Conference of the Parties to UNTOC, 13th session [Meeting 5]
Meetings & Events
Date: 21 October 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10pxdo5g8
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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President [45:45]:

Good morning, everybody. Excellencies, distinguished delegations, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to invite the conference to continue with our discussion on item 2A of the agenda. And following our list of speakers, I would like to invite the Azerbaijan delegation to come and give their intervention, followed by Gabon. Azerbaijan, you have the floor.


Azerbaijan [46:34]:

At the outset, we would like to express our

appreciation to the UN ODC Secretariat for its report on strengthening the future effectiveness of the mechanism

for the review of the implementation of the Convention and its protocols. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the mechanism

as a tool for identifying implementation gaps, technical assistance needs, and good practices amongst states parties. We take positive note of the secretariat's efforts to provide enhanced

substantial support to state parties, which can help accelerate reviews and improve their outcomes.

At the same time, the limited number of finalized reviews and the continuing implementation challenges

25 years after the

adoption of the Convention, as the report indicates, underscore the need for renewed efforts to ensure the mechanism's effectiveness. While commending the secretariat's support, we emphasize that the mechanism is an intergovernmental process whose progress depends on the active

engagement and sustained commitment of both states under review and the reviewing states.

In this regard, effective communication and coordination timely exchange of information, adequate human resources and sufficient time allocated to each stage of the review process remain essential to ensuring the smooth and timely completion of the reviews. Azerbaijan remains committed to the effective implementation of the Convention and its protocols. Within the IRM process, we have completed our self-assessment as a State under review and

submitted the relevant documentation to our reviewing counterparts.

We also actively participate

in the process as a reviewing State and stand ready to continue our constructive cooperation with all parties concerned

to facilitate the timely completion of country reviews. We believe that the strengthened cooperation and shared responsibility among State parties, alongside continued support from the Secretariat, are essential to enhancing the effectiveness of the mechanism and its contribution to combating transnational organized crime.

Thank you.


President [48:49]:

I thank the delegation of Azerbaijan for their statement. I now call on the representative of Gabon, followed by Australia. Gabon, you have the floor.


Gabon [49:00]:

Thank you, Chairperson. Rather, thank you, President. We would like to congratulate you following your election. to chair COP13. We thank the Secretariat for all of the information provided on the Convention and the IRM. President, transnational organized crime networks are regrouping at an alarming speed using digital technologies and illicit financial flows, as well as money laundering, to consolidate increasingly organized forms of criminal trafficking. In view of these threats, Gabon, which is home to exceptional biodiversity and vast forests, plays a crucial role and fully meets its responsibilities. In line with our longstanding commitments in the diplomatic and operational arenas alike, be that through co-sponsorship of UNGA resolutions on wildlife trafficking or through our leadership within the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, my country is unwavering in its efforts to combat crimes against the environment. In that regard, I note the creation in 2018 of a pluridisciplinary force to combat trafficking in natural resources, known as Team Green Mamba. It brings together 12 bodies in total and has led to the arrest of more than 649 illegal fishers and 200 illegal gold miners. We have also created 20 protected aquatic zones in our territorial waters. We also support and promote initiatives that seek to give the international community binding legal instruments to combat environmental crime, as witnessed by our wavering support for the adoption of a fourth supplementary protocol to the Palermo Convention. We reiterate our full endorsement of statements in favor of the adoption of the additional protocol, such such an instrument is crucial to combating organized crime networks that exploit our natural resources. It would also mark significant progress in addressing existing legal loopholes as regards combating crimes against the environment. By way of conclusion, Given the increasing complexity of criminal networks whose activities can combine armed poaching, illicit trafficking, money laundering, and other forms of crime, we need concerted action by all countries. With that in mind, we invite the international community to strengthen its financial and technical support to national and collective efforts undertaken to prevent and suppress these crimes. Thank you.


President [52:03]:

I thank the delegation for Gabon, and now I give the floor to the delegation of Australia, followed by China. Australia, you have the floor.


Australia [52:13]:

Distinguished delegates, it is a pleasure to address you all today. Australia remains firmly committed to engaging meaningfully in the UNTOC review mechanism as both a reviewing State Party as well as through Australia's own review. The mechanism provides an important opportunity for all parties to look at their domestic frameworks from a holistic perspective and consider the effective implementation of the convention framework. Australia has comprehensive legal and policy frameworks in place to prevent, disrupt, investigate and prosecute serious and organised crime. The review process has provided a valuable opportunity to examine Australia's implementation of the convention across government and reinforce our commitment to effective international cooperation. Australia's review has also highlighted the importance of ensuring the convention framework remains responsive to evolving criminal threats. In particular, Australia wishes to highlight crime as a service as an emerging and increasingly significant trend, which represents a substantial evolution in organised crime business models. Criminal actors can now purchase specialist criminal capabilities, infrastructure and services on demand. enabling criminal networks to operate with greater scale, flexibility and anonymity across borders. Australia is particularly concerned that this model facilitates the online recruitment and exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including young people. A common feature of crime as a service is those perpetrating the criminal acts have no connection to those instigating the acts, or who may have little visibility of the broader criminal enterprise they are supporting. Crime as a service demonstrates the growing convergence of organized crime and cyber-enabled offending and underscores the increasingly transnational nature of organized crime threats. Criminal actors, facilitators, infrastructure, service providers, and victims are frequently located in different jurisdictions. No country can address these challenges alone. Effective implementation of the convention, supported by strong international cooperation, information sharing and coordinated disruption efforts remains critical to combating these evolving threats. Australia is close to finalising cluster one of its review and is very grateful to its reviewing state parties, Bahrain and New Zealand, for their constructive engagement throughout the process. Australia also appreciates the opportunity to contribute as a reviewing state party and looks forward to continuing our engagement with other countries as reviews progress. Australia urges parties to implement their obligations under the Convention framework in good faith, including the core criminalization and jurisdiction requirements that are the focus of the thematic cluster one. Finally, Australia would like to express our sincere appreciation for the professionalism and support of the Secretariat throughout the country reviews. Thank you.


President [54:58]:

I thank the delegation for Australia and I now give the floor to the delegation for China, followed by Colombia. China, you have the floor.


China [55:07]:

Mr. President, dear colleagues, good morning. China is one of the first state parties to the Convention and always attaches great importance to and fully fulfills its obligations under the Convention. We continually strengthen our work, institutional framework and measures in the area of legislation, law enforcement, and taken resolute action against all forms of criminal activities. In recent years, China continued to improve its legal framework by enacting different laws and revising criminal law, supervision law, and anti-money laundering law, many issuing judicial interpretations on environmental pollution, money laundering, and other crimes, China has continued to pursue the conclusion of treaties on judicial cooperation and has to date concluded more than 130 treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance. We have worked together closely with the US, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and other countries in dismantling a large number of telecom and online fraud and gambling operations. And we have used a convention to submit request for extradition and mutual legal assistance while diligently processing requests from other countries. China has actively participated in the review of the implementation of the Convention and its expediting its consideration of the draft list of observations on Iceland's implementation of the convention. China would like to make the following proposals. First, to strengthen political will and actively implement the international cooperation provisions of the convention. The mechanisms of the convention should be fully used to facilitate extradition, mutual legal assistance, and other forms of cooperation, thereby strengthening collective efforts to combat crime. Differences in human rights approaches or legal systems to the greatest extent possible, not be used as grounds for refusing cooperation or creating artificial obstacles. Second, to attach greater importance to cooperation on asset recovery. After obtaining illicit proceeds, transnational organized criminal groups tend to place their assets in developed countries. We would like to encourage countries to strengthen the monitoring and control of criminal assets entering their territories, respond promptly to the requests of requesting states, should also actively pursue the return and sharing of criminal assets in all forms. Third, to make better use of the review mechanism for the implementation of the Convention. The mechanism is intended to promote the effective implementation of the Convention by all parties, is sound and sustainable development requires safeguarding its intergovernmental nature and the non-politicized character. At the same time, China also calls on parties to actively consider providing support for the review mechanism and accelerate the review process and ensuring the effective participation of all States parties.

Thank you.


President [57:45]:

Thank you to the delegation for China. And I now give the floor to the delegation for Colombia, followed by the delegation for Sudan. Colombia, you have the floor.


Colombia [57:56]:

Nonetheless, the delegation of Colombia would kindly ask to be able to address the plenary later on on this point.


President [58:07]:

no taken, I'll

then, in that case, give the floor to the delegation for Sudan, followed by the delegation for Romania.

Sudan, you have the floor.


Sudan [58:32]:

President, during the period since this mechanism has been implemented, in year in the year 2022 and beforehand we have worked to strengthen the legal frameworks to tackle transnational organized crime and we have established a series of laws such as the law to combat the trafficking in trafficking in persons and we have established a national commission to implement an action plan based on a series of different important areas of action to step up protection and clearly define who the victims are. These efforts have been rolled out over a number of years, and we've also worked to tackle illicit trafficking of migrants, as well as tackling the financing of terrorism. All of these efforts are very localised on a national level, however, and as a result they require greater experience and know-how so that we can bridge the gaps that we currently see in this struggle against transnational organised crime. We need more technical assistance as well. And within this framework, we think that the effectiveness of the mechanism does not only lie in a series of measures, legislative measures or institutional measures, but also that we need to constantly strengthen and build on national capacities and understand exactly what our needs are. President. The review is facing a series of challenges. Firstly, the difference between institutional and technical capacities between the countries that are under review and the reviewing States, and the difficulty, too, to collate information, exchange it, and verify how accurate that information is. This means that or this situation is more serious in countries experiencing conflict, armed conflict situations or exceptional situations, given that criminal networks exploit these situations. On a national level, tackling these challenges requires an institutional response that is integrated, as well as national coordination between justice, criminal justice services, as well as specialists in international cooperation and specialized training too. On an international level, we believe, just like many colleagues who have already intervened, that we need to step up, strengthen and improve the efficacy of the mechanism and harness more experience from other countries too. Furthermore, we need a program for specialized training and capacity building on a human and material focused level. We would also, in this context, call for the integration of threats posed by organized crime and apply that to the context of armed conflicts and establish specific peace-building campaigns which respect the rule of law. We believe that this is an international operation that requires the highest level of cooperation and exchange of best practices too, bearing in mind the difference in the experience of each individual country and not seeing this review as merely a tool that is of use to some countries. We reiterate our commitment to this convention and we also renew our willingness to participate in a constructive way to fine-tune and improve the process and the review mechanism, which would become redundant if it is only applied to a few states and only to times of peace. So let us apply it to times of conflict too. Thank you.


