Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
The past years have brought to our attention the ordeal of migrants moving north through deserts and across the sea, often resulting in a terrible loss of life. These perilous journeys are mostly facilitated by smugglers.
We need sustained dialogue and multi-faceted responses to collectively ensure that migration strategies respect the rights of migrants, while countering the criminal networks that prey on them.
As guardian of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime supports the international community in developing comprehensive strategies that include prevention and protection measures.
On Monday, UNODC released the latest Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. We have noted that progress has been made in the Rabat Process participating countries to tackle all forms of trafficking in persons.
Nevertheless, migrant smuggling remains a clear challenge.
The majority of the participating countries in the Rabat Process have a common, internationally accepted basis for joint action against human trafficking, migrant smuggling and organized crime.
Moreover, Member States at the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice agreed a resolution to strengthen international cooperation to address migrant smuggling, which was adopted by ECOSOC in July.
But a further, much-needed step is the ratification and implementation of the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol by all Rabat Process participating States.
Appropriate legal frameworks need to be adopted in countries along the smuggling routes to have the means to deter and punish smugglers, especially when they endanger the lives and safety of migrants, or subject them to inhuman or degrading treatment and torture.
In line with the Protocol, national legislation must provide for the protection of migrants and refugees, and should not deter humanitarian assistance.
Supporting countries to strengthen these responses remains a major priority of UNODC.
Our network of field offices and national, regional and global programmes provide assistance on the ground to meet these challenges.
We continue to offer our support to North and West African countries to review legislation and build the capacity of front line officers, investigators, magistrates. UNDOC also maintains a sustained dialogue with the EU and its agencies.
Furthermore, UNODC stands ready to support the implementation of the Rome Declaration and the programme of action to address migrant smuggling at the regional and inter-regional levels.
Thank you.