frameworks against transnational crime. In conclusion, there is no doubt that an end to poverty, as aspired to in Sustainable Development Goal 1, will lead to a world without crime. However, that will be achieved only when all States truly commit to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and when we advance towards and achieve a truly democratic, just and equitable international economic and political order. Social imbalance and inequality, together with the failure to promote policies of inclusion and education, are therefore among the root causes of that appalling scourge. It is time to make that collective desire a reality, for both our present and future generations. To that end, Venezuela renews its firm commitment to play a proactive role as an agent of change and transformation.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Mr. Ferreira Silva Aranda (Portugal): At the outset, allow me to commend Ecuador for convening this timely debate and to wish it a successful presidency of the Security Council this month. Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union and would like to add the following in its national capacity. Transnational organized crime has dire implications for public safety and social cohesion, as well as economic stability across the globe. It exacerbates inequalities, erodes trust in institutions and undermines the rule of law. It fuels violence and acts as multiplier of existing conflicts. It inhibits progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Criminal networks are not only expanding but are also diversifying their activities, with destabilizing effects, including in the linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime. The interlinkage between international peace and security and transnational organized crime is evident. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit notes that phenomena such as governance vacuums and breakdowns in formal governance systems, situations of State fragility and conflict and the impacts of climate change and of financial crises all offer opportunities for increased activity by organized criminal groups, just as they often are the root causes of conflict. Against that backdrop, allow me to share the following points. First, we must strengthen global governance. Transnational threats cannot be fought through national responses alone — we need coordinated approaches at the multilateral and regional levels on land, at sea and in cyberspace. The ocean poses a particular challenge in that context, and we should strengthen our efforts to reinforce maritime security, from fighting against piracy to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Furthermore, building on the work of UNODC and on the progress achieved under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, we must consider how to make our global instruments and institutions more effective, agile and adaptive to the evolving nature of the challenges. In that regard, we also look forward to a balanced and consensual outcome in the forthcoming concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes. Secondly, we need to strengthen inter-State cooperation for successfully combating organized crime. We should prioritize legal and technical assistance to countries in need of institutional capacity- building. We must also foster international coordination among law enforcement, judicial practitioners and other relevant actors through regional and interregional networks, joint investigation arrangements and the development of software tools and databases to share information. In that regard, and as a concrete example, allow me to highlight the value of initiatives such the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors, to which both Ecuador and Portugal belong, and of its five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening criminal investigations and prosecution on gender issues, including in organized crime. Thirdly, because information is a prerequisite for successfully combating transnational crime, we must further develop tools to better understand the nature and scale of the threat, as well as to be more agile and effective in our actions. In that regard, new technologies can support our efforts and ensure that we put in practice gender mainstreaming in our data- gathering and policy responses. Fourthly and lastly, it is crucial that the United Nations system, as the platform best placed to promote a cooperative and coordinated response, works coherently to better prevent and address transnational organized crime. In that context, the Security Council should continue to address the role of transnational organized crime in generating and amplifying threats to international peace and security. It is crucial that the Council continue to track and seek to respond to the detrimental role that organized crime, illicit flows and markets and criminal actors play in conflict zones, and that it use the work of its subsidiary bodies to better understand and combat the impact of organized crime on violations of sanctions regimes and embargoes. For that reason, too, I will conclude as I started — commending Ecuador in advance for further pursuing another dimension of this dialogue, notably with the upcoming open debate on the diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Mr. Larsen (Australia): I thank the presidency for convening this meeting. Transnational organized crime is a direct threat to our collective peace and security. It threatens the safety, security and trust of our communities, the prosperity of our economies and the integrity of our institutions. Moreover, it continues to evolve. While the challenges are vast, five pertinent issues stand out. First, the growing threat of cybercrime imposes significant economic and social costs, disproportionately impacting some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities and undermining the benefits that flow from increased connectivity. Australia is committed to working to negotiate a new United Nations convention on cybercrime that will benefit all countries. We need a convention that will help combat both the cybercrime that is occurring right now and the emerging and future forms of cybercrime deploying modes, methods and techniques we have yet to experience. Secondly, we are seeing new combinations of crime types, such as the online scam centres that are being built on human trafficking and forced labour. Australia is working in our region on those issues, including through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, which we co-Chair with Indonesia. Thirdly, we need to adapt to changes in illicit drug markets, in particular the growth in synthetic drugs. We will continue to work with partners on that problem, including through the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where Australia led a resolution this year on the safe handling and disposal of synthetics. We also welcome new initiatives, such as the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. That has given us new opportunities for dialogue, cooperation and collaboration. Fourthly, a constant challenge is the role of illicit financing as an enabler of transnational organized crime. Criminal proceeds fuel money laundering and corruption, distorting governance, threatening sovereignty and depriving States of much-needed resources. Illicit financing also sits at the centre of all serious crime, including human, drug and firearm trafficking. Strong anti-money laundering and counter- terrorism financing systems benefit us all. Australia recently committed to major reforms to our system to ensure we better prevent exploitation and generate the intelligence we need to combat transnational organized crime. We will continue to support States in our region to strengthen their anti-money laundering and counter- terrorism financing systems. As well as dealing with illicit finance, those systems are crucial in preventing sanctions evasion. Fifthly and finally, we must also acknowledge and address gender inequalities, which are relevant to all forms of transnational organized crime, in relation to both perpetration and victimization. Given the ways in which crime undermines peace and security, we emphasize the relevance of the women and peace and security agenda. We will continue to pursue gender- responsive approaches to tackling those issues. In conclusion, the speed and agility with which transnational organized crime actors are innovating is alarming. The pace of technology will only accelerate that challenge, and it is increasingly difficult for individual countries to keep up. We need to continue to cooperate and share lessons through mechanisms such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and INTERPOL. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is of course a critical partner in all of that — one that Australia is proud to support.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Guyana.