President [1:02:56]:

Thank you very much to the delegation of Sudan. I now give the floor to the delegation of Romania, followed by South Africa. Romania, you have the floor.


Romania [1:03:06]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Romania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states and wishes to make the following remark in its national capacity. Romania offers great importance to the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols. We have consistently supported the establishment of a transparent, efficient and constructive review mechanism as an essential instrument for strengthening international cooperation, identifying implementation challenges and promoting the exchange of good practices. Romania is pleased to announce that we are presenting our final country review report at this 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to UNDOC. This represents an important milestone in our continued commitment to the Convention and its effective implementation. We would like to take this opportunity to convey our deepest appreciation and warmest congratulations to our reviewing States the Czech Republic and Switzerland for their outstanding commitment, dedication and the contribution through the role Romania's country review process. We particularly wish to commend the high level of professionalism, expertise and constructive spirit demonstrated by their experts. Her sustained efforts through assessments and willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue have been instrumental in bringing this complex exercise to a successful conclusion. We would also like to extend our special thanks and appreciation to the UNODC Secretariat for its support, continuous guidance and tireless efforts in facilitating the process. We firmly believe that this successful cooperation stands as a testament to the importance of mutual trust, shared responsibility and genuine partnership in advancing the effective implementation of the Convention. Romania was also pleased to participate in the UNODC focused initiative aimed at accelerating country reviews, which has demonstrated the value of sustained dialogue, close cooperation and practical engagement in overcoming procedural challenges and advancing the review mechanism. Drawing on our experience, we strongly encourage States Parties to remain actively engaged in the review process. While recognizing the challenges posed by limited resources, technical difficulties and procedural delays, we believe that greater flexibility, enhanced communication and targeted secretariat support can significantly contribute to the timely completion of country reviews. Romania has also actively contributed to the mechanism as a reviewing state party for Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Serbia, reaffirming our commitment to this collective exercise. At the national level, Romania is pursuing further measures to strengthen its strategic framework for combating organized crime, including the development of a national action plan aimed at enhancing inter-institutional cooperation, improving national risk and threat assessment, strengthening victim protection and facilitating information exchange among competent authorities. Romania remains fully committed to contributing to the successful implementation of the review mechanism and to strengthening our collective response to transnational organized crime. Thank you, Mr. President.


President [1:06:26]:

I thank the delegation for Romania. And now I give the floor to the delegation for South Africa, followed by the delegation for Iran. South Africa, you have the floor.


South Africa [1:06:38]:

Mr. President, South Africa remains firmly committed to the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention. against transnational organized crime and its protocols, which constitute the cornerstone of the international legal framework to prevent and combat transnational organized crime and to strengthen cooperation among State Parties. The review mechanism is therefore indispensable in assessing the extent to which States Parties are implementing their obligations, identifying challenges and technical assistance needs, and facilitating the exchange of good practices. In this regard, South Africa thanks the Secretariat for its presentation on the review mechanism for the implementation of the UNTAC and its protocols, and acknowledges its continued efforts to provide an unsubstantive support under challenging circumstances. South Africa shares the concerns raised by other delegations regarding the pace of reviews, as well as financial and structural challenges with the mechanism. We have also noted the Secretariat's indication that, at the current rate, it may take approximately 76 years to complete the full cycle of reviews, by which time much of the information may no longer be relevant due to the evolving nature of transnational organized crime. The effectiveness of the mechanism therefore depends on its ability to produce results that strengthen national implementation of the Convention and its protocols. A review process that progresses too slowly risks diminishing opportunities for timely technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and enhanced international cooperation at a time when organized criminal groups continue to exploit emerging vulnerabilities. South Africa, therefore, believes that renewed efforts are required from all States Parties to ensure that the review mechanism remains fit for purpose and capable of achieving its objectives. Mr. President, the success of the review mechanism rests with States Parties. We encourage all States that have not yet completed key stages of the reviews to prioritize the designation of focal points and governmental experts, complete outstanding self-assessment questionnaires, actively engage with reviewing States, and adhere to agreed timelines. At the same time, we recognize that many developing countries continue to face capacity, resource, and technical challenges in fulfilling the requirements of the review mechanism. It is therefore essential that the review process be accompanied by adequate technical assistance and capacity building support. The mechanism should not only identify implementation gaps, but also mobilize practical solutions to address them. We encourage the UNODC to continue reporting regularly on progress, challenges, and lessons learned to assist States Parties in accelerating the implementation and effectiveness of the mechanism, as well as contribute to a growing repository of knowledge that enables States Parties to strengthen legislative frameworks improve institutional responses, and deepen international cooperation. For its part, South Africa has already completed and submitted its self-assessment checklist on the RevMod platform and remains committed to the review process and the implementation of the UNTOC and its protocols. I thank you, Mr. President.


President [1:10:28]:

I thank the delegation for South Africa. And now I give the floor to the Islamic Republic of Iran, followed by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [1:10:39]:

Thank you, Mr. President.

As a State Party, Iran attaches great importance to the effective implementation of UNTOC.

To that end, Iran established legal foundations and enforcement mechanisms for countering, prosecuting, and punishment of transnational organized crime. Particular attention has been given to preventive.

Measures, enhancing interagency coordination, strengthening capacity to address emerging forms of organized crime, and promoting practical international cooperation, including.

Mutual legal assistance and extradition.

The required legal basis for providing a wide range of mutual legal assistance, including asset recovery, is prepared.

And in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention.

The Ministry of Justice has been designated as the central authority entrusted with receiving the requests.

Additionally, Iran's Crime Prevention Act of 2011 established a framework for national crime prevention overseen by Iran's Supreme Council for Crime Prevention, encompassing research and analysis, public engagement and policy development. Mr. President, as regards the important issue of review mechanism of the Convention, we believe that such review mechanism should primarily serve as an intergovernmental platform for exchange of experience, identification of good practices and recognition of technical assistance needs. Its value should not be measured only by the number of completed reviews, but by how the process contributes to implementing the Convention and assisting the States Parties in their national efforts. The mechanism should operate with full respect to the national sovereignty and the terms under which States have become Parties to the Convention. Efforts to improve its efficiency shall take into account the differences in legal systems institutional capacities and available resources, particularly for developing countries. Additionally, the links between the reviews and technical assistance should be preserved and strengthened.

Identification of implementation gaps shall be coupled with realistic access to legal expertise, technology and other forms of assistance necessary to address it.

Mr. President, a credible.

Review mechanism should promote cooperation among states parties in order to prevent and combat transnational organized crime more effectively. That being said, Iran stands ready to cooperate with other states parties in promoting implementation of the convention.

I thank you for your attention.


President [1:13:17]:

I thank the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And I apologize, as the President, we've asked for -- we've been asked by Colombia for them to take the floor, and we will follow after that.


Colombia [1:13:34]:

Thank you, President. Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak at this conference. Colombia thanks the Secretariat for the -- placing this item on the agenda today. we'd like to express a few elements in our national capacity. We'd like to begin by reiterating our commitment to the Convention and its Protocols enshrined in our national legal framework since 2003. Since then, we have strengthened the regulatory and institutional framework to tackle the various manifestations of transnational organized crime. in particular through tools to combat conspiracy to commit a crime, money laundering, asset forfeiture and the use of special investigation techniques. For Colombia, the UNTOC review mechanism has contributed to identifying best practices, shared challenges and needs for technical assistance. We would highlight one relevant experience as our territorial strategy against organized crime, which was developed by Colombia in a line. of the UNODC, which is an instrument that has built capacities in an institutional respect in areas that are particularly affected by illicit trade and organized crime. President, Colombia thinks it is a priority to have a robust document so that we can combat transnational organized crime, which operates with increasing transnational capacity. We would also like to foster the sharing of information and judicial cooperation, asset recovery, and build on capacities to tackle digital crime too. Colombia would also like to reiterate the growing challenge of crimes that affect the environment. We have listened to other delegations and organizations who have spoken on this, including those who have represented the situation in the Amazon. Illegal mining, deforestation, wild fauna trafficking, and other forms of the illicit use of natural resources are activities developed by criminal structures which today transcend borders and generate environmental, social, and economic impacts with a global reach. This is why Colombia would reiterate its support for efforts intended to strengthen the international legal framework to combat transnational environmental crime. And we feel it is timely to continue advancing a discussion on the protocol on crimes which affect the environment within the framework of this convention. At the same time, we see extensive challenges that require a common response. the connection between different criminal networks and the use, the harnessing of new technologies, as well as illicit financing, cybercrime, artificial intelligence, and the criminal use of drones. These are all fresh challenges standing in the way of the investigation, prosecution, and international cooperation on this issue. Colombia feels that the review mechanism has proven a va- uh, valid and a valuable, uh, tool to promote dialogue, peer learning, and the identification of needs for technical assistance. It's vital that we continue to step up its efficacy, promoting the broad participation of States Parties and ensuring that the findings and recommendations of the review process translate into concrete actions for cooperation and technical assistance for improved international cooperation. Finally, President, we would like to stress that whilst the States Party may have differing opinions, given the scenarios before us, Our shared objective must be to continue with the effective implementation of the Convention. Transnational organized crime is a global challenge, and that is why we call on all of the States Party to strengthen international cooperation, mutual legal assistance, the exchange of information, and capacity building. Thank you very much.


