UN CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

• Recently, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted the first-ever presidential statement on maritime security.
• India, as the UNSC president for August 2021, noted the threats to maritime safety and security and called upon the members to consider implementing the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
• All the permanent members of UNSC (US, China, Russia, UK and France) attended the Meet.

Important points:

• Emphasized on safeguarding the legitimate uses of the oceans and security of coastal communities, affirming that international law — reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, among other global instruments — provides the legal framework for combating these illicit activities.
• Called on Member States to implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and to work with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation.
• Member States, by other terms, should also consider ratifying, acceding to and implementing the 2000 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

• IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It is a global standard-setting authority with responsibility to improve the safety and security of international shipping and prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
• India joined the IMO in 1959. The IMO currently lists India as among the 10 states with the ‘largest interest in international seaborne trade’.
• UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)
• UNTOC is also known as the Palermo Convention since it was adopted in Palermo in Italy in 2000, entered into force in 2003. India joined UNTOC in 2002.
• The idea behind having an international convention against organized crime was that if crimes could cross borders, so must law enforcement.

SOURCE: THE HINDU ,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT