Pakistan’s Statement on International Drug Control and Crime Prevention

Statement by Mr. Bilal Hayee Pakistan Delegate on Agenda Items 98: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice 99: International Drug Control at the Third Committee 61st Session of the U.N General Assembly New York 04 OCTOBER 2006

Mr. Chairman,

We wish to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive reports under these important agenda items. These reports bring to our attention the magnitude of trans-national organized crime such as human trafficking, corruption, terrorism, money laundering and cyber crimes. The reports reveal interconnectivity between transnational organized crimes and their grave implications on human security, political stability, development and rule of law. The challenge for the international community, therefore, lies in promoting cooperation to curb and control the growing diversity, low visibility, and longevity of the organized crimes and thus prevent opportunities for “uncivil” society.

  1. The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) and its protocols together with the conventions on drug control and Corruption provide a sufficient legal basis for joint international action against various aspects of organized crime. In the last few years, however, the activities of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice have become more complex and multidimensional. It encompasses a large number of mandates and activities ranging from providing technical assistance to member States in adhering to and implementing the international treaties concerning organized crime, corruption and terrorism to assisting the States in applying the UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice programmes. Universal adherence to these treaties and their faithful implementation would remain imperative for success against the twin menace of drugs and crime.
  2. Apart from obligations under relevant treaties at national level, Member States need to strengthen partnership and pursue collaborative action against terrorism, drug control, organized crimes and corruption. In dealing with these complex challenges we must also be aware that poverty is the ferment for all crimes. Our preventive efforts must, therefore, not lose sight of the enormous impact of poverty that adversely affects human society and human rights.

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The Government of Pakistan, over the past seven years has taken several important steps to strengthen its criminal justice apparatus. Pakistan hosted an International Judicial Conference in August 2006 where more than 600 eminent jurists and judicial experts discussed a wide range of issues including role of judiciary in Good governance, Corruption, Cyber laws, Child Abduction and Transnational Jurisdiction, Human trafficking, Organized Crime, National Security and the Role of Judiciary.
  2. Pakistan is signatory to Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and Convention against Corruption and the process for ratification of these instruments is underway. Being aware of the complex legal, social and economic dimensions of transnational crime particularly trafficking in persons, corruption and money laundering, the Government has taken the following concrete measures to criminalize and punish these offences.

Mr. Chairman

  1. We agree with the observations in the report of the Secretary-General that terrorism is one of the most serious challenges facing mankind. It is a global threat that warrants a common, concerted and comprehensive international response.
  2. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has a central role in promoting universal accession to sectoral conventions on terrorism as well as crime related legal instruments. This role could become even more effective if UNODC takes into account political specificities of states and regions while helping them in improving their legal structures in compliance with their obligations pursuant to these conventions.
  3. The efforts of the international community in curbing the menace of terrorism so far have revealed that the war against terrorism is not a traditional military confrontation between states or group of states. It is much more complicated struggle requiring a comprehensive and sophisticated response. It involves not merely eradication of the ability of terrorists to strike but also eliminating all underlying factors and root causes which produce and sustain terrorists. The adoption of Global Counter Terrorism Strategy by the General Assembly last month is an important step. This Strategy will need to be enlarged and adapted to address the underlying causes of terrorism if it is to be successful.
  4. In conclusion, we would like to see UNODC play a more robust role by helping states by sharing best practices, in reviewing and revising national legislation and in making available the required resources to counter all forms of transnational organized crimes.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.

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STATEMENT

BY

MR. BILAL HAYEE

PAKISTAN DELEGATE

ON AGENDA ITEMS

98: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

99: INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL

AT THE

THIRD COMMITTEE

61ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

NEW YORK

04 OCTOBER 2006