President [1:17:50]:

Thank you to the delegation of Colombia for your intervention, and I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Uganda. You have the floor.


Uganda [1:18:08]:

Thank you, Mr. President.

Uganda joins other delegations in congratulating you and the Bureau on your election and stewardship of the meeting, and assures you of full cooperation and support. Uganda aligns itself with the statements by the G77 and China and the African Group. Uganda is a state party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and additional protocols thereto. To facilitate the implementation of the convention, Uganda has progressively strengthened her legislative institutional architecture and emphasized the effective investigation and prosecution of crimes provided for under the convention. Mr. President, concluded cases have played a key role in informing prosecutors, investigators, and policy makers on the need to intensify constant research proactively put in place as strategies for combating transnational crime. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has, for example, worked tirelessly with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, emphasizing prosecution-guided investigations through collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and communication. among investigators and prosecutors for responsive service delivery. Importantly, Uganda has strengthened the execution of both the investigation and prosecution functions through establishment of specialized units for international crimes, emphasizing international cooperation, fight against cyber crime and corruption, promoting asset recovery and investment, and protecting investment to combat in a way to combat transnational crime. This has enabled both investigators and prosecutors to master the complexity of organized transnational crime, emphasizing lawful, timely, and accurate results given the required standard of proof in criminal matters. Uganda has drawn lessons from different cases handled in recent past to inform strategies, policies, proactive approaches, and legislative reforms in criminal law and criminal procedure, and the execution of mutual legal assistance and extradition. Mr. President, Uganda is happy to have completed its country review under the first cluster and looks forward to undertaking reviews in the remaining clusters. The Antwerp Review Mechanism has been another opportunity and platform for Uganda to analyze and comprehensively review domestic laws. This has informed the reform process that is ongoing nationally and improved Uganda's commitment to international cooperation. Consultations, research, and comprehensive analysis of domestic laws and court jurisprudence have largely contributed to the review and enhanced international coordination among prosecutors, investigators, and other key agencies in the criminal justice system in Uganda. Uganda continues to extend appreciation to the reviewing parties, that is Eswatini and Lithuania, for the cooperation and dedication that enabled quick completion of the first cluster. We also extend our appreciation to the Secretariat for coordinating the review process. Uganda remains committed to implementation of her obligations under the ANTOK and its protocols thereof, as well as the review mechanism for its implementation. We are ready to work with all the state parties to promote efficient, continued and impartial functioning of the mechanism. I thank you, Mr. President.


President [1:21:35]:

Thank you to the delegation for Uganda and I'll now give the floor to Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. You have the floor.


GI-TOC [1:21:44]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President. And once again, congratulations on your election as President of this on talk, a cop 13. The global initiative has been tracking and engaging with on talk and its review mechanism over many years and wishes today to convey some key points and recommendations for future implementation of the on talk. This week, the challenges facing the review mechanism and discussions about how to inform and process are rightly on the agenda. It is now widely accepted that There is a clear need for streamlining and more efficient way of working. To give states and societies the information needed to enhance on implementation review mechanism and impact, the following strategies could be adopted to begin build a basis for enhancing impact in the most important areas. Sir President, at the moment, the outcome of the Auto-Review Mechanism are approved by State Party and under question. Therefore, a more independent way to assess growth in the threat from organized crime is needed, including drawing of inputs from outside actors, and it's very important for the complementarity between Member States and other stakeholders. more independent review of the ONTOC is therefore needed, leveraging increasing volume of data that is available, together with primary expert analysis of treaty implementation impact. Independent ONTOC review would not aim to replace the official review mechanism process or replicate its level in legal examination. Instead, It would only focus on the key issues, the core legislative implementation of the treaty, the effect it's had on international cooperation around organized crime, its impact on criminal markets, and levels of engagement with civil society transparency around on top implementation data. The information and analysis produced by independent review could be amplified by streamlining of external participation of official meetings. The on top constructive dialogue should take place in advance of the working groups and better engage with working groups, which is currently reserved. In practice, exclusively for member states, to allow for issues raised in both formal and independent review process to be discussed and examined. Such efforts to refocus on streamline are not just needed for the sake of overlooked delegates and under-resourced secretariat staff. They must also serve as strengthening on talk as the core legal and cooperation response of the United Nations to ever-increasing challenges of transnational organized crime. I thank you very much, Mr. Chair.


President [1:25:12]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.


Speaker 26 [1:25:22]:

Sorry, come here.


President [1:25:34]:

I understand there is a request for right of reply by one delegation. May I ask the delegation of the Philippines if their call for the floor is?

For a right of reply or for a general statement.


Philippines [1:25:53]:

It's a general reply, sir.


President [1:25:56]:

You have the floor.


Philippines [1:26:02]:

Mr. President, the Philippine delegation expresses its gratitude to the Secretariat for its report and for its continued support to States Parties, notwithstanding significant resource constraints. The report highlights a significant disparity between the responsibilities assigned to the review mechanism and the resources available to fulfill them. The lack of dedicated posts funded through the regular budget, coupled with the projected exhaustion of available voluntary funding by January 2027, requires the Conference's urgent attention. We acknowledge the donors' contributions and the Secretariat's efforts to sustain essential services. However, continued dependence on unpredictable funding and temporary personnel presents significant challenges to the mechanism's continuity and effectiveness. Efforts to address resource constraints should be complemented by sustained engagement by State Parties. the timely submission of required information, and effective coordination among national authorities and reviewing States. The Philippines therefore encourages the Conference to pursue practical measures to secure adequate, predictable and sustainable resources through appropriate budgetary processes and continued voluntary support. while preserving the mechanisms impartiality and intergovernmental character. Priority should be given to maintaining essential secretariat capacity, ensuring the reliable operation of the online platform, supporting country reviews, and providing targeted assistance to States Parties, particularly those facing capacity constraints. Ultimately, the Mechanism's value should be demonstrated through completed reviews, clearly identified technical assistance needs, and tangible improvements in national implementation and international cooperation. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that the Mechanism has both the resources and the sustained participation necessary to fulfill its mandate. Thank you.


President [1:28:43]:

I thank the delegation of Philippines.

I understand that there is a request to exercise the right of reply from the DPRK. I will give the opportunity to the delegation to exercise its right to reply.

I would like to ask the speaker to also adhere to the time limitation in their statement.

Thank you.


Democratic People's Republic of Korea [1:29:06]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. And since it's my first speech, please accept congratulations of my delegation to your election as the chair of 13th General Conference of Parties to UNTOC. Dear Mr. Chair, DPRK delegation exercises right of reply in response to the remark made by the US delegation during the discussion on agenda item 2A, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes. In its remark, the US delegation touched upon issues of human trafficking in South Asian countries, including my country. Dear Mr. Chair, the US delegation committed another politically motivated provocation of slandering my country through its remark, which is full of lies and fabrications. And this delegation rejects The US remark as extensive expression of hostile policy encroaching upon the sovereignty of our state as well as the rights and interests of our citizens. This delegation will never regard the remark made by the US delegation as a habitual practice, but as a continuation of its hostile policy towards DPRK to overthrow its social system and disintegrate the country from inside, which will never, ever happen in the future. Dear Mr. Chair, the US delegation's remarks simply remind us of the US government policy to obliterate our people's inalienable rights to existence and development, and emphasize the reason why we should concentrate more efforts to defend our sovereignty. The DPRK will firmly commit to its responsibility as state party to own talk in the future and implement justice through most resolute and decisive actions for defending its sovereignty and social system. I thank you, Mr. Chair.


President [1:31:04]:

Thank you for your intervention.

Now I would give the floor to the delegation of the United States of America.

You have the floor.


United States of America [1:31:16]:

Thank you, Chair.

The United States wishes to exercise its right of reply to the statement made by the previous speaker. We reject the statement and would encourage the conference to refrain from these type of politically motivated attacks.

Thank you, Chair.


President [1:31:44]:

I have another right of reply from the delegation of DPRK. You have the floor.


Democratic People's Republic of Korea [1:31:51]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The TPIK delegation once again emphasized the remark by the US delegation and is a fake story in order to tarnish the image of my country. Nobody denies the fact of frequent shootings on the open streets and killing innocent children in schools in Gulf Union cities. Before pointing fingers to other countries, the US government shall first address the systematic and widespread human rights abuses, such as rampant racism, human trafficking, and police violence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


President [1:32:28]:

I thank the delegation of the DPRK for its statement. And now I would give the floor to our final speaker, the National Whistleblower Center. You have the floor.


NWC [1:32:42]:

Mr. President, Excellencies, and Distinguished Guests, My name is Benjamin Calitri. I am here on behalf of the National.

Whistleblower Center to discuss the importance and effectiveness of whistleblower reward laws to combating transnational crime.

All transnational crime has a financial aspect and motivation.

Whether trafficking, illegal narcotics, organized crime, pig butchering, or ecological devastation, underpinning all of these are money laundering through international financial institutions.

Financial crime is difficult to prosecute because it is designed to be undetectable, and the only people with the necessary information are insiders.

Whistleblower rewards have been proven to be the most powerful tool to combat and prosecute transnational financial crime.

Crime is rational.

If the benefits of the crime outweigh the risks of detection and the potential punishment, crime will occur.

This is especially true for financial crime.

Rewards flip this calculus of crime.

By providing rewards, the benefit of whistleblowing increases.

And through anonymity and confidentiality protections, the risk for detection decreases. This makes whistleblowing itself a rational economic activity. Whistleblowing then increases the detection of financial crime. Therefore, by making whistleblowing rational, we make crime less rational. It also leads to deterrence by financial institutions are scared to launder money when each of their employees is incentivized to expose the wrongdoing.

These laws have been proven to work.