Mrs. Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana): Please accept my congratulations, Madam President, on Ecuador’s assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council. I also thank Ecuador for convening today’s open debate and welcome the opportunity to share my delegation’s perspectives on a very important topic. Transnational organized crime represents one of the world’s most significant threats to international peace and security and consequently stymies development. Among other things, it is associated with corruption, terrorism, armed conflict and violence and trafficking in arms, drugs, humans and natural resources. Advances in technology, including the emergence of cryptocurrencies, have exacerbated the problem and made it particularly challenging for developing countries to effectively tackle such crimes. The huge profits derived from such criminal activities often provide financial and logistical support to insurgent groups. Many who have spoken before me today have underscored the multifaceted effects of transnational organized crime, about which I would like to emphasize three areas in particular. First, the extent to which such crimes can be perpetrated is symptomatic of the strength of a country’s governance system, including its State institutions. Such crimes directly affect States’ public- financing capacities, obstruct economic development and weaken governance. Where the rule of law is weak, and in the absence of adequate mechanisms for preventing corruption, those crimes can gain a foothold. Furthermore, they promote the spread of instability, in addition to sustaining violence and armed conflict, and ultimately pose a threat to international peace and security. In its work for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council must continue to promote robust governance and strengthening the rule of law as important foundations for stable societies. Secondly, transnational organized crime stymies the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Development and growth are difficult to accomplish in the situations of high insecurity that invariably accompany organized crime. The trafficking of illicit arms, for example, fuels violence, undermining security, development and justice. The demand for illicit drugs in some societies often fuels the power, impunity and violence of criminal organizations, contributing to unstable societies that are not conducive to development. As we address those challenges, there must be greater collaboration at every level, including with private entities, aimed at strengthening law enforcement, intelligence and international legal frameworks to combat those crimes. Thirdly, transnational organized crime has a significant negative impact on disadvantaged groups, young people, women and girls. Understanding the core issues that contribute to the situations that those groups face, and designing effective policies and programmes to address them, is critical. Many women and girls lack protection and have limited access to justice. That makes them more vulnerable to the effects of transnational organized crime. Policies and programmes for that particular group should focus on strengthening the awareness and capacities of criminal justice personnel, as well as enhancing the representation and participation of women and vulnerable groups in criminal justice systems and ensuring that they have access to justice, remedies and reparations. The Government of Guyana has put in place a growing legislative framework through which we address issues related to transnational organized crime. The framework includes national, regional and international instruments on matters such as drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal migration and cybercrime. Guyana underscores the importance of robust cooperation at all levels to effectively combat transnational organized crime and promote a stable international environment. We note that transnational organized crimes contribute to the state of insecurity in some countries on the Security Council’s agenda, and Guyana supports the Council’s efforts to address those issues as part of a broader strategy to promote peace and security in those countries. We also support enhanced cooperation between the Council and other United Nations agencies and international, regional and subregional organizations to address the root causes of transnational organized crime.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Paraguay.

Mr. Pereira Sosa (Paraguay): The delegation of Paraguay is grateful for the opportunity to speak in today’s timely open debate, and we take this opportunity to commend the Ecuadorian presidency of the Security Council for the month of December for raising awareness on a sensitive issue. We believe that Ecuador’s presidency will be a very productive one, and we wish it every success in steering the work of this crucially important forum for international peace and security. The Security Council has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that international peace and security is used as a channel for realizing the full development of all States and ensuring the full implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all peoples of the world. Our Organization’s most important document, the Charter of the United Nations, makes it clear that the three pillars of its work are of equal relevance, and as we have reiterated in previous debates, there can be no peace without development and no development without peace. Transnational organized crime poses an extremely serious threat to international peace and security and is unquestionably linked to declines in democracy and the weakening of national institutions, in addition to fostering instability and conflict. All countries, as well as the United Nations and other international organizations, must work jointly to make every possible effort to combat it. The Council is very much aware of the dangers posed by human trafficking, the illegal trafficking of drugs and firearms, the diversion of weapons of mass destruction into the hands of criminal organizations and other non-State actors, the use of cryptocurrencies to circumvent the authority of States and international organizations, the exploitation of new technologies for criminal purposes and the illegal trafficking of animals and works of art, among other things. That is why it has established commissions in those areas, and it should continue to cooperate with other United Nations bodies and agencies in addressing, mitigating, preventing and eliminating those threats. This is the right moment to highlight the fact that through these illegal markets, criminal networks bring in huge sums of money — amounting to more than the entire national budgets of many developing countries. That is why international cooperation is the best way to address that scourge. As a landlocked developing country, Paraguay believes that in addition to the use of air, sea and land surveillance in preventing transnational organized crime, we should also direct efforts towards monitoring national and international waterways. That should be done in a coordinated manner, with respect for territorial integrity and in compliance with the relevant international treaties. In that connection, it is important to note the increasingly important role that new technologies and information and communications technologies are playing in the area of global peace and security, and it is vital that States work to build and strengthen their national capacities in that regard, bearing in mind that organized crime groups are using those technologies to their own advantage. In that regard, Paraguay believes that international cooperation and multilateralism represent the path to achieving our overarching objectives, based on the principle of shared but differentiated common responsibilities. We want to highlight the efforts that have been made in operational fields and underline the importance of the work of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, at the international level, and the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission and Department against Transnational Organized Crime, at the regional level. Our country is an example of good practice in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in its joint work with Brazil, and we are part of the United States’ Global Coalition initiative addressing the threat of synthetic drugs, which demonstrates that trust between States offers a significant advantage in the fight against this and other transnational crimes.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.

