Director General/Executive Director
Distinguished participants,
My thanks for inviting me to address this conference.
Italy has long been on the frontlines of the crisis in the Mediterranean, where migrant smugglers have been plying their deadly trade, taking advantage of those fleeing conflict, insecurity and other hardships.
Last year alone, more than 3,000 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Migrants are enduring grave rights violations and inhumane treatment at the hands of smugglers.
The UN is strongly committed to supporting countries to break the criminal networks that exploit people's desperation or desire for a better life. The impunity must stop.
Just this month, the Security Council added six individuals, accused of leading human trafficking and smuggling networks from Libya to Europe, to its Sanctions List.
These sanctions against smuggling kingpins are a very welcome step, demonstrating that there must be accountability for migrant smuggling and exploitation.
Moreover, at least two of the men accused are not only engaged in migrant smuggling, but are believed to have links with violent extremists, highlighting the critical need to address the nexus of organized crime and terrorism.
In relation to this, I would like congratulate Italian prosecutors and police, some of whom are present here, for the operation in May against an international network alleged to have smuggled migrants across Europe and then funnelled proceeds to terrorist groups in Syria.
If proven in court, this case would be a clear example of that link.
In order to effectively counter such challenges, States need to make full use of the international legal instruments available.
I am referring in particular to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, or Palermo Convention, and its Protocols against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons.
Sicily is, of course, the birthplace of the landmark Palermo Convention.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Italy for your leadership in promoting and fostering implementation of the Convention worldwide, including through advocacy for a review mechanism.
I also commend Italy's commitment to fully implementing the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol, as we have seen since the time of Operation Mare Nostrum.
Italy has successfully dismantled migrant smuggling networks from Africa to Europe, demonstrating the effectiveness of the legal tools provided by the Convention and Protocol.
This is critical, because the international community needs to be able to coordinate and act immediately, as smugglers adapt to law enforcement responses and routes are shifting accordingly.
As guardian of the Palermo Convention and its protocols, UNODC is actively supporting countries to prevent and combat migrant smuggling, while upholding the rights of smuggled migrants.
This includes legislative assistance, reinforcement of criminal justice capacities and fostering international cooperation.
Just this week, we presented a global study on the smuggling migrants, which was carried out with the support of Italy, and which represents an important first step towards more systematic research and analysis of this crime.
Since we launched the UNODC Mediterranean Strategy on migrant smuggling in 2015, UNODC has trained more than 1,260 law enforcement officers, criminal justice practitioners, officials and NGO representatives from across the Mediterranean region.
We are partnering with other UN entities to enhance assistance and supporting efforts towards the Global Compact on migration.
We are also cooperating with UNHCR and EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia, and participating in the Khartoum and Rabat processes to address challenges along the eastern and western migratory routes in Africa.
Thanks to financial support from Italy and the Netherlands, UNODC has facilitated the deployment of a senior Federal Prosecutor from Nigeria to Palermo and here in Catania since February.
Importantly, this prosecutor was deployed on the basis of article 18.13 of the Palermo Convention.
This judicial cooperation is a testament to the effectiveness and applicability of the Convention norms in fostering north-south cooperation.
We stand ready to do more, including by strengthening our presence in Libya, in cooperation with our partners UNHCR and IOM.
This is just a brief overview of some of the activities UNODC is undertaking to strengthen migrant smuggling responses.
The conference today is a very welcome opportunity to learn how we can further enhance our support, to learn from your experiences on the ground and discuss solutions.
Thank you.