In the countries that have implemented them, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and South Korea. where billions have been collected through sanctions and forfeiture directly from whistleblower information, and an estimated trillions of illegal funds have been prevented due to deterrence. These laws are transnational in effect and have led to partnerships between law enforcement agencies across the globe for prosecutions against companies across the globe.

The National Whistleblower Center supports the expansion of whistleblower reward laws for the more effective combating of transnational crime.

Thank you.


President [1:35:37]:

Thank you very much for your intervention. We have listened to the final speaker on our list for item 2A. So now I would like to invite the Conference to take its attention to item 2B, which is the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish the Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. We have the following documents. A report prepared by the Secretariat entitled Activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to promote and support the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. And that is CTOP-COP/2026/2. We also have a note by the Secretariat transmitting the reports on the meetings of the subsidiary bodies of the Conference, including the reports of the 15th and 16th meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, which was held in Vienna on the 6th and 7th of October 2025 and on the 24th and 25th of June 2026, respectively. as contained in document CT/CP/2026/5. And we also have a conference room paper by the Secretariat, which includes the summaries by the chairs of the constructive dialogues held on the 8th of October 2025, following the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, and the constructive dialogue held on the 26th of June 2026, following the conclusion of the 16th meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, contained in document CT/OC/COP/2026/CRP.3. Under this agenda item, the Conference will first hear an introductory statement by the Secretariat. And as such, I would like to invite Mr. Martin Falk, the Officer in Charge of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling section of the UNODC, so that he can introduce this item to the Conference. Mr. Fok, you have the floor.


UNODC · Officer in Charge [1:38:18]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President, and thank you for the opportunity to introduce the item. Distinguished representatives, since the Conference last met, three countries have become party to the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, which now has 185 States Parties. But questions remain regarding the status of global implementation. Accordingly, technical assistance remains at the core of UNODC's ongoing trafficking in persons work, and we continue to provide specialized trainings, workshops, resources, and mentoring sessions to equip stakeholders with better knowledge to respond to trafficking. This support is provided through programs both at the regional level and globally. For example, since COP12, UNODC has launched multiple capacity building and mentoring initiatives in South Asia and undertaken similar action in Latin America through a regional action which specifically aims to strengthen regional cooperation and support state authorities with detection, investigation and prosecution of trafficking for forced criminality and online scams. Since COP12, UNODC developed policy and knowledge products to advance evidence-based responses covering, for example, the nexus between corruption and trafficking in persons, as well as trafficking in persons in relation to scam operations. These are available at the human trafficking and migrant smuggling booth outside of the plenary room. Regarding victim protection and ethical survivor engagement, in June 2025, we convened the first ever Global Forum of Human Trafficking Survivors, bringing together 170 participants, including survivor leaders. That forum adopted nine core principles to strengthen responses against trafficking in persons, while positioning survivors at the center of anti-trafficking efforts. And again, we would encourage all States Parties to refer to those. We advanced prosecutorial cooperation to dismantle criminal networks through two gatherings of the International Forum of Prosecutors Countering Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in December 2024 and June 2026. a focus on the financial and digital dimensions of human trafficking and migrant smuggling, victim and witness protection, and trafficking in persons for forced criminality. UNODC further supported bilateral and regional cooperation efforts in multiple regions, facilitating negotiations for memoranda of understanding, organizing study visits, roundtables, and regional conferences to enhance detection, investigation, prosecution, and protection efforts. Mr. President, UNODC continues to actively support multilateral processes on trafficking in persons globally. In 2025, the office supported the quadrennial appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons with the adoption of a new General Assembly political declaration strengthening the global response to trafficking in its many forms. In 2025 and 2026, UNODC supported meetings of the Conference's Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, which adopted concrete and actionable recommendations which had been tabled to this Conference, and we also serviced the related constructive dialogues with civil society. In recognition of the increasing criminal misuse of technology by traffickers, the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was themed Trapped Behind the Scam, with related activities taking place around the world. In 2025, UNODC co-chaired the Interagency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons, produced key policy guidance on the links between trafficking and other forms of serious crime, and led efforts to map ICAAT's strategic direction, priorities, and operational modalities in line with the broader UNAT initiative. Of note for delegations here at the conference, UNODC has led the development of an ICAAT issue brief on trafficking in persons for forced criminality, which will be launched today at 1:00 PM in room M2. Mr. President, we would also like to inform delegations that the biennial UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons will be published next month, with a specific date to be shared with permanent missions shortly. This will be the ninth edition, providing an updated overview of global and regional trends and key current and emerging challenges for states. Thank you, Mr. President.


President [1:43:26]:

Thank you very much for introducing this item. Before we go on to opening the floor for statements, I'm also glad to announce that Mr. Vikram Jit Duggal, the Councillor at the Permanent Mission of India in his capacity as the co-chair of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons in 2025, will briefly inform the conference, also on behalf of his co-chair, Ms. Isma Aisul. from Algeria, Councillor at the Cabinet of the Minister of Justice of Algeria, about the 15th meeting of the Working Group, followed by an intervention from Mr. Jose Maria Bastida Peiru, Councillor at the Permanent Mission of Spain, in his capacity as Chair of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons in 2026, who will inform us about the 16th meeting. Mr. Dugal, you have the floor. I've just learned that Mr. Dougal has been slightly delayed, so instead I will give the floor to Mr. Bastida Pedru for his presentation. You have the floor.


Spain · Chair of Working Group on Trafficking in Persons [1:44:47]:

Thank you very much, Chair, distinguished delegates. As President of the 16th meeting of the Working Group on the Trafficking of Persons, I have the honor to be able to give a summary of the outcomes of that meeting, which were held in June of this year. The Working Group, harnessing the experience offered by the participants, came up with practical suggestions to tackle the phenomenon of trafficking in persons, which is evolving rapidly. The meeting had the participation of several hundred participants from a number of different countries and eight international and intergovernmental organizations. When it comes to combating the trafficking of persons, the working group encouraged States Parties to strengthen the capacity of first front-line actions to improve the identification and protection of victims and to apply the principle, the core principle, to encourage participants to continue timely exchange of information and encourage public-private alliances and partnerships in order to provide more effective responses. In relation to the use of artificial intelligence in trafficking in persons and the challenges this presents, the work group encouraged States to strengthen their political and legal and regulatory frameworks to tackle the misuse and illegal use of AI. We also highlighted the need to build capacities and provide technical assistance to ensure that the law is complied with and also to help practitioners in criminal justice. as well as working with stakeholders in the development of AI tools to combat trafficking in persons. President, immediately following the working group meeting, the fifth constructive dialogue was also held on trafficking in persons, which strengthened even more cooperation between states and civil society organizations. The dialogue was held entirely online and had the participation of 101 CSOs as well as many States. Following the deliberations, you can find all of the outcomes of this meeting contained in a document. Just to conclude, I would like to thank all of the participants for their valuable contributions and encourage all States Parties to continue implementing the recommendations of the group. Thank you very much. as regards the 16th meeting, now President, I am also able to inform the COP on about the 15th meeting on behalf of the Chairs. Based on the specialized information that was provided, we adopted binding commitments to accelerate the combating of trafficking in persons. There were several hundred participants from 101 countries and various different intergovernmental organizations. The discussions focused on questions related to the trafficking in persons and related issues, particularly online recruitment. We were able to look at a number of different issues, such as the use of digital proof to step up and improve investigations as well as the prosecution of perpetrators. States parties were encouraged to roll out standardized practices in line with their national legislation and guidelines on the admissibility of digital evidence. as well as promoting approaches based on combating money laundering too. The recommendations also stress the importance to build technological capacities and forensic capacities to improve assistance to victims and improve cooperation and international collaboration to combat trafficking of persons and those networks. We also held the fourth constructive dialogue on trafficking in persons, which allowed us to continue stepping up cooperation between the States and civil society organizations. Representatives from 137 CSOs participated, as well as many States parties. This collated the main observations and contributions from the participants, and that is all collated in a document. To conclude, I would like to thank all of the participants for their valuable cooperation and commitment. And thank you for listening to this summary of the working groups. Thank you.


President [1:50:01]:

Thank you for your presentation. I would now like to give the floor to delegations who would like to take the floor on this item. And I would like to recall and remind all speakers again to adhere to the three-minute time limit for your interventions. To begin with, I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, followed by the delegation for Kenya.

You have.

The floor.


EU · EU [1:50:32]:

Thank you very much, President.