Mr. Paulauskas (Lithuania): I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and my own country, Lithuania. We also align ourselves with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU). We thank the Ecuadorian presidency for organizing this open debate on the issue of transnational organized crime. Criminal networks violate the principles of human rights, justice and legitimacy through involvement in activities such as corruption, illicit financial transactions, human trafficking and violence. Illicit financial flows deflect resources away from public services and development efforts, impeding the establishment of institutions based on transparency and accountability. They create a significant obstacle to mobilizing the domestic resources that are critical to driving development efforts. Strengthening the capacities of law enforcement, advocating for transparency and fostering international cooperation are vital if we are to realize the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 16. Additionally, the interplay of conflict and crime dynamics, along with the resulting threats to human security, serves as a catalyst for migration and displacement, with a disproportionate impact on women and children. I would like to highlight just three areas of particular concern, where transnational organized crime activities have undermined international and regional security both directly and by creating conditions conducive to other serious violations. They are the smuggling of migrants, cybercrime and mercenary activities. First, I would like to underscore the issue of the instrumentalization of migration organized by criminal smuggling networks and facilitated by State institutions in Belarus and Russia. Since the summer of 2021, the Belarusian regime has been organizing the entry of people from third countries into Belarus, promising them easy access to Europe. The regime has been using threats and physical force to illegally push migrants to cross the borders of the Baltic countries, in an example of the hybrid attacks being used to destabilize the situation in the region. We have recently been observing similar attempts by Russia on our region’s borders. The Baltic States once again call on the international community to firmly demand that Belarus and Russia comply with their international obligations. Secondly, the international community must significantly increase security and stability in cyberspace, including by strengthening its resolve to combat the growing threats emanating from both States and non-State actors. States need to act in order to prevent, discourage and respond to malicious activities in cyberspace. In that regard we are convinced of the great value of the proposed programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security. In addition, the international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes that is currently being negotiated should evolve into a focused international legal instrument that is fully compatible with human rights. Thirdly, the increased use of mercenaries in areas of conflict leads to increased violence against civilians, adding to suffering and causing humanitarian disasters. That includes Russia’s so-called private yet State-supported and State-financed military companies dispatched to engage in combat across Africa and in Syria and Ukraine in disregard of international law, particularly humanitarian law. The most prominent of those is the Wagner Group, which is already subject to EU sanctions for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and under the global human rights sanctions regime. In January the independent experts of the Human Rights Council called for an immediate independent investigation into gross human rights abuses and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mali since 2021 by Government forces and the private military contractor known as the Wagner Group. Today’s meeting is a good opportunity to take a comprehensive look at all aspects of transnational organized criminal activities, including the linkages between the mercenaries and the organized crime groups that threaten global peace and security. We encourage the United Nations to continue working with the relevant regional organizations to ensure the monitoring and prevention of all aspects of transnational crime by identifying and addressing rising threats and seeking to achieve full accountability. Owing to the limited time available, we will distribute the full version of our statement in writing.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Mrs. Zalabata Torres (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to echo the congratulations to our sister country of Ecuador for convening this crucial debate on transnational organized crime — a problem that has been at the root of violence, insecurity, violations of human rights, corruption and environmental harm in many areas of the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean, and which undermines the proper functioning of State institutions and democracy. In Colombia, criminal activities have also been the main fuel for the fire of armed conflict. Despite the scope of the problem, the empirical evidence shows that our efforts to combat drug trafficking, one of the main sources of income for international organized crime, have been a total failure. Drug production is at an all-time high, global demand is increasing and criminal networks continue to expand their profits and the geographic areas in which they operate. We are equally concerned about the fact that both the activities of organized crime and State strategies in the war on drugs have disproportionately affected social communities and actors who are vulnerable, particularly women, people in rural areas, young people and indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. To give just one example of the negative effects of this punitive focus, a high percentage of people imprisoned for drug crimes have not committed violent crimes, and the vast majority of women in prison come from low economic sectors. And while their imprisonment has no impact on criminal markets, the consequences for their families and communities are devastating. Considering those issues, the Government of Colombia’s President Petro Urrego has created a new drug policy based on human security, whose priorities are caring for life and the environment, ensuring the primacy of human rights, consolidating peace and committing to dealing with the criminal system and incomes derived from illegal markets, including the trafficking of drugs, weapons, exotic species and humans and the smuggling of commercial goods. Within that strategy, effectively combating money-laundering is particularly important. As a phenomenon that is not based on any particular territory, transnational organized crime requires a shared international responsibility, through which all countries should engage with a view to preventing the highest costs and consequences of criminal activities and the fight against them from falling on a few countries and affecting the most vulnerable groups in our societies. Colombia will continue to seek joint solutions to this problem, whose very nature demands international cooperation.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mr. Mukongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): First of all, I would like to welcome the initiative of holding this important meeting and above all, the relevance of the theme at the heart of this debate, “Threats to international peace and security, transnational organized crime, growing challenges and new threats”. It is also worth recalling that international peace and security are the twin issues that motivated the creation of the United Nations and remain at the heart of the work of the Security Council, which is entrusted with discharging that responsibility by the Charter of the United Nations. Transnational organized crime and terrorism constitute a serious threat to peace and development because organized criminal groups, through their activities, jeopardize political processes, democratic institutions, the various development projects, as well as human rights and public freedoms. Sub-Saharan Africa is prey to transnational organized crime in most of its States, which undermines the rule of law, peace and the economies of those States through tax evasion, money laundering and other illicit financial flows, which have an impact on the States’ economic, political and social stability. This is an opportunity to highlight the relationship between transnational organized crime and armed conflict in Africa, specifically in my country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which for three decades has been suffering from recurrent armed conflicts in its eastern part, which has become a theatre of activity for armed groups. More than 100 armed groups, including the Movement du 23 mars, feed on this trilogy, illicitly exploiting mining resources to obtain arms in order to sow insecurity through atrocities, thus violating the provisions of international humanitarian law and human rights. The Central African region is affected by the criminal activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Boko Haram, the Allied Democratic Forces and others that have links with the Islamic State. The latter has been active for several years in Syria, Iraq, Libya and in West Africa, in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Transnational crime is a scourge that has a major impact on global governance. Its modus operandi, which starts with human trafficking, illicit financial flows, drug trafficking, mineral trafficking, small arms and light weapons, cybercrime and more, has an impact on the security of States and citizens and, by extension, on regional and international stability and security. To face those challenges and new threats, the Security Council must support the activities of crime prevention and criminal justice, combat the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, strengthen a much more inclusive legal framework for combating cybercrime and cooperate with subregional, regional and national organizations to enhance strategies for responding to transnational organized crime.