UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. 5th Conference of the Parties

Norway's statement at DOP 1 f General Debate

Mr/Madame Chair 

First, allow me too, to echoe the congratulations from previous speakers to the election of you and the bureau.

The human suffering and costs of societies due to organized crime are enormous. We note the innovative character of criminal networks. We experience their involvement in areas with profit, from narcotic drugs and human trafficking to illegal fishing, piracy, illegal logging, illegal trade in endangered spices, cultural properties and environmental waste and piracy.

To counter criminal networks, we need to be smarter and cooperate more effectively at the international level. Norway believes effective implementation of existing instruments is the best way forward. This should be supported by effective review of implementation mechanisms. We have such mechanisms for the UN drug conventions and the UN convention against corruption, but we do not have a mechanism for UN convention against transnational organized crime and the 3 protocols. We encourage member States to support the work to develop principles for a strong and effective review mechanism during the 5th session of the conference of parties to UNTOC.

Chair,

Norway welcomes Yury Fedotov as the new leader of UNODC. His tasks are challenging.

UNODC in the future, Norway would like to see a more focused UNODC, with a strategic focus and priorities well placed within the UN family and a balance between head quarter activities and the field. UNODC should strengthen its role as a guardian of human rights in the crime and drug area. Important principles such as transparency and application of the gender perspective should be strengthened both in its programs and its human resources policy. We agree with Fedotov that it is necessary to develop and utilize the strenght of UNODC, its staff, and strenghten a culture of evaluation.

We have no accurate estimate on proceeds of transnational organized crimes. UNODC has estimated the annual market value of cocaine and heroin only in Europe to 54 billion USD. And that is only one type of crime in one part of the world. Lessons learned from Norway that measures to increase transparency and to identify illicit financial flows have contributed substantially in our fight against organized crime.

When it comes to organized crime, we need more knowledge about the global criminal groups and how they take advantage of the financial structures, to be able to have a discussion within the UN on an effective response. We hope to take this forward with your input, knowledge and support.

In the area of human trafficking, we have seen the advantages of global norms set by the UN Crime Convention, supplemented by a more operative regional framework within the Council of Europe. Under the Norwegian presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, human trafficking is one of three main priorities. More concretely, we would like to strengthen the focus on the labour market through improved cooperation between the police and the labour inspection authorities and to develop a more effective victim identification program together with our partners within the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

Norway has ratified and implemented the convention and the 3 protocols and we encourage member States that not yet have done so to ratify and implement the convention and the 3 additional protocols.

To conclude;

We can only make significant progress to fight transnational crime and narcotic drugs if we cooperate more effectively in New York, here in Vienna and at the regional level. I can ensure you Norway’s constructive participation in this work.

Thank you.

Norway's statement at DOP 5 Emerging forms of Crime

Madame Chair, 

Emerging forms of crime must be discussed within the context of the convention. As mentioned in the background document prepared by the secretariat document number: CTOC/COP/2010/3, there are a number of emerging forms of crime.   

Illegal logging, leads to deforestation, threatens the climate and means loss of revenues. We believe that the global work should follow two tracks: Criminalization of the illegal activities of criminal groups involved in such activities and the strengthening of a credible system for trade in licit timber. UNODC has done a good work in this area, in particular through the interlinked focus on administrative capacity in the forest area and the anti corruption capacity.

Madame chair,

Organised criminal groups involved in illegal fishing is an emerging form of crime that not only has a significant impact on the environment, but also is connected to other types of transnational organized crime such as illigal drug trade, money laundering, corruption, human smuggling and human trafficking. Several studies and reports have pointed out such connections. Norway is committed to bring these facts on the table in future processes on transnational organized crime and to deal with these crimes. 

For criminal groups, illegal fishing seems to be attractive because of  the high profit, and from their perspective a low risk crime compared to other crimes. Some estimates suggest that illegal fishing causes annual global losses of up to USD 23.5 billion. It results in a major loss of revenue and the effects on coastal states and the poorest countries, in particular, can be seen throughout the world. 

There is a clear distinction between the criminal issue and management and conservation issue of illegal fishing. We believe that greater attention needs to be paid to the transnational organized criminal aspects of this issue. 

Norway believes that the transnational nature of illegal fishing makes this crime highly relevant in terms of the UN Convention against transnational organized crime.

 

Madame/Mr Chair

Madam Chair, this session of the UNTOC COP is also the 10th anniversary of the Convention. We consider this an important occasion to consider Member States’ level of implementation of the Convention and Protocols, and challenges in this regard. 

Let me also thank the Secretariat for an excellent background paper prepared to this agenda item. 

We have noted with satisfaction the development of the computer-based self assessment tool. The successful development of the self assessment tool is a critical component of a mechanism mentioned in article 32 of the Convention.

