New York, October 2, 2024 – The United Nations Headquarters was the venue for a significant event co-hosted by the Governments of Japan and Malta, with support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The event focused on countering the evasion of UN sanctions at sea, a critical issue for global maritime security.
Opening Remarks Highlight Global Collaboration
Mrs. Delphine Schantz, Representative of the UNODC Liaison Office in New York, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of UN sanctions in maintaining peace and security. She noted the recent Pact for the Future, which underscores the urgency of addressing maritime crime.
Keynote Addresses Stress the Need for Coordinated Efforts
H.E. Mr. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Japan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, highlighted the necessity of coordinated responses to enforce UN sanctions. He praised Japan’s investment in UNODC projects aimed at tackling transnational maritime crime through capacity building and information sharing.
Ms. Francesca Maria Gatt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN, emphasized the severe consequences of sanctions evasion, which undermine the rule of law and destabilize regions. She commended the United States for initiating the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC) and highlighted Malta’s efforts in establishing the Malta Centre to enhance information sharing on maritime activities.
Round Table Discussions on Maritime Sanctions
Ms. Jennifer A. Chalmers from the U.S. Department of State stressed the importance of identifying threats and praised flag registries for their role in combating flag hopping. Dr. Mattew Ouimet, also from the State Department, highlighted the impact of maritime sanctions in regions like Somalia, Libya, and Yemen, where they help curb terrorist financing and conflict escalation.
Mr. Taimur Khan from Conflict Armament Research discussed the organization’s role in providing evidence on illicit supply chains and supporting maritime security operations. He emphasized the need for collaboration with flag registries to trace and prevent violations of UN sanctions.
Presentation of the Malta Centre
Mr. George Grech from Malta’s Permanent Mission to the UN introduced the Malta Centre, which aims to enhance global maritime security through information sharing and monitoring of vessels. He called for the adoption of a common Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system to improve enforcement of sanctions.
Support from the European Union and UNODC
Fabio Cannizzaro from the European Union highlighted the importance of the Malta Centre in combating sanction evasion. He noted the EU’s support through the Maritime UN Sanctions Enforcement (MUSE) project, which provides capacity building and technological tools for improved fleet monitoring.
Mr. Shanaka Jayasekara from UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Program discussed the program’s initiatives, including regional cooperation and the induction of advanced maritime surveillance technology. He emphasized the importance of capacity building for flag registries and maritime law enforcement agencies.
Reflections from Flag Registries
H.E. Mr. Eloy Alfaro de Alba from Panama and H.E. Mr. John Silk from the Marshall Islands shared their countries’ efforts to ensure compliance with UN sanctions. They highlighted measures such as enhanced due diligence, collaboration through RISC, and the establishment of shared databases to monitor and penalize vessels involved in illicit activities.
Closing Remarks
Ms. Hiromi Otsuki from Japan’s Foreign Policy Bureau concluded the event by stressing the vital role of UN sanctions in maintaining global peace and security. She urged all stakeholders to collaborate and support initiatives like the Malta Centre to ensure effective implementation of maritime sanctions.