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Kim (Republic of Korea): I would like to begin by thanking the presidency of Ecuador for convening this important meeting. The Global Organized Crimes Index 2023 reveals the continuing rise of organized crime globally, with 83 per cent of the world’s population living in conditions of high criminality. As all manner of exchanges across countries has increased, it has led to a subsequent rise in cross-border crimes, including trafficking in persons, drugs and firearms, as well as international terrorism and corruption. Indeed, transnational organized crime is a serious threat — not only to the safety, property and lives of our citizens, but ultimately to international peace and security. During the past 15 years, the Security Council has held several meetings and adopted key outcomes focusing on the various challenges posed by transnational organized crime. To respond to such multidimensional global challenges and the rise of violence and organized crime, a comprehensive approach is required, one that addresses the root causes or their multipliers, including marginalization and exclusion. In order to promptly counter growing transnational crimes, it is critical that we use cooperation networks effectively. To that end, starting in 2021, the Republic of Korea has been supporting the programme for the Enhancement of Crime Response Capacity and Cooperation among Southeast Asian Countries programme through contributions to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The South East Asia Justice Network, or SEAJust for short, is an important part of that programme, which was established to enhance informal communication between central authorities. With Indonesia’s accession to the Network in 2023, SEAJust has firmly established itself as the major international cooperation network in the Southeast Asia region, comprising all 10 member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In addition, countries like Australia, the Maldives, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Mongolia and Romania have also joined SEAJust, thus making it an important pillar of the global network based in the Asia-Pacific region. The Republic of Korea believes that SEAJust will enable us to share criminal intelligence, evidence and expertise among practitioners from competent central authorities in charge of international collaboration so that we can ensure the timely prosecution of offenders and full asset recovery for victims. As a member of Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the term 2022-2025, the Republic of Korea is also striving to respond to the international drug problem through close cooperation with UNODC, taking into account the link between the manufacturing and trafficking of drugs and transnational organized crime. The Republic of Korea is especially concerned about the illicit transfer of arms in the context of arms embargoes mandated by the Council. In that vein, my delegation would like to highlight the role of the Security Council in combating transnational criminal networks that violate those embargoes, as well as the important work of the committees’ panels of experts in reporting on sanctions implementation. In conclusion, as Korea joins the Security Council next year, my country is examining a range of ways to fulfil its role as a responsible actor in the international community. We are determined to play a constructive role in facilitating regional and international cooperation in countering transnational organized crime, which is constantly evolving.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

Ms. Kinyungu (Kenya): I congratulate Ecuador on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate. Transnational crime casts a pervasive shadow over the international system. Increasingly concerning is the evolution of gangs into entities resembling militias. That is often fuelled by transnational crimes such as weapons and drug trafficking. Those illicit activities provide the financial and material resources needed for such gangs to expand their power and influence. With escalating strength, those groups gain the audacity to assume de facto State power over neighbourhoods, cities or even entire countries. That usurpation of authority creates parallel power structures that challenge the sovereignty of legitimate Governments and jeopardize the rule of law. The Security Council must recognize and address that alarming trend, as it not only fuels local instability but also poses a direct challenge to the international order upheld by the United Nations. The Security Council can do more to combat this complex and far-reaching threat. I will underscore four points in that regard. First, there is a need for effective security partnerships that facilitate capacity, especially for developing countries, to develop and implement appropriate policies, strategies and mechanisms for eradicating transnational criminal networks, including those abusing cyberspace. Secondly, stronger collaboration and coordination among the relevant United Nations organs and agencies and regional and subregional organizations is critical. Such regional and subregional organizations should be appropriately resourced, including technologically, in order to advance the necessary information-sharing, sensitization and coordination. We commend the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its field office network for its continued support to regional mechanisms and Member States in that regard. Thirdly, the Security Council should willingly apply the tools at its disposal in support of efforts to address transnational organized crime. That includes imposing sanctions on known transnational criminal networks. In that regard, the Council’s adoption of resolution 2653 (2022) was a practical step aimed at depriving individuals whose criminal activities are threatening the peace, security and stability of Haiti of their resources and capacity to continue doing so. We commend the Council’s adoption of resolution 2699 (2023), authorizing the establishment of a multinational security support mission in Haiti that Kenya has offered to lead. It is a bold and innovative measure aimed at deploying a Security Council-mandated mission in an organized-crime-prone environment. As preparations are under way to deploy the Multinational Security Support Mission, we thank the countries that have indicated their readiness to support it in terms of personnel, equipment, logistics or funds, and we encourage others to do so as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Haiti in their unrelenting efforts to free themselves from the debilitating grip of criminal gangs. We also commend the regional approach of the Caribbean Community through its strategic plan, whose immediate focus includes deepening crime-prevention initiatives and programmes and facilitating justice reform. I would like to reaffirm Kenya’s unwavering commitment to regional and international efforts to eradicate transnational organized crime in all its forms.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Ms. Squeff (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation would first like to congratulate the Ecuadorian presidency of the Security Council for this month and to commend the delegation of Ecuador for its efforts in these very difficult times. We are also grateful for the convening of this important open debate. In recent decades, the world economy has become increasingly globalized, and so too has organized crime. The global impact of transnational crime has significantly increased. Criminal groups have adapted to new technologies and diversified their activities, and the result has been an unprecedented level of international crime. Transnational organized crime is one of the greatest threats to the security of States, and it affects peoples’ economic, political, social and cultural development. It is a multifaceted phenomenon that is manifest in various ways, including the trafficking of human beings, the illicit smuggling of migrants, the illicit trade in arms, and money-laundering, among other things. Such crimes undermine the ability of States to provide their citizens with basic services. They fuel violent conflicts and subject people to intolerable suffering. The primary legal instrument for combating transnational organized crime is the Palermo Convention, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Its States parties are obliged to promote the full implementation of their obligations under the Convention and its three protocols, including the obligation to criminalize all the crimes cited in the instruments within their domestic criminal law. My delegation believes it is crucial to ensure that any action aimed at preventing and combating organized crime must be carried out within a framework of full respect for international human rights law, with regard to both the alleged perpetrators and the victims of such criminal activities. In combating organized crime, it is important to bear in mind three fundamental elements — strengthening domestic legislation; ensuring the rule of law and multilateral cooperation, particularly through information exchange; and establishing mutual legal assistance and extradition. In an increasingly complex global world, the fight against transnational crime, including trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants and the illicit trade in weapons, is an enormous challenge that requires dialogue and policy coordination among countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as greater technical cooperation among States. The prosecution, investigation and trial of such complex criminal activities demand that we speak the same language, enabling coordination among the various legal traditions and State institutions with a view to achieving satisfactory outcomes. Improving international legal cooperation is therefore essential to preventing and combating transnational organized crime in all its manifestations. Effective international cooperation requires us to ensure the full implementation of the Palermo Convention. In that regard, we should recall that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is charged with helping to implement the Convention on the ground. It provides technical assistance and training for building legal frameworks and improving national capacities to implement the law. It also serves as a centre for disseminating best practices and compiling data on criminal activity. Transnational organized crime is constantly evolving and adapting to various political, economic and social situations, creating new forms of crime. It extracts profits through its various and increasingly complex networks and methods, and it recruits and impacts young people. Despite the progress that has been made in strengthening the global response, transnational networks and new protagonists continue to contribute to threats to international peace and security. As the Secretary-General recognized in his report on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), we urgently need to renew our efforts to coordinate more effective responses and manage emerging risks.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Myanmar.