Distinguished President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. Let me first of all thank the Secretariat for the presentation and the Chair of the Working Group for his report. Trafficking in human beings remains one of the most profitable forms of organized crime and continues to adapt to new opportunities, not least in the online sphere. In the European Union, the number of registered victims has increased by 16% in 2023-2024 compared with the previous reporting period 2021-2022. This brings the total number of registered victims in the EU to more than 20,000 individuals for that period. Nearly two-thirds of them were women and girls, and around the same share were non-EU citizens. Sexual exploitation remains the most common form, at 48%. However, trafficking for labour exploitation has increased markedly in recent years and is now almost as prevalent. Groups such as children and persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to all forms of trafficking in human beings. Behind these numbers lie criminal networks who operate across borders, exploit legitimate businesses and supply chains, and increasingly use digital platforms to recruit, control and exploit their victims. They also frequently combine trafficking with other crimes, from migrant smuggling to money laundering. Scam centres are a striking illustration of this, as discussed at the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons in June. Individuals are lured by fake job offers and are forced to commit large-scale online fraud in operations that first emerged in Southeast Asia and are now spreading to other regions. Trafficking in human beings constitutes a serious abuse of human rights and a major obstacle to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls who are disproportionately affected, particularly by sexual exploitation. Combating trafficking requires a gender-transformative, human rights-based, and victim-centered approach, with a strong emphasis on prevention, addressing structural inequalities and vulnerabilities, ensuring effective access to justice, and providing comprehensive protection, assistance, and support to victims. At the same time, combating impunity through effective investigations, prosecutions and international cooperation is essential to dismantling criminal networks, ensure accountability and advance gender equality. Whether in scam centers or in other forms of exploitation, these are transnational threats that no country can confront alone. As highlighted in the Abu Dhabi Declaration, we need to enhance our action to prevent and combat trafficking and ensure a comprehensive criminal justice response. We also need to intensify our efforts to prevent, address and eliminate the demand that fosters trafficking in persons, especially of women and children, for all forms of exploitation. The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol remain the cornerstone of our joint efforts. Effective cooperation, following the money, and putting victims at the centre of our response are essential pillars for a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking in persons. Within the EU, the amended anti-trafficking directive builds on the protocol standards. After transposition in all national systems, we now have started the implementation phase to make sure that these new rules make a real difference on the ground, both for victims and in bringing traffickers to justice. Building on this solid legal framework and responding to persistent and emerging trends and challenges, we are now presenting a new EU strategy on combating trafficking in human beings. The strategy aims to ensure that the EU remains at the forefront when it comes to fighting the trafficking in human beings within and beyond the EU. The new strategy builds on past achievements from the 2021-2025 EU Strategic Framework and reflects our sustained and continuous commitment in this area. It focuses on prevention, victim protection, and dismantling criminal networks. It enhances cooperation with international organizations and partner countries. It addresses emerging trends and operational challenges. It takes a whole-of-society approach, engaging all stakeholders, including public institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector. Last but not least, it further reinforces cooperation with relevant actors, in particular international organisations and partner countries, with the aim to strengthen prevention efforts and improve our collective response to trafficking. It is on the basis of this new framework that the EU will continue to act on its commitment to combat trafficking in human beings. We will continue to work closely with all partners towards its eradication. My apologies for the lengthy statement. Thank you.


President [1:56:11]:

Thank you to the representative for the European Union. And I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Kenya, followed by Chile, Australia, the Philippines, and Japan. Kenya, you have the floor.


Kenya [1:56:24]:

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Kenya thanks the Chairs and members of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons and the Working Group on the Smuggling of Migrants for their important work and takes note with appreciation of their reports and recommendations. We also commend the Secretariat for its continued support to States Parties in implementing the Convention and its protocols. Mr. President, global mobility is increasing. Many persons, particularly from developing countries, migrate in search of employment, improved livelihoods, and economic opportunity. At the same time, labour shortages and demand for workers in destination countries continue to create recruitment opportunities for international labour mobility. These complementary realities can contribute significantly to development. However, gaps in regular migration pathways unequal access to reliable information, and the increasing use of unregulated recruitment channels expose job seekers to fraudulent recruiters, migrant smugglers, and trafficking networks. Kenyans have not been spared. Hundreds of Kenyan job seekers, particularly young persons, have been deceived by fraudulent offers of legitimate employment abroad. funneled to be trafficked across borders into online scam compounds. Within these compounds, victims have had their travel documents confiscated, been confined and subjected to threats, violence and other forms of coercion to compel them to participate in online fraud. Kenya therefore calls for measures that make labor mobility safer, including expansion of regular migration pathways, effective regulation of recruitment agencies, verification of overseas employment opportunities, and access to reliable pre-departure information. These measures should be accompanied by mechanisms for the earlier identification, protection, and safe return of victims, as well as coordinated investigations and prosecutions targeting the criminal networks and financial frauds that sustain exploitation. While Kenya recognizes that the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons are legally distinct offenses, experience demonstrates that an individual's circumstances may change during the course of a journey. What begins as migrant smuggling may develop in trafficking in persons where the migrant is subsequently subjected to deception, coercion, abuse of vulnerability or exploitation. This progression is particularly evident in cases involving fraudulent recruitment and cyber-enabled scam operations. Kenya's experience in facilitating the rescue and repatriation of its nationals demonstrates the importance of cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination. It also demonstrates that a person encountered in an unlawful migration situation or a criminal enterprise should not automatically be presumed to be an organizer or a willing participant. Some persons may, following proper screening, be identified as victims compelled to commit offenses through threats, violence, or other forms of coercion. Kenya therefore supports earlier, continuous and individualized screening at the first point of contact and before decisions are made on detention, prosecution or return, screening should be conducted by trained authorities, supported where appropriate by interpreters, victim support personnel and clear referral procedures. It should enable authorities to distinguish between smuggled migrants, victims of trafficking, children, asylum seekers, and persons who may be victims of other crimes. Kenya further underscores the importance of the non-punishment principle. Section 14 of Kenya's Countertrafficking in Persons Act provides that the victim of trafficking shall not be criminally liable for unlawful presence in Kenya or for a criminal act that was a direct result of being trafficked. The practical application of this principle remains particularly important in cases of forced criminality. Without common identification standards and effective referral mechanisms, the same person may be treated as a victim in one jurisdiction and as an offender in another. Kenya therefore calls for greater harmonization of laws and operational approaches relating to victim identification, referral, and prosecutorial decision-making. This does not require identical national laws, nor does it create blanket immunity for conduct unrelated to trafficking. It requires an individualized assessment of whether the alleged criminal conduct was a direct consequence of trafficking, compulsion, or exploitation. It also requires that criminal justice efforts are directed towards recruiters, organizers, transporters, financial exploiters, and digital facilitators who organize and profit from these crimes. Mr. President, effective prosecution of these networks requires equally effective international investigative cooperation. In many cases, recruitment occurs in one country, movement takes place several transit jurisdictions, exploitation occurs in another country, and electronic evidence, financial transactions, and criminal proceeds are dispersed across multiple jurisdictions. Article 19 of the convention provides an important basis for joint investigations. Depending on the legal framework of the states concerned, Investigative cooperation may proceed through coordinated parallel investigations or through formally established joint investigative bodies or teams. Kenya welcomes the practical guidance provided by UN and encourages further technical assistance to states in developing appropriate legislation, bilateral or multilateral arrangements, model agreements, standard operating procedures, and the institutional capacity. Such arrangements should clearly address the leadership and the scope of an investigation, the roles of participating officers, the collection and admissibility of evidence, information and data protection, confidentiality, and the use of evidence in subsequent proceedings. Kenya therefore calls upon the Secretariat to strengthen demand-driven technical assistance on victim screening and referral, indicators of forced criminality, coordinated, parallel investigations, joint investigation teams, electronic evidence, financial investigations, asset tracing, and the identification of criminal proceeds. Particular attention should be given to practical training for investigators, prosecutors, immigration authorities, labor officers, and other frontline practitioners. Kenya stands ready to cooperate with States Parties and the Secretariat in advancing an approach that protects victims, promotes safe and regular mobility, preserves the legal distinction between migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, and ensure that the persons who organize, facilitate, and profit from exploitation are properly investigated and prosecuted. I thank you, Mr. President.


President [2:04:55]:

Thank you very much for your intervention. Before I give the floor to the next speaker, I would like to remind you once again, to all of the speakers, that your interventions should be within the three-minute limit so that we can continue with our work for the day, given that the speaker list is quite long. I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Chile.


Chile [2:05:24]:

Thank you very much, President. Trafficking in persons is one of the most severe violations of human rights. and one of the most lucrative illicit markets for criminal networks. That is why it is essential that we develop a response that is based on cooperation and coordinated work between sectors, both national and international. Chile's response to this crime is based on the Fourth National Action Plan against trafficking in persons. which covers 2023 to 2026 under the coordination of the intersecretorial table against trafficking in persons. This allows our state to work in a cohesive way, harnessing the capacities of each service to offer a coherent and timely response. Within this framework, the institutions take on the challenge to implement actions on a national level, as well as priority action areas for protection, prosecution, and punishment or sanctions, as well as intersecretarial cooperation and international cooperation too. We are now working on the next version of the action plan for the years 2026 to 2030. In addition to the national work done, Chile, thinks that the transnational aspect of the networks that traffic in persons requires for shared cooperation and joint cooperation, which is why bilateral cooperation is so important through MOUs with Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador. This important work helps to ensure that our two yearly work will develop a roadmap with Bolivia as well as with Argentina, and that has been developed as of June this year. This outlines priority action areas for prevention, prosecution, and victim support. We're also working with Ecuador to develop a bi-national plan under the agreement in force, and our country entrusts that the parties will continue to make progress in the strategy to identify new methods of trafficking, including how digital networks are harnessed by traffickers, but also how these virtual spaces, as well as artificial intelligence, can turn into useful tools and innovative tools to optimise prevention and ensure that we protect victims' rights and survivors' rights. Before I conclude, I would like to stress the work and valuable support that has been done, particularly by the UNODC and also by the Colombian delegation, as well as national efforts to combat trafficking in persons in our region. Thank you.


President [2:08:18]:

Thank you very much to the delegate for Chile. And I'll now give the floor to Australia, followed by the Philippines and Japan. Australia, you have the floor.