We welcome the development in number of responses to the questionnaires, but this is still too low. We hope a vital mechanism could improve the response rates. The global plan of action against trafficking in human beings adopted in New York this summer illustrates an enormous political commitment to fight this human trafficking. Implementation of the human trafficking protocol is at the heart of the plan of action. Norway believes the adoption of a review of implementation mechanism would take the content of the global plan of action a long step further. 

The mechanism should support member states efforts to secure an effective implementation of the convention and the three protocols. The assessment by the mechanism should also be a guide for technical assistance, be it bilateral or by regional or multilateral organizations. 

Self assessment should be the basis, but supported by other relevant information, which is normal for other mechanisms such as INCB or for the Human Rights instruments. 

The convention and the protocols should be assessed in parallel. Organized crime, human trafficking, small arms and smuggling of migrant have similarities and differences. Differences in countries ratification is only one difference. At this stage, we believe the complex nature of the convention and the three protocols is an argument for an expert review model with experts appointed by the Conference of Parties which is likely to be the most effective model. 

The mechanism should of course be neutral in its composition and funding.

This conference of parties should agree in principle on the establishment of a review of implementation mechanism and its content. We hope for a substantive outcome in the discussions in the informal consultations.

Thank you

 

Madame/Mr. Chair, 

Technical assistance is partly related to UNODCs ability to deliver effectively. COP is not a governing body of the UNODC, but UNODC assists countries in the implementation for the convention and the protocols.  

There are today important processes within the UNODC to improve its effectiveness and relevance within areas under its responsibility and mandate. To set the stage for these reform processes, much was achieved with the development of the The Strategic Plan for 2008 – 2011, which represents an important step forward and provides the Office with its first integrated and result oriented workplan, establishing a dynamic relation between goals and activities.

Evaluations have shown that lack of governance is one of UNODC’s weakest points. We are therefore very pleased with the establishment of the Standing open-ended intergovernmental Working Group on improving the Governance and Financial situation of the UNODC. It is an important step in putting the strategic plan into practice, and promoting better dialog and understanding between Member States and the Secretariat. We need the FinGov to discuss budgetary matters, strategy and priorities to improve the efficiency of the UNODC and build stronger ownership and confidence in the work carried out on behalf of the Member States, yet without micro-managing at project level. Furthermore, we believe the FinGov may play an important role in better coordination between the two Commissions in formulating clearer policy guidelines and directives for the UNODC.

Norway considers a more coherent and effective UN, responsive to host Government priorities, of central importance in meeting the Millenium Development Goals. We pay tribute to the UNODC for initiating the Realignment Process, and the move it represents away from a project approach to Thematic and Regional programming. We are encouraged by the response of the UNODC to strengthen its effectiveness and actively pursue “One UN” reform initiatives, thereby contributing to better system-wide coherence and the goal of Delivering as One at country-level. The realignement process is a measure that will enhance the planning of the UNODC and will furthermore provide the Member States with better oversight in the programming and operations both at Headquarters and in the field.  

We have expressed our high expectations for the rapid resumption of a fully functional Independent Evaluation Unit, the importance of which was reconfirmed by Member States in the decision to re-establish the unit at the Reconvened Sessions last December, a decision very much in line with the findings and recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of October 2009. We consider the functions of the IEU an integral part of responsible result based management and furthermore a confidence building measure between Member States and the UNODC.  

The issue of human rights in general and gender considerations in particular is central to Norway’s foreign and development policy and should form an integral part at every level of project and program planning and implementation. We consider that the UNODC could do more to reflect how the programs of the Office impact on gender issues and human rights when developing information material and reporting to the conference of parties.  

We are of course concerned about the budgetary challenges currently facing the UNODC, particularly with regards to the General Purpose Fund, which is cut with 30 % for the biennium 2010-2011. As stated on numerous occasions, the General Purpose Fund is too dependent on a limited number of donors. The problematic budgetary situation is of course exacerbated by the significant increases in Special Purpose Funds over the past years, and the operational resources that this increase requires, but which has not been forthcoming. This is something the UNODC must consider more carefully when taking on additional responsibilities and discussing funding with potential donors for specific projects or programs. We, the member states, should also be careful in giving additional tasks to UNODC, including here in the COP, if there is no resources available.

With regards to recruitment policy, the UNODC must understand the importance Member States attaches to geographic diversity in selecting staff to the Office. Considerations of nationality and equity in this process cannot be based on how regional groups are represented within the organisation. As an example, Norway is underrepresented in the UNODC, but the regional group to which we belong is overrepresented. Such equations should not prejudice against applicants from under-represented Member States. We are also concerned about the gender balance in the recruitment process, in particular to higher level and leadership positions, and we encourage the UNODC to strive for a 50-50 balance in this regard. We mean a more balanced approach would increase UNODCs ability to assist countries in their implementation of the convention.

For more information about the conference see UNODC.