Maldives signs United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Maldives has acceded to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) on 23 January 2013.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime entered into force in September 2000. It is the chief international instrument to oppose organized crime.

The Convention obligates state parties to introduce a range of measures, including the creation of domestic criminal offences to counter the problem; the adoption of new frameworks for mutual legal assistance; extradition; law enforcement cooperation; technical assistance and training.

Transnational Crimes stated in the convention include terrorism, drug smuggling, illegal migration, fraud, kidnapping, money laundering and human trafficking.

Transnational organized crime exhibits around the world in many forms, including trafficking in drugs, firearms and even in persons. Organized Crime groups also exploit human mobility to smuggle migrants and undermine financial systems through money laundering.

The statement by the Ministry said that by becoming a party to the convention, the Maldives will have access to a new framework for mutual legal assistance and extradition as well as a platform for strengthening law enforcement cooperation in dealing with the issue.

The Foreign Ministry also announced that the Maldives will soon accede to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children which is a Protocol to the UNTOC. In preventing trafficking in persons, the Protocol obliges states to criminalize trafficking, investigate prosecute and convict traffickers and to undertake border control measures.

The UNTOC will come into force to the Maldives on 6 March 2013.