Australia [2:08:27]:

Thank you. The Australian government is committed to tackling human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery at home and abroad. Australia has comprehensive legal and policy frameworks to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and prosecute these crimes while supporting and protecting victims and survivors. Our approach reflects our ongoing commitment to effective implementation of the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol. Australia's Criminal Code comprehensively criminalises human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, including forced labour, with penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment. Australia is committed to ensuring people with a lived experience informs our response, including through consultation and law reform processes and participation in our national roundtable. And we continue to recognise women and girls as disproportionately affected by human trafficking and modern slavery. We promote gender responsive approaches to prevent exploitation, protect victims, and support long-term recovery. Australia is committed to ensuring our supply chains do not promote, condone, or financially support human trafficking, forced labour, or related exploitation. We continue to strengthen our response. In July, the government announced its intention to introduce a new criminal offence for large companies that fail to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains, and civil penalties for non-compliance with obligations under the Modern Slavery Act. These reforms seek to address forced labour risks at their source, by encouraging proactive action through global supply chains. We are one of only a few countries with a dedicated ambassador to counter modern slavery, people smuggling and human trafficking, as well as an independent anti-slavery commissioner, whose role provides an important and independent pillar of leadership in Australia's response to modern slavery. This helps align the government's domestic and international priorities on modern slavery and human trafficking. As trafficking networks adapt to new technologies and exploit vulnerabilities across increasingly interconnected economies, coordinated and sustained international cooperation is more important than ever. Australia continues to work closely with Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen regional responses to these crimes. Australia co-chairs with Indonesia the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime, which will mark its 25th anniversary next year. The Bali Process continues to be a highly valued platform for its members, supporting dialogue, practical cooperation, capacity building, and technical discussions on trafficking, migration, and related transnational challenges. This includes addressing the proliferation of online scam centres and trafficking for forced criminality. Australia is also a committed partner of ASEAN, supporting its efforts to combat human trafficking. For over 20 years, the ASEAN-Australia Countertrafficking Program has supported training of thousands of government officials in the region to identify, protect and support victims of trafficking and their families. This program has also supported the development of guidelines for ASEAN on the non-punishment principle to protect victims and survivors who have been forced to commit crimes as a direct result of being trafficked. The program has also supported the Thai government to establish the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Centre of Excellence, the first regional centre of excellence with a dedicated focus on building a cadre of government and non-government professionals equipped to counter trafficking and related crimes. We look forward to continued collaboration with Member States and partners to strengthen the implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol and advance our shared efforts to eradicate human trafficking. Thank you.


President [2:12:25]:

Thank you to the delegation for Australia for your intervention, and I'll now give the floor to the Philippines delegation.


Philippines [2:12:34]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Philippines expresses its gratitude to the Secretariat for its report and commends UNODC for its continued support in implementing the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. The report highlights the increasing convergence of trafficking organized fraud, money laundering, and corruption, particularly within scam centers. It also emphasizes the misuse of technology, including artificial intelligence, to recruit, exploit, and control victims. These developments underscore the need for enhanced cooperation and response that places victims' rights at its core. Allow then us to emphasize three priorities. First, effective victim identification should guide enforcement action. Individuals compelled to commit offenses as a result of trafficking should receive appropriate protection and assistance in accordance with the principle of non-punishment. Responses should be sensitive to trauma, age, and gender, and informed by survivors' experiences. Second, international cooperation must result in timely operational action. We welcome UNODC's collaboration with INTERPOL, including its Emergency Response Network in Southeast Asia. This initiative should enhance coordination through established INTERPOL National Central Bureaus and competent national authorities. while making effective use of Interpol's databases and notices to identify suspects, locate wanted persons, and uncover links between criminal networks across jurisdictions. Combined with secure information exchange, coordinated investigations, and cross-border victims referrals, These tools can strengthen our collective response to trafficking and other transnational crimes in accordance with applicable rules and safeguards. Third, investigation should extend to the organizers, financiers, and facilitators of trafficking. We recommend conducting parallel financial investigations, promptly preserving digital evidence and cooperating with technology companies and financial institutions in accordance with applicable laws and safeguards. These measures can strengthen prosecution while reducing undue reliance on victims' testimony. Chair, we encourage continued technical assistance focused on these practical needs. Progress should be reflected in the number of victims protected, perpetrators held accountable, criminal proceeds recovered, and trafficking networks dismantled. The Philippines stands ready to work with UNODC and fellow States Parties toward these shared objectives. Thank you.


President [2:16:21]:

Muchas gracias.

Thank you to the Philippines delegation. I will now give the floor to the delegation for Japan, followed by Colombia, Belarus and Peru. Japan, you have the floor.


Japan [2:16:33]:

Thank you, Chair. Behind every trafficking case lies a human being reduced to an instrument of profit. The duty of the international community is clear. Rescue the victim, pursue the trafficker, and deny criminal networks the ability to exploit human desperation. This duty has taken on new urgency. Across borders, criminal networks lure or coerce people into scam compounds, where they are forced to commit online fraud. These operations link trafficking in person with cybercrime, money laundering, and corruption. They inflict devastating harm on victims and their families, undermine public trust, and strengthen criminal networks that operate beyond national borders. Trafficking for forced criminality and the online scams, it enables not merely criminal justice concerns. They pose a serious threat to international peace and security. The challenge is not simply to condemn these crimes. It is make the trafficking in person protocol work where victims are exploited and criminal networks operate. First, protect victims. Do not mistake coercion for consent. Japan places the safety and dignity of victims at the center of its response. Those compelled to commit crimes must be assessed in light of the circumstances, including the degree of coercion they faced. Victims must be protected from further harm, but victimhood should not automatically confer blanket immunity from criminal responsibility. Each case must be assessed on its merits, with due regard to the facts and the applicable law. and pursue the networks behind the abuse. Traffickers exploit digital platforms, conceal identities, and operate across jurisdictions. jurisdictions. Investigators must be able to follow digital evidence and identify those who recruit, control, and profit from victims. Japan strengthens these capabilities through its National Police Agency's Cyber Affairs Bureau, established in 2022, and Advanced Crime Prosecution Unit, established at the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office in 2021. Technology must not give geographic and advantage over the world. Third, turn international cooperation into operational result. No country can dismantle this network alone. Through UNODC, Japan supports Southeast Asian countries with operational training, investigative stimulations, equipment, and technical guidance on digital evidence. Japan also support youth awareness programs to prevent recruitment into cyber crime and operations through Interpol Japan helps strengthen regional law enforcement capabilities to address crime involving AI generated sensitive media. UNAFE, operated by Japan's Ministry of Justice, develops the expertise of criminal justice practitioners in trafficking in persons and international cooperation. This effort from part of Japan's comprehensive action plan to combat trafficking in person adopted in 2004 and most recently revised in September 2026. But the principle extend beyond any our country's measures. The international community must close the gap between the right promised by the protocol and the prosecution victim received in practice. That requires early identification of victims, investigations that reach the organizer and profitters, and sustained cooperation across It also requires the sharing of expertise so that every country can act effectively. Japan will continue to contribute to this effort with its international partners. A result must be measured by whether the victims are freed from exploitation, traffickers are brought to justice, and criminal networks are denied the profit and impunity on which they depend. Thank you.


President [2:21:25]:

Thank you very much for your intervention. I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Colombia, followed by Belarus.


Colombia [2:21:33]:

Thank you, President, distinguished delegations. Colombia welcomes the presentation of the report from the Secretariat and relating to the implementation of the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. We welcome the States Parties who have recently acceded to the Protocol. The information presented confirms that trafficking in persons remains one of the most serious and lucrative expressions of transnational organized crime. As shown by the UNODC, this crime is linked to other criminal areas of activity, including cybercrime, fraud, corruption, money laundering, and other emerging forms of criminal activity. Colombia is increasingly concerned to see the use of digital platforms and new technologies to find, control, and exploit victims. Criminal organizations harness these instruments to extend their reach beyond borders. This undermines the detection of the crime, as well as the early identification of victims. The UNODC has warned about the expansion of different methods fostered by technology and about the challenges of criminal use of artificial intelligence. In Colombia, we have identified situations where victims, mainly women, have been caught through scam offers online and subsequently subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor in different countries. These are dynamics which show that criminal networks organize their activities in a cross-border way, spreading the load across countries of origin, transit, and destination countries. This is why Colombia sees it as essential that we step up international cooperation, foreseen in the Convention and its protocols. We fully support the calls from the conference to promote timely exchange of information, coordinated cross-border cooperation, joint investigations and the exchange of best practices in the face of new forms of trafficking in persons. We especially value the cooperation developed with the UNODC, as well as with the European Union and the specialized mechanisms such as Europol and Eurojust, as well as other initiatives for international cooperation. These show that coordinated action allows us to improve the identification of victims and offer more effective progress in dismantling criminal networks. Furthermore, we support efforts aimed at strengthening alliances with the technological sector and other relevant stakeholders to prevent the misuse of information and communication technologies by trafficking networks. This is a priority which has been highlighted on several occasions in the work done by this conference, as well as in discussions on this agenda item this morning. Finally, President, Colombia would like to reiterate that any strategy against trafficking in persons should place victims at the heart of that response. The prosecution of criminal networks and organizations should be complemented by effective mechanisms for the identification, protection, integrated assistance, and restoration of rights for victims, with a focus on human rights and fostering the dignity of the persons affected. The Convention and the Protocol against Trafficking in Persons remain the main framework for collective action. Colombia reiterates its commitment to their implementation and strengthening international cooperation to prevent, combat and eradicate this crime. Thank you.


President [2:25:36]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for Colombia. And I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Belarus.


Belarus [2:25:56]:

My delegation would like to congratulate you on your election and to thank you for inviting us to participate in this meeting. TIP is one of the worst crimes of our times. It imperils the stability and sustainable development of countries. It's growing today, and the criminal threat is a qualitative and quantitative one. Criminal groups are longer stopped by borders. They adapt to the new conditions and they use the digital sphere to evade responsibility. Groups that engage in TIP use AI and cryptocurrencies and all kinds of platforms to conduct these crimes. No country on its own can address this challenge. We can only address it effectively together. Progress in addressing this threat is associated with proper implementation of the TIP protocol. We welcome actions by countries to implement the TIP protocol with the support of UNDC. We firmly believe that success depends on implementation of other relevant documents too. On our national experience, we were one of the first countries in the post-Soviet sphere to criminalize TIP and to take action to counter it. We believe that our system for, uh, TIP, country TIP serves as an example for other countries. Uh, persons who are victims of TIP are, are subjected to all kinds of exploitation and, uh, but we address that, uh, ensuring… an effective response is very important. We have created an effective mechanism for identifying and referring victims and providing assistance to them. Our effective national legislation to counter TIP meets international commitments and realities. We have an active position in countering TIP at home and abroad. We have joined all the relevant international agreements. Our President has announced a new initiative at the UN Summit in 2025, and we have undertaken various initiatives. We stand open for constructive cooperation with all states, and we are able to show concrete examples of cooperation between our law enforcement and that of other countries. We are also facing another problem that is complicating international cooperation to counter TIP. I refer to the politicization not only of TIP but also of TOC and our efforts to counter them. We observe a paradoxical situation whereby the challenges are increasing, but the scope to address them is narrowing. We see countries using TIP to exert political pressure on countries such as our own. These approaches undermine trust and undermine the ability of us to effectively counter TIP. However, despite these artificial obstructions, we intend to continue pursuing our policies against TIP. We are, uh, we uphold, uh, international law and we advocate for an adequate response by the international community. to this threat. We firmly believe that it's through cooperation without politicization that we can successfully counter TIP in real time. Thank you.


