Third Committee

Madam Chair,

        I am pleased to speak on behalf of the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

2        ASEAN is committed to working together and with the international community to combat transnational crime.   The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) meets regularly to coordinate initiatives and respond to emerging issues.  The ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime has strengthened the region’s capacity to deal with transnational terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, trafficking in persons, cybercrime and sea piracy. 

3        ASEAN Leaders signed the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) at the 27^th ASEAN Summit in November 2015.  This was a milestone in ASEAN’s efforts to address the problem of trafficking in persons.  Last week, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) launched a Regional Review on Laws, Policies and Practices within ASEAN, with a focus on women and children.  This Regional Review will provide an accurate and up-to-date assessment of the regional TIP situation as well as best practices and recommendations for action.

4        ASEAN’s Convention on Counter-Terrorism aligns ASEAN’s counter-terrorism efforts with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as well as relevant UN resolutions and conventions.  In this way, ASEAN actively supports efforts to maintain international peace and security. 

5        Cyber crime has been on the rise. To respond to this challenge, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime established a dedicated Working Group on Cybercrime in 2014, in order to restructure and enhance ASEAN’s cybercrime efforts.  I am pleased to announce that next week, Singapore will host the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW).  It will feature an ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity which will deliberate on strategies for enhanced cybersecurity incident response, confidence-building measures and capacity building.  The SICW will also convene an ASEAN Cybercrime Prosecutors’ Roundtable Meeting to serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing among prosecutors on fighting cybercrime across ASEAN. 

Madam Chair,

6        ASEAN is committed to addressing the scourge of drugs.  Since declaring their commitment to realise the goal of a Drug-Free ASEAN Community in 2012, ASEAN Leaders have maintained a zero-tolerance approach to drugs.  The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters has been institutionalised, strengthening ASEAN cooperation on this issue.  ASEAN has continued to put in place additional regional mechanisms to combat the drug problem.

7        ASEAN contributed constructively to the successful negotiation of the Outcome Document of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) held in April this year.  UNGASS was an important milestone towards the review of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action of 2009, due to take place in 2019.  Implementation of the recommendations in the outcome document will bolster our national and regional efforts in achieving a drug-free society. ASEAN strongly supports the centrality of the three international drug control conventions which remain relevant and shall continue to serve as the cornerstone of global drug policy. There is no one-size-fits-all approach towards addressing the drug issue, as each country has its own unique set of challenges. Each state would have to decide and implement policies that best cater to its individual needs, based on the unique circumstances and norms of its society.  ASEAN continues to pledge support to the Commission for Narcotic Drugs in its role as the principal policy-making organ of the UN for all drug-related policies and issues.  ASEAN also looks forward to continuing our cooperation with the UN, in particular with the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, to share best practices and find effective strategies to eradicate illicit drugs and international crime.

Madam Chair,

8        ASEAN has demonstrated that by working together as a community, we can make significant progress in combating transnational crime.  ASEAN will continue to work towards a safe Southeast Asia, where our citizens can live full lives without fear of the influence of drugs and crime. Thank you.

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