Mr. Tun (Myanmar): At the outset, Myanmar thanks the presidency of Ecuador for organizing an open debate on this important issue. I am grateful to the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and our other briefers for their informative and insightful briefings this morning. We all know that today’s debate comes amid pressing global crises that remind us of the alarming threats posed by transnational organized crime, which is a serious and growing threat to regional and international peace and security. The operations of transnational criminal groups are evolving in scope and tactics, and their effects on societies around the regions in which they operate are profound. Their operations encompass a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime and money-laundering. In South-East Asia, one of the major emerging threats that transnational organized crime poses is cybercrime. This criminal activity is not only being committed in the form of online scams and financial fraud, which target millions of people across the region and beyond, but its operations are also largely carried out by means of forced criminality. While transnational organized crime groups in the region recruit willing criminals, tens of thousands of people were trafficked by crime syndicates, through targeted and sophisticated means for the purpose of forced criminality. Those victims are then forced into — in another words, enslaved in — scam compounds in the region, including in Myanmar, to commit online criminal activities, including investment scams and online gambling. Large-scale online scams and fraud operations carried out from the fortified scam compounds have been flourishing in our region, with a rising number of victims of online fraud and trafficking for forced criminality. The victims are being controlled by crime syndicates under the threat of physical and psychological abuse, including sexual exploitation and even organ removal. In my country, Myanmar, since the illegal military coup in 2021, the illegal military junta has been waging a campaign of brutal violence to force Myanmar people under their failing rule. The military junta’s atrocities have displaced more than 2 million people across Myanmar. Many of them are women and children. The collapse of the rule of law, rampant corruption, sky-high unemployment and instability, combined with zero legitimacy of the illegal coup in Myanmar, are perfect conditions for transnational organized crime to take root and thrive. On multiple occasions, I have pointed out in my interventions before the Council and other forums that transnational organized crime has drastically increased since the illegal military coup. In recent years, Myanmar has become a major host of scam compounds that have been committing online scams and human trafficking for forced criminality. The environment for large-scale organized criminal operations has been enabled by the military junta. Very recently, the world has clearly witnessed that the military junta-controlled Border Guard Forces, their commanders and junta-appointed officials have been deeply involved in maintaining online scam compounds in the north-east and south-east of Myanmar, namely, Laukkai in northern Shan state and Shwe Kokko in Karen state. The victims of their organized crime are from more than 46 countries, mostly from within the country, our neighbouring countries and other countries of the region. We deeply sympathize with all the victims for their suffering. We thank China for its concerted efforts in rescuing victims of trafficking from the compounds in Laukkai and in other parts of Myanmar. It is essential that the organized crime syndicates in Myanmar be eliminated and those responsible be held accountable. Our neighbouring countries will find a willing partner in the National Unity Government, the ethnic resistance organizations and People’s Defence Forces to that end. It is a fact that the military junta is not only the biggest obstacle to the country’s peace, stability and development, but also a destabilizing force to the whole region. Their illegal coup, atrocities and deep-rooted corruption are a major factor in enabling transitional organized crime, thereby undermining the rule of law at the regional level. In conclusion, to eliminate transnational organized crime and establish seamless regional connectivity in trade, the region needs a Myanmar that is a peaceful, democratic and reliable partner for regional peace and development. That will never happen with the current unaccountable, tyrannical military. But the people of Myanmar have been fighting with absolute determination to eliminate the military dictatorship and establish a federal democratic union with effective, inclusive, accountable security institutions. The ongoing nationwide operations by the alliance of our ethnic revolutionary organizations and People’s Defence Forces against the demoralized military junta are major steps of the growing movement towards that goal. One of the key objectives of those operations is also to eliminate online scam compounds, operated by the military junta’s affiliated criminals. Taking this opportunity, I urge the international community, the Security Council, our neighbours and countries in the region to support the people of Myanmar in their ongoing pursuit of a peaceful, federal, democratic country under the rule of law, where no transnational organized crime can take root.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Mr. Alrowaiei (Bahrain) (spoke in Arabic): I would like to begin by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Noboa Azín, President of the Republic of Ecuador, for presiding over today’s meeting. I would also like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their briefings, and other State members for their valuable contributions today. The Kingdom of Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and through the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has always worked to consolidate international cooperation and strategic partnerships with international and regional organizations to address transnational organized crime and mitigate its serious impact on international peace and security and on sustainable development. The Kingdom has promoted its efforts by developing policies, strategies and legislation. It has established national bodies and committees that are dedicated to addressing those crimes, including the crimes of extremism and terrorism, terrorism financing, money laundering and the illicit trade in narcotics, persons and weapons, as well as cybercrime and other crimes. Twenty years ago, we acceded to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its two Protocols, specifically on the smuggling of migrants Protocol and on preventing, suppressing and punishing trafficking in persons, especially women and children, along with other relevant regional and international conventions. The Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of its pioneering achievements in the Middle East and has been classified by a report issued by the United States Department of State for the sixth year in a row as one of the leading States in combating the trafficking in persons. That was a culmination of the efforts made by the national committee to combat the trafficking in persons in the context of constructive cooperation among legislative, executive and judicial authorities, while also promoting the rule of law. We established a comprehensive centre in the Kingdom to provide protection and support for foreign workers in the country by providing them with advisory and legal directives. We have continued to cooperate with our partners to combat terrorism and prevent its funding by freezing the assets of persons and terrorist entities included on our national lists and those of the Security Council. We have taken the measures necessary to prevent terrorists and their supporters from having access to the international financial system. We are also committed, through the Financial Action Task Force, to combat money laundering and financing terrorism. We have also played a leading role in the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force. We are currently implementing a comprehensive and integrated national strategy to achieve cybersecurity and to realize strong cyber protection and flexibility related to various systems and networks, in particular within critical sectors. Our efforts are based on effective standards and criteria for building awareness within our society through launching educational programmes and campaigns. We are developing our national cadres and consolidating national, regional and international cooperation and partnerships. The Kingdom successfully hosted the second Arab International Cyber Security Summit on 5 and 6 December. We once again urge the international community to respond to the initiative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain in the area of promoting legislative and technical cooperation by concluding an international convention that criminalizes hate speech and prevents the misuse of media and digital platforms to incite intolerance, extremism and terrorism. Addressing transnational organized crime and reducing its growing threats owing to the misuse of cyberspace and artificial intelligence techniques require us to promote international and regional cooperation by exchanging technical and legislative information and expertise, while also developing the efforts of law enforcement agencies and engaging in legal and judicial assistance exchanges and promoting awareness-raising media and societal campaigns, specifically among young people. We must develop a comprehensive strategy to promote our collective efforts in that regard and enable all human beings to enjoy their rights to peace and security and well-being.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Viet Nam.

