Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
The Tokyo International Conference on African Development has long served as a distinguished multilateral forum, bringing together diverse partners for a prosperous Africa.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime proudly contributes to these efforts, and I am grateful for your support for this event on the margins of TICAD, focusing on the Horn of Africa.
The historic peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea has brought renewed hope for strengthening security and stability in the region.
Increasing market integration, cross-border trade and job creation are powerful forces advancing prosperity.
We cannot allow progress to be thwarted by transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism.
Preventing and countering these threats to peace, security, human rights and development are essential to enabling regional integration and growth to flourish.
UNODC is supporting the Horn of Africa by building the capacity of criminal justice institutions to fight human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, cybercrime, drug trafficking, money laundering and terrorism.
We are helping governments manage borders and strengthen regional cooperation for the benefit of all.
This event is a chance to examine the challenges facing the region, and to learn how international cooperation is helping provide solutions.
It can also contribute to discussions at the forthcoming UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto, Japan in April 2020.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend the Government of Japan for their unwavering support for the development of Africa.
UNODC stands ready by you and with you as your partner.
I urge the international community to provide support for a better and more prosperous future for the countries in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
I wish you fruitful discussions. I thank you.