Vienna, 18 October 2022 (TDI): The Ambassador of Pakistan delivered a national statement at the 11th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTC) in Vienna.
Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to International Organizations emphasized Pakistan’s firm resolve to undertake efforts to counter transnational organized crime.
He urged strong political will, comprehensive national laws, an effective policy as well as program implementation, and, most significantly, increased international cooperation, particularly in the fields of law enforcement & criminal justice, which are critical to combating organized crime.
Ambassador Khokher went on to say that Pakistan had taken a variety of legislative and administrative efforts to combat the negative consequences of crimes such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, corruption, and money laundering.
Also read: Ambassador of Pakistan underscores women representation in law enforcement
He went on to say that these efforts were in accordance with the protocols of UNTOC and that Pakistan will continue to engage closely with its bilateral partners and other international organizations, including the UNODC.
He also mentioned that Pakistan had completed the UNTOC Review Mechanism, the hallmark of which was the government’s extensive involvement with civil society. He underscored Pakistan’s determination to maintain its active role in this respect.
Moreover, noting the emergence of new kinds of transnational organized crime, such as in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs), Ambassador Khokher stressed the importance of effective legislative and regulatory interventions, as well as mutual cooperation and information exchange.
Likewise, in its three previous negotiating sessions, the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Combating the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes made significant progress in addressing these challenges.
The 11th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime will be held in Vienna from October 17 to 21, 2022.