Mr. Hoang Nguyen Nguyen (Viet Nam): Viet Nam congratulates Ecuador on assuming the Security Council presidency and thanks it for convening this open debate. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General and the briefers this morning for their valuable insights. Transnational organized crimes pose grave and multidimensional threats to international security, stability and development. Those crimes capitalize on insecurity and instability, exploit modern and new technologies to infiltrate sovereign States, manipulate markets, erode governance structures, incite conflicts and sabotage sustainable progress. They do not stop within national borders. By providing funding, weapons and logistics to armed groups, organized crime perpetuates civil wars and ignites violent extremism, insurgencies and terrorism across nations and regions. The complexity and pervasiveness of those threats are daunting. This multifaceted challenge necessitates global cooperation and an unwavering commitment. A holistic approach must not only entail the disruption of crime networks, but also address the underlying causes of conflict and inequality. Regional organizations must have a pivotal role to play in tailoring cooperation. In that connection, it is crucial to prioritize collaboration in border management and cybersecurity to prevent criminals from exploiting vulnerabilities and expanding their illicit activities across borders and in cyberspace. To achieve that, we need to establish efficient information channels, including hotlines and online briefing mechanisms. Additionally, the sharing of experiences related to preventing and combating transnational crimes — particularly information regarding criminal organizations, tactics and intricate national security concerns in each country — should be facilitated through existing cooperation mechanisms. TheGovernmentofVietNamattachesgreatimportance to fighting transnational organized crime. At the national level, Viet Nam has strengthened legislation and law enforcement coordination to counter drug trafficking, money laundering and other illicit activities. Those efforts are aimed at providing a more effective response to emerging trends in transnational organized crime. At the bilateral level, Viet Nam has prioritized the signing and effective implementation of mutual legal assistance treaties and extradition agreements. At the regional level, Viet Nam also works closely with partners through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime. We have implemented the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime to enhance coordination on matters of intelligence-sharing, investigations and prosecutions. At the international level, Viet Nam is committed to comprehensively fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto. Viet Nam actively engages in international cooperation and strives to build a cooperation network against transnational organized crime. We also work closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and INTERPOL across various areas. In conclusion, Viet Nam reaffirms its full commitment to a coordinated global response to transnational organized crime. We stand ready to share expertise and technical assistance. Only through solidarity and shared responsibility can we overcome such complex and evolving threats.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Mr. Bendjama (Algeria): I am honoured to participate in this critical open debate on transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. My sincere thanks go to His Excellency the President of Ecuador for spearheading this debate and to our briefers for their insightful presentations. Transnational organized crime poses an escalating threat to international peace and security, governance, development and human well-being by exploiting instability and corruption to fuel violence and generate illicit profits. The line between organized crime and terrorism is increasingly blurred, as they reinforce each other, destabilizing regions and challenging statehood. In Africa, terrorist groups financed through criminal trafficking networks smuggling arms, drugs and people across borders are a growing concern. Over recent decades, Africa has seen expanding terrorist threats enabled by organized crime and extensive smuggling routes outlined in United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) studies. Terrorist acts clearly facilitate organized crime by enabling networks to operate with impunity. Algeria has committed significant resources to combat organized crime through bilateral and multilateral partnerships, including with the African Police Cooperation Organization, INTERPOL and UNODC. However, the scale of trafficking makes that difficult without political solutions to regional conflicts that foster crime. The international community must prioritize African stability and governance. Algeria’s proximity to cannabis hubs exposes us to trafficked drugs, generating funds for terrorist attacks and destabilization. Ransom payments to terrorists in kidnapping cases further enable those networks and must be condemned unconditionally. Illicit financial flows also allow criminals to move vast sums and require asset-recovery commitments from Member States. Organized crime exploits technologies, such as the dark web and cryptocurrencies, to enhance illicit activities. While Algeria has established cybersecurity capacities, international collaboration seems to be essential to regulate the online ecosystem. We welcome the proposed United Nations convention on cybercrime and believe that the forthcoming intergovernmental expert committee on cybercrimes, chaired by Ambassador Boumaiza Mebarki of Algeria, represents a vital channel in that regard. In accordance with its international commitments, Algeria has passed robust legislation targeting human trafficking networks and has established assistance and protection measures for victims. However, individual States cannot tackle that alone. The assistance of UNODC and other United Nations agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and community networks, is vital. We remain committed to binding multilateral solutions across issues such as cybercrime, wildlife trafficking and cultural racketeering through a comprehensive and integrated approach to contemporary challenges.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

Mr. Rae (Canada): I would like to thank the presidency of Ecuador for convening this open debate on such an important issue. We have to recognize that, more than five years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 20 years after the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the overall global picture regarding many of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 16 is, at best, mixed. We know that the coronavirus disease pandemic brought significant and lasting changes to the organized crime landscape, creating new opportunities for organized criminals to exploit. The increased reliance on the Internet and digital and new technologies created fertile ground for organized crime, while the use of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation exploded during that period. Currently, cybercrime, ransomware and attacks on critical infrastructure remain the most persistent threats in Canada. Moreover — and I say this as a retiring Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court — the Court itself has been a target of cybercrime and attacks on its critical infrastructure.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Ms. Concepción Jaramillo (Panama) (spoke in Spanish): Panama congratulates Ecuador on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of December and for convening this important open debate. Transnational organized crime constitutes a clear and present danger to international peace and security. It undermines the rule of law, destabilizes economies, fuels corruption and perpetuates violence. From drug trafficking and human trafficking to cybercrime and the illicit trade in arms, the scope and sophistication of transnational organized crime continue to expand, posing a direct threat to the stability and well-being of nations and communities. Combating transnational crime requires strong, transparent and resilient institutions. Judicial institutions and law-enforcement systems are critical for pursuing and prosecuting individuals and groups involved in transnational criminal activities. This includes their ability to conduct investigations, collect evidence, make arrests and ensure fair trials. Corruption, on the other hand, undermines efforts to combat crime by enabling impunity and undermining effective law enforcement. Similarly, strong financial and regulatory institutions are essential for tracking and preventing money laundering, which plays a crucial role in transnational organized crime activities. Effective control measures against illicit financial transactions require robust financial institutions and adequate regulations. It is imperative to strengthen national legal frameworks and improve law-enforcement capabilities. However, those efforts must also include comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity. In addition, investment in education is key to sustainable development and is a powerful tool for preventing involvement in criminal activities and empowering communities to resist the influence of criminal networks. Given those challenges, international and regional cooperation is indispensable, as it promotes the timely exchange of information and cooperation between the security forces of different countries. The establishment of joint investigative teams and the harmonization of laws and protocols facilitate more efficient responses. By forging partnerships, sharing intelligence and harmonizing legal frameworks, the international community can more effectively combat criminal networks and disrupt their operations. We are aware of the magnitude and relevance of the global phenomenon of trafficking in persons as one of the most atrocious problems that threatens human rights, in particular those of women, children and adolescents. In our region, there is an exponential increase in the illegal trafficking of migrants, encouraged by criminal networks that take advantage of the vulnerability of thousands of people seeking to migrate to the North in search of better living conditions. We are facing a situation in which criminal networks are also using messaging and technology to motivate increasing numbers of those who hope to find a better life, thus taking advantage of basic human needs. In the specific case of Panama, the country’s geographical position makes it a country of transit and destination for irregular migrants, who remain constantly on the move throughout the country. Thus far this year, more than 500,000 people have passed through Panama, crossing the Darien National Park. Strategic security operations are being carried out in that respect by our regional centre for air and naval operations, which seek to combat illicit migrant trafficking by sea and air along both the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts. Panama has acted in a responsible manner that is consistent with its international commitments on the protection of migrants, respecting their rights and making continuous efforts to combat the underlying problems concerning the link between transnational organized crime and the migration crisis. In order to combat human trafficking and its related activities, since 2011 the fight against this international scourge has been elevated to a State issue. A coordinated system was created to comprehensively combat criminal activities linked to transnational organized crime, through a high-level, inter-institutional and multisectoral national commission, and the national plan against human trafficking was updated. The plan includes, for example, the detection and identification of victims for their protection and assistance, the return and reintegration of national and foreign victims, and capacity-building and technical support for judges, prosecutors, police and institutions responsible for the fight against human trafficking. Work has also been under way on a draft law on the forfeiture of property related to illegal activities, which has been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and is continuing to be promoted. However, we recognize that much more needs to be done. In that regard, we will continue to work to strengthen our capacities to develop timely and efficient actions, focused on preventing human trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators. We also reiterate our willingness to continue collaborating with the international community in efforts to eradicate organized crime based on actions that guarantee the protection of victims, full and timely reparation of their rights and full respect for human dignity.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of India.

Mrs. Kamboj (India): I thank you, Madam President, and I congratulate you warmly on your presidency. When threats are global, the response cannot be just local. The world has to come together to defeat these threats. That assertion by Prime Minister Modi while addressing the 90th INTERPOL General Assembly in New Delhi in 2022 underlines the urgent imperative for collective action from the international community to counter transnational organized crime and terrorism. Given the paucity of time, I will make six quick points. First, we must address growing political or State complicity in suppressing the activities of transnational criminal groups. Some States continue to provide support and safe havens to offenders of crime syndicates who have not only committed serious crimes but also continue to harm the economies of their adversary States, through means such as counterfeiting and the dissemination of the currency of the adversary State, as well as the supply of arms, drugs and other means to support terror activities across the border. Such States should be held accountable for those actions. Secondly, many States award economic citizenship to criminal and economic offenders, providing sanctuaries in order to evade their arrest and extradition to other countries in return for such criminals bringing foreign currency deposits to the State accomplice. That should stop. Such States should fulfil their obligations under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, which affirms this as a primary responsibility of Member States in the endeavour to prevent and counter terrorist acts. Thirdly, Member States that suffer owing to poor governance and inadequate oversight on financial institutions are more vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist entities and organized criminals. Implementing the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force in strengthening the governance structures of financial and economic assets should be one of our topmost priorities to counter the menace. Fourthly, we must work towards enhancing cooperation among law-enforcement agencies and Governments around the world in intelligence gathering and sharing and deterrent measures. Cooperation in the legal processes, such as the effective freezing of the proceeds of crime, the early return of offenders and the efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined. A common platform should be set up for sharing experiences and best practices, including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance. The principles of United Nations Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, especially areas related to international cooperation, should be fully and effectively implemented. Fifthly, investing in technological capabilities and fostering innovation is vital in order to stay ahead in the battle against organized crime. Developing tools to track and combat cyber threats, disrupting illicit financial flows and improving border security measures are essential components of that technological response. Lastly, if the trillion- dollar question is to ensure peace, do we have a peace infrastructure representative of the current times and contemporary realities? Or is 2023 the new 1945? Will 1945’s security plumbing work today? Clearly, the Security Council of yesterday is always late today. I assure you, Madam President, that India remains committed to strengthening the international community’s endeavours to curb the escalating threats of organized crime and terrorism, ensuring that our collective response is both effective and sufficient.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to Mr. Beresford-Hill.

Mr. Beresford-Hill: The Sovereign Order of Malta is grateful to the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic’s Ambassador to the United Nations for inviting us to contribute to this open debate on threats to international peace and security. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the relevant working groups for their diligent commitment to improving national technical capacity, awareness campaigns and specialized knowledge to combat transnational crime and corruption. The Sovereign Order of Malta has stood proudly as a representative of the world’s most vulnerable people for more than 900 years. We join with the global community, particularly in our desire to end the scourge of human trafficking, a practice that preys particularly upon women and children and that contributes at least $150 billion a year to criminal organizations. As we know, 50 per cent of trafficked victims are used for sexual exploitation, and the rest go through transnational systems of modern slavery. It is a plague that afflicts every State, whether as a point of origin, transit or destination. Unfortunately, we have no accurate handle on the scale of the issue, as international detection mechanisms are often, themselves, victims of transnational criminal enterprise. The Order of Malta has been at the front line of preventative efforts, particularly in Ukraine, where transnational human traffickers have flocked to exploit the refugees who fled for their lives once hostilities began. Trafficking was one of the biggest problems for women and children from the very first day, as logic gave way to desperation. Therefore, we collaborated with mobile phone carriers and telecommunications companies to disseminate information as effectively as possible, sending out texts in multiple languages, informing refugees to be aware of the issues of human trafficking. We cooperated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to expand our outreach and spread that information as efficiently as possible, operating in the biggest refugee population centres. We draw the attention of the Security Council to the potential for a major human trafficking harvest when hostilities finally cease in Gaza. There are unconfirmed reports that between 10,000 and 17,000 children have been left parentless as a consequence of the conflict. Efforts must be made through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations operating in the region to prevent a surge in the commercialization of those children by unscrupulous transnational operators, who probably even now are planning ways to gain access to those children and to profit from their vulnerability. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, has already voiced concerns that, unless the needs of these children are taken into account by those who will be responsible for the reconstruction of Gaza and the welfare of those who remain there post-conflict, the lives of many young Palestinians will be further destroyed, along with any hope of a positive future on the altar of profit. The principles of collaboration and cooperation need to be central in the fight against human trafficking. Prevention, detection and treatment are all enhanced by multiple stakeholders strengthening their efforts to share resources and information. We must strengthen inter-agency, bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Otherwise, transnational human traffickers will continue to benefit from an incohesive law enforcement effort. All those principles and methods are outlined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Crucially, they promote a strategy acknowledging that the eradication of that heinous crime requires collective, cohesive action and determined willpower.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.

Mrs. Asaju (Nigeria): Nigeria congratulates Ecuador on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of December. At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his statement and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ecuador to the United Nations for organizing today’s important open debate. I would also like to extend our gratitude to our briefers for their informative briefings. Transnational organized crime poses a significant threat to an international peace and security evolving with globalization. Issues like cybercrime, human and drug trafficking transcend borders. As such, effectively addressing them requires collaborative efforts among nations. Furthermore, the interconnected nature of those criminal activities demands innovative strategies and international cooperation to counteract their impact on stability and security worldwide. Transnational organized crime continues to inflict pain and trauma on its victims around the world. Through its ever-evolving dynamics, it is adapting to political, economic and social conditions, thereby creating new forms of crime, as well as providing funding for criminal activities, including terrorism, armed conflict and trafficking in drugs and persons. Those have devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities, especially women and girls. We must therefore collectively do more to prevent transnational organized crime by bringing perpetrators to justice. Today’s open debate bears great relevance to the awful experience Nigeria had with respect to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and the related crime of banditry in north- western and central Nigeria, which are leading to the large displacement of people. It is imperative to state that perpetrators of organized crime should be held accountable; yet the capacity of States to do so needs to be strengthened for a better assurance of success. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is making efforts in that regard, but more needs to be done to address emerging crimes, such as the creation of synthetic drugs and the involvement of youth in all nefarious activities. Beyond the law enforcement approach, however, dealing with the sociopolitical economy of organized crime in a more holistic manner is crucial to achieving world peace and security. In that regard, multilateral cooperation should be enhanced to strengthen States’ capabilities to deal with the threat posed by organized crime involving criminality and terrorism. Governments must fight corruption within their institutions by implementing measures to combat corruption, which often facilitates crime. The tenth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to be held from 11 to 15 December in Atlanta, Georgia, will provide a veritable platform to discuss anti-corruption measures to curb crime and to promote peace and security globally. We are convinced that the United Nations remains the central platform for raising awareness for the plight of victims of organized crime, through the peace and security agenda of the United Nations. It is important to raise awareness of the dangers associated with organized crime by educating the community, sharing experiences and information between States, as well as leveraging technology to disrupt criminal activities. By fostering international collaboration, we can make significant strides in combating transnational crime. It is equally important to address the root causes of organized crime including poverty, conflict and illicit drugs. The Organization’s efforts are focused on addressing those problems, but climate-induced disasters and the coronavirus disease pandemic have reversed the progress already achieved towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our bilateral and multilateral cooperation efforts are being expanded through the signing of a renewal of memorandums of understanding with countries and agencies. Such agreements seek to deepen intelligence-sharing, exchange programmes, joint operations and capacity- building, among others. In conclusion, we call on Member States to consider innovative ways to collaborate, foster regional and international cooperation, as well as commit to addressing transnational crime, which is a threat to global peace and security.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Pieris (Sri Lanka): May I congratulate Ecuador on assuming the presidency for the month of December. Regrettably, this month of joy and cheer is weighed down by unprecedented human suffering. There will be an end to that suffering sooner or later, but transnational organized crime is one activity that will hang over our heads for generations to come if we do not wake up to the reality of what it does to our global community, slowly but surely. It is said that it is about time that global law enforcement got as organized as organized crime. Transnational organized crime, as we know, are crimes that refer to those self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purposes of nothing but obtaining power, influence, monetary or commercial gains — wholly or partly by illegal means — while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption or violence, or while protecting their illegal activities through transnational organizational structures and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms. There is no single structure under which transnational organized crime operates. They vary from hierarchies to clans, to networks and cells, and may evolve to other structures. It may shock the Council that transnational organized crime is estimated to generate hundreds of billions of dollars, perhaps close to a trillion dollars, or even more, year after year — several times more than the amount of official development assistance and close to an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s export of merchandise. It is said that transnational crime is a free enterprise at its freest. Every year, countless lives are lost as a result of organized crime, drug-related health problems and violence. Firearm deaths and the unscrupulous methods and motives of human traffickers and migrant smugglers are all part of this. Transnational organized crime is not stagnant, but an ever-changing industry, adaptive to markets and creating new forms of crime. In short, it is an illicit business that transcends cultural, social, linguistic and geographical boundaries, and one that knows no borders or rules. There are many activators that can be characterized as transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, money laundering, trafficking in firearms, counterfeiting goods, wildlife and cultural property, and even some aspects of cybercrime. Transnational crime poses several problems to society. One such problem is its global outreach. It reaches all parts of the world, with its financial impact, its threat to national security, its violence and the intimidation that goes along with it, its exploitation and human rights abuses, the corruption and the infiltration it encourages and the technological advancements it has adapted to. We must remember that transnational organized crime is three steps ahead of us, using the Internet and other digital platforms to facilitate its illicit activities. How do we address those challenges? It requires international cooperation, strong law enforcement agencies, effective legislation and targeted efforts to disrupt and dismantle transnational organized crime. Sri Lanka has taken several measures to respond to transnational crime, which I will not elucidate for want of time. In conclusion, it is important to note that combating transnational crime is an ongoing challenge, and Sri Lanka continues to adapt its strategies and mechanisms to effectively respond to the evolving nature of organized criminal networks. We must commend the United Nations, which employs various measures to counter transnational organized crime, including international cooperation, conventions, capacity-building initiatives, efforts to enhance legal frameworks, information exchanges among Member States and support for law enforcement collaboration. United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, play a vital role in implementing those measures and fostering global partnerships. Those legislative measures provide us a legal basis to combat transnational crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, torture and cybercrime. They enable law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in such criminal activities, as well as facilitate international cooperation in addressing transnational crime. We have to remember that transnational organized crime does not recognize borders and that no Member State is free from its crippling influence. The meeting rose at 5.50 p.m.