President [2:29:54]:

Thank you to the delegation of Belarus for your intervention. And I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Peru, followed by Algeria. Peru, you have the floor.


Peru [2:30:03]:

President, Peru thanks the Secretariat for its report and reiterates its commitment to the prevention and combating of trafficking in persons in all its forms, as well as the protection and assistance of victims. We're concerned to see the persistence of this crime and the emergence of new forms of exploitation, which require coordinated responses and more effective international cooperation. Against this backdrop, we welcome the accession of Somalia, South Sudan and the Marshall Islands to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, in order to combat this scourge. Furthermore, we highlight the decisions adopted in various multilateral spaces. In particular, we would like to highlight resolutions 2793 and 2794 of the Security Council on Haiti. We share the grave concern for gang violence, trafficking and other illegal activities, as well as the implications these have for our region. Furthermore, my delegation would like to thank the UNODC for the implementation of the Rastros project and the support aimed at the Peruvian authorities to improve detection of trafficking with a view to combating forced crime in online scams, investigating effectively and bringing the perpetrators to justice through strength and regional cooperation and national capacities. President, various institutions have been implementing a national, uh, policy to combat trafficking in, in, um, persons. That is the case for our country with a plan running to 2030. Um, we, uh, are aiming to prosecute, uh, perpetrators and protect victims. we have been able to train 3,345 police officers in the year 2025 and strengthen regional and local capacities as well. These efforts seek to improve the identification of victims, investigation of crimes, and work between authorities, cooperation between authorities. In terms of protection, the Ministry for Women and Vulnerable Populations has 26 special protection units, whilst the National Integral Program for family well-being, INABIF, administers and runs six welcome centres for young girls and adolescents affected by trafficking. Furthermore, we have developed instruments to guide individual reintegration plans and promote the economic independence of survivor adolescents. This experience reaffirms the importance that protection goes beyond initial protection and support and reduces the risk of fresh situations of exploitation. President, the data put forward by the UNODC show that there are new forms of exploitation and that this is being facilitated by technology. We take note of the evaluations that the UNODC has carried out in Latin America, and we would like to know more about their scope, progress and findings, as well as being able to share those with our authorities. You can rely on Peru to provide a coordinated, evidence-based response, also focused on the protection and dignity of victims. Thank you.


President [2:33:17]:

Thank you to the delegation for Peru. And I now give the floor to the delegation for Algeria, followed by China, Angola, and Indonesia.


Algeria [2:33:27]:

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor.

President, Distinguished delegates, allow me to take this opportunity to briefly outline the efforts undertaken by my country to tackle trafficking in persons, particularly women and children. Firstly, in terms of the legislative framework, we have strengthened our legal framework to prevent this crime based on Law 2604 relating to the prevention of trafficking in persons and to enshrine the principle of victim follow-up and support, offering priority to this when it comes to providing support to victims and fostering international cooperation and partnerships, with a special attention paid to women and children. We've also established a national mechanism which seeks to provide specific assistance to victims based on the executive decree number 2614 of June 2026 to define the identity of victims so that these victims can also be received in national support centers to offer them physical and psychological support with a focus at all times on providing special support to women and children and to the most vulnerable. Also, to help victims through a fund, a compensation fund for these individuals. We also seek to integrate these individuals in training programs to help them reintegrate into society. the voluntary return as well to their country of origin should they have come from another country. We're also stepping up international cooperation. We have worked on this topic in the broadest possible scope, especially when it comes to the exchange of information and data and to restore people to their home countries. Our government has also ratified and ratified on the 4th of January, in fact, the national strategy to combat trafficking in persons, as well as the action plan which runs from 2026 to 2030. Thirdly, on an institutional level, we have reorganized the National Commission to combat trafficking in persons based on the presidential decree 26159 on the 25th of April 2026. We also have an essential focus point here, which is that it falls under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister. We've also strengthened specialized centers for the reception of victims so that they can receive all possible solidarity and support. We're also seeking to preserve the identity, protect the identity of these individuals whilst they receive support under the decrees that have been recently implemented by the Home Affairs Ministry. Also, national security forces who carry out the initial investigations are receiving support and training which is specialized as well. We also have a series of different judicial commissions and committees which are highly specialized to deal with these kind of situations. This phenomenon is something new in Algerian society. We have dealt with 12 cases, that was last year, and up to the 30th of September last year, we had dealt with 9 cases of trafficking in persons. Finally, President, we'd like to reiterate our call to step up international cooperation to tackle trafficking on a national, international, and regional level to preserve our societies. Thank you.


President [2:38:27]:

Thank you. Now I'll give the floor to the delegation for China. You have the floor.


China [2:38:35]:

Thank you, Chair. China once again congratulates you on your election. Trafficking in persons is A severe transnational crime that tramples on basic human rights and the minds fairness and justice and disrupts social order. The Chinese government has always taken a people centered approach, adopted a series of measures to resolutely combat trafficking in persons. And we have both a multi department counterterrorism architecture and promoted a social wide participation. First, institutional guidance, which China has issued as implemented three consecutive national plans against trafficking in persons and established a national interdepartmental coordination mechanism. We have coordinated prevention, law enforcement, rescue, and victim protection to eradicate the root causes of TIP to the greatest extent possible. Second, sustained efforts to combat crime. China has launched multiple special anti-trafficking campaigns and established a long-term mechanism to combat and prevent the trafficking of women and children. And we have worked to dismantle trafficking networks and effectively promoted the legitimate rights and interests of victims. In 2005, number of criminal cases of trafficking in women and children fell by 77.95% from the 2022 peak. Since 2003, cases of abduction and theft of children have remained at zero for many years. Third, stronger scientific and technological support. China has built an upgraded and emergency release platform for missing children system. In the 10 years since its establishment, the system has found 5,137 children, a recovery rate of 98.5%. China has worked to integrate the anti-trafficking DNA information query program into the public security one-stop online service application to serve anti-trafficking and family identification efforts. Cybersecurity departments have further strengthened screening of trafficking related online content, blocking the dissemination of such information at its source. Fourth, public awareness efforts. China has made good use of traditional and new media to carry out publicity and education. China has intensified development of courses under the Child Guard Protection Program and conducted online and offline awareness activity in 230,000 primary and secondary schools for 160 million children. Through public court hearing and by bringing legal knowledge to schools, communities, and villages, China has spread legal knowledge on preventing and combating trafficking across society, actively creating a strong social-wide campaign against trafficking, currently transnational human human trafficking is becoming professional, cyber-based and globalized. In particular, its convergence with emerging crimes such as telecom fraud and online gambling possesses new challenges to the world. The international community should practice a global vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, working to address the global challenges together. First, fully leverage the role of the Convention and its Protocol and actively carry out bilateral, multilateral practical cooperation on TIP within the UN framework. and strengthen information sharing, exchange of experiences, and law enforcement cooperation, and improve our efficiency in combating trafficking in persons. Third, take full account of different national conditions and help developing countries build up their capacity and bridge the gaps between different nations. tackle the challenges posed by new technologies, strengthening the efforts to combat the use of artificial intelligence in facilitating and committing human trafficking. Thank you.


President [2:42:29]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for China for your intervention. And I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Angola, followed by Indonesia. Angola, you have the floor.


Angola [2:42:38]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Angola recognizes trafficking in persons as one of the most serious manifestations of transnational organized crime, particularly affecting women and children. In Angola, this phenomenon remains a significant challenge, specifically in relation to labor and sexual exploitation, irregular migration, forged documents, and organized criminal networks. In response, the Government has adopted legislative, strategic and operational measures to strengthen prevention, victim protection and the prosecution of offenders. Mr. President, Angola has a national action plan to combat trafficking in persons, a national referral mechanism for the protection and assistance of victims, and standard operating procedures for victim referral. These instruments support the identification, assistance, and safe repatriation of victims, as well as their social reintegration. From 2024 to date, 37 victims of trafficking have been received, and 31 victims have been repatriated to their countries of origin. Furthermore, two Angolan victims repatriated to Angola have been reintegrated into their families. In March of this year, Angolan authorities partially dismantled a criminal network operating in Luanda that engaged in international recruitment, trafficking in persons, and organized sexual exploitation. The network lured several women to Angola under the pretext of employment in dance shows, including pole dancing, before subjecting them to prostitution. The operation resulted in the rescue of 21 foreign women and the arrest of the identified operational leader and his accomplices. More recently, the implementation of the national referral mechanism has strengthened efforts towards early identification of victims, and access to appropriate medical and psychological assistance. Targeted programs also address labor and commercial sexual exploitation, supporting victims' safe and sustainable reintegration. Mr. President, Angola underscores the importance of strengthening bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation. The effective prevention and combating of trafficking in persons requires coordinated and sustained action among States. Timely and secure information exchange, mutual legal assistance and cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities are essential to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring accountability. Angola also calls for stronger cooperation with international and regional organizations, enhanced institutional capacities, and exchange of good practices to improve prevention, victim protection, and the fight against impunity. I thank you, Mr. Chair.


President [2:46:04]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for Angola. And I will now give the floor to the delegation for Indonesia, followed by the delegation for Iran. Indonesia, you have the floor.


