Bangkok (Thailand), 2 May 2017 - Enforcement, justice, economic and diplomatic leaders from Southeast Asia have gathered at the UN in Bangkok to discuss regional integration and crime challenges, as well as improvements to border management to help secure the region. Arranged by the Government of Thailand and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the conference will consider and recommend ways to ensure ASEAN community security as the region evolves and becomes more interconnected and integrated.
To support consolidation of ASEAN as one of the world's largest economic communities and trading blocs, countries of the region are currently carrying out major upgrades in air, road, rail and port infrastructure, as well as initiatives to ease border controls to increase cross-border movements of labour, capital and goods. These efforts are creating new economic and development opportunities, but at the same time they are highlighting differences and disparities between countries abilities to address transnational organized crime and related security challenges. Worryingly, 2016 data presented by UNODC points to the fact that organized crime and terrorism challenges are continuing to expand and diversify in the ASEAN region, particularly where there are governance and capacity limitations.
This is the third year Thailand has partnered with UNODC to lead these regional discussions, part of an effort to support the commitment to border management in the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together strategy. Border management has also been identified as one of nine issues under the ASEAN Political-Security Community to be urgently addressed, and UNODC is leading UN efforts in the region in support of the ASEAN - UN Plan of Action signed in 2016 by ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh and then UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
"A key objective of the conference is to build momentum for improving regional border management to mitigate transnational crime and terrorism threats which are expanding and evolving as the region integrates," said UNODC Deputy Executive Director Aldo Lale Demoz.
He added, "Results of discussions here today will be channeled into relevant ASEAN decision making bodies, particularly the next Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) in Laos in a few weeks. Our regional office will also take the results into account, and our representative and a team of experts in border management and transnational crime will be at the SOMTC to present the latest data and our regional programme which is designed in support of what ASEAN agrees. This is one of the most important agendas for us in Southeast Asia at the moment."
Expanding UNODC regional programme support for border management is being discussed, along with port control and information units and improvements in the sharing of strategic information and intelligence, and deepening cooperation between enforcement and justice officials of the region. "This event should provide momentum for integrated enforcement and justice strategies, and programmes that address a variety of transnational crime and security challenges. A good example is our network of border liaison offices that help countries and agencies communicate and collaborate both within countries and across borders."
"Considering how quickly the ASEAN region is developing and integrating, and the scale and diversity of transnational organized crime and terrorism challenges we are confronted with, we have no choice but to look for cross border solutions. We simply have to work together much more effectively than we have in the past when crime and security challenges were more localized", said Advisor to the Minister of Justice of Thailand Somchai Seangjai. "We are partnering with UNODC as the lead multilateral agency to address transnational organised crime and terrorism, hopefully so that we can get out in front of the issues."
Click here to learn more about UNODC's work on Transnational Organised Crime.
Click here to learn more about UNODC's work on Border management.
Click here to learn more about the UNODC Regional Programme for Southeast Asia.