Indonesia [2:46:14]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Indonesia is deeply concerned by the growing nexus between trafficking in person and other forms of crime and exploitation, including technology-enabled methods such as online scams. This demands an adaptive prosecutorial response grounded in digital evidence and capable of supporting effective action against transnational networks. At the operational level, Indonesia has strengthened cooperation with foreign law enforcement partners through intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and coordinated enforcement actions against transnational organized crime syndicates. Secure information exchange through Interpol I-24/7, ASEANAPOL and bilateral channels remains vital to identify offenders, locate fugitives and dismantle criminal networks, as does closer coordination between police and immigration authorities to detect cross-border movements. In 2026, This effort led to the identification of 353 Indonesian victims of online scams, the arrest of 242 trafficking suspects and 291 online scam suspects, and the issuance of 14 red notices for cyber-enabled fraud and online scam. Indonesia is also exploring ways to strengthen regional and international anti-scams cooperation, including through partnership of the Indonesian Anti-Scam Center. Mr. President, the challenge continues to grow. In 2026, online scam cases involving Indonesian nationals rose by 98% compared to 2025. Between January and September 2026, approximately 13,258 Indonesians sought repatriation assistance from our embassy in Phnom Penh. of whom 8,596 have since returned to Indonesia. The central challenge is distinguishing genuine victims from repeat offenders, individuals who present themselves as victims, seek government rescue, and subsequently return to scam operations. This underscores the urgent need for legal frameworks that address individuals who may be both victims and offenders, ensuring accountability while safeguarding the rights of genuine victims. To this end, Indonesia is finalizing its National Action Plan on the Prevention and Handling of Trafficking in Persons for 2025-2029, involving 110 members across ministries and agencies. The plan covers six policy areas, including root cause-based prevention, integrated trauma-informed victim services, and integrated TIP data system. Our domestic legal framework further requires victim-sensitive investigations and prosecutions, strong evidence before the courts, protection of witnesses and victims throughout legal proceedings, and the fulfilment of victims' right to rehabilitation. Mr. President, Indonesia welcomes the adoption by consensus of the recent 35th CCPCD first resolution dedicated specifically to countering trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality. Indonesia encourages State Parties to translate commitments from the resolution into concrete operational cooperation. respecting sovereignty, national laws, and human rights to dismantle criminal networks, deprive them of illicit proceeds, and protect communities. In this spirit, Indonesia looks forward to robust cooperation of Member States to combat these crimes. I thank you.


President [2:50:22]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for Indonesia. I'll now give the floor to the Islamic Republic of Iran. You have the floor.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [2:50:31]:

My delegation attached great importance to combating trafficking in person and protecting human dignity.

We have consistently participated constructively in the relevant.

Work of the conference and its working group, and support effective international efforts against the serious form serious form of organized crime.

Enjoying efficient and robust legislative, judicial, and administrative frameworks.

Iran has well demonstrated its dedication in effectively combating various forms of crimes, particularly trafficking in person, including by amending the relevant act of 2004, which underlined the importance of addressing it as a serious crime.

The perpetration of human trafficking by organized groups, and considering the commissions against minors and women as aggravating circumstances. The protection and support of victims is permanent in our anti-trafficking efforts. In Iran, we provide a variety of comprehensive support services, including medical treatment and legal assistance.

Mr. President.

Our response should be practical and balanced. First of all, prevention must remain central.

Public awareness and disruption of recruitment mechanisms can reduce opportunities for criminal networks before exploitation occurs. Second, competent national authorities need stronger digital investigative and forensic capacities.

The technological gap between criminal network and law enforcement agencies, particularly in developing countries, cannot be ignored.

Technical assistance should therefore include training, appropriate technology, and support for victim identification and digital evidence capabilities.

Third, online platform and digital services providers have an important responsibility.

They should take effective measures to prevent the misuse of their services for trafficking-related.

Purposes and cooperate in a timely and meaningful manner with competent national authorities in accordance with applicable national law and with full respect for national sovereignty and the rule of law. Mr. President, Iran reaffirms its readiness to cooperate constructively with UNODC and Member States in preventing trafficking in persons.

Disrupting organized criminal networks and protecting human dignity.

I thank you, Mr. President.


President [2:53:18]:

Thank you to the delegation for the Islamic Republic of Iran for your intervention. And I'll now give the floor to the delegation for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, followed by Spain and the United Republic of Tanzania. Venezuela, you have the floor.


Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) [2:53:40]:

Thank you, President. The Venezuelan state sees the trafficking in persons as an inalienable crime which has a direct impact on human dignity. We can see its cross-border implications, which requires solid international cooperation and a focus on victim protection. In the context of the use of IT and communication technologies in the digital environment as a way and environment to commit this crime, we've seen isolated cases in Venezuela by organized groups with a view to criminal activities. and they have carried out digital scams, coercion against victims. The national legal framework defends the non-penalization principle of victims with an integral methodology that's sensitive to gender based on human rights so that they do not lose access to justice. They need to be able to cooperate with specialized state bodies. President since 2020 the public Ministry in Venezuela has uh paid attention to the trafficking of women children and adolescents with specialized public prosecutors who guarantee the reception and protection of victims as well as their support in 2025 we adopted uh the protocol um for the offering support to citizen bodies with specialised knowledge in how to handle victims of trafficking in humans. We've also issued a manual for trafficking in persons, particularly women, children, girls and adolescents. Between 2025 and 2026, through the national training of public prosecutors, we've carried out training programs to capacity build individuals, training officials who work in the judicial system. Furthermore, the consular relations office, working with foreign nationals from outside of Venezuela, has started to roll out work to protect victims of trafficking in persons as well as foreign nationals, and also fostering the repatriation of victims to their national territory. And we also have a core of forensic and criminalistic scientific experts who work on this. They study crimes that can be punished in this field. Venezuela. as part of its actions to combat transnational organized crime, has developed specialized platforms to strengthen tools aimed at improving the investigation and punishment of trafficking in persons, and maintains active and constant participation in the regional platform against trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking of migrants made-up of countries from Latin America. In the same vein, the Public Ministry in Venezuela is part of the Ibero-American Network of Specialized Public Prosecutors in Trafficking in Persons and Migrants, and we are part of the Inter-American Network of Ministries in Judicial Cooperation. This multilateral cooperation has allowed for us to offer timely training and to develop tools for the investigation of trafficking in persons, as well as the protection of victims through ongoing training for all of our officials based on specific mechanisms. We would reiterate the need to foster communication, which ensures the modernization of actions in each country to combat this scourge and so that we can train bodies to improve investigation and punishment of crimes with emphatic and sensitive support for victims. President, we reiterate the inalienable commitment of the Venezuelan state to combat trafficking in persons. We reiterate the effectiveness of measures that have been taken hitherto to step up cooperation in this field, and we adhere to the relevant provisions in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as in the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol. We will work, and we would suggest that we continue to work, in an unpoliticized way with a view to protecting human dignity and victims' rights. That must always be of the utmost importance. Thank you very much.


President [2:58:30]:

Thank you to the delegation for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for their intervention, and I'll now give the floor to the delegation for Spain. You have the floor.


Spain [2:58:41]:

Thank you, President. Spain would like to reiterate and add to what's already been said by the representative for the EU, which we share, and we would also like to share our experience. In the field of combating trafficking in persons in Spain, we are aware of the importance of combining an effective criminal justice response when it comes to trafficking in persons with a specialized judicial organization and a victim-focused approach. To achieve this in Spain, we have opted to specialize in combating more effectively against organized crime and in particular against trafficking in persons. in the public prosecutor's office. This specialisation is based on work with the unit for trafficking of persons and foreign nationals under the state prosecutor's office, which is directed and run by a coordinating courtroom prosecutor and supported by a territorial network of specialised prosecutors. This structure allows us to coordinate investigations, unify action criteria, and maintain a specific approach towards the crime as well as protecting the victims. This specialization has also been strengthened in the judicial sphere. Since 2025, there has been a specialized section in violence against women, which also handles the investigation of trafficking crimes with a view to sexual exploitation where the victim is a woman. Furthermore, there are some new sections which handle violence against children and adolescents, and these also handle trafficking crimes when you're dealing with a victim who is underage. Now, these have greater capacity to understand the special needs of these victims. We are aware, though, that this specialisation is not sufficient and that we also need effective, if we are rather to have effective combating of human trafficking and organised crime, we need resources. So this reform has gone hand in hand with new specialised posts. In 2026, we took a step forward in this and we created 500 new judicial posts and 200 new prosecutor posts. and um this has been on a national level and in 2027 we will take this further and create new posts at the same time Spanish procedural law has strengthened guarantees intended to avoid secondary victimization in particular this allows the victim to intervene remotely in proceedings from places where they are receiving assistance and support furthermore any victim has access to gain free and confidential access to support and assistance services. All of these measures have been developed with a view that an adequately protected victim is also well placed to participate in proceedings and that this contributes to a more effective criminal response to trafficking persons. Thank you.


President [3:01:54]:

Thank you very much to the delegate for Spain for your intervention. And now I will give the floor to the delegate for the United Republic of Tanzania. You have the floor.


United Republic of Tanzania [3:02:05]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the United Republic of Tanzania remains firmly committed to the global fight against trafficking in persons. Tanzania's national legal framework is fully aligned with international obligations and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes, UNTOC, and its implementing Palermo Protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking persons, especially women and children. In compliance with these instruments, Tanzania enacted the Anti-Trafficking Persons Act, establishing comprehensive legal mechanisms to criminalize all forms of human trafficking, protect victims, facilitate cross-border judicial cooperation, and ensure the prosecution of perpetrators. Mr. President, to address evolving tactics used by transnational organized crime syndicates, the government revised its legal framework through the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Chapter 432, revised edition 2023. This revision strengthened definitions, expanded victim protection measures, enhanced asset forfeiture mechanisms, and stiffened penalties against traffickers to ensure seamless alignment with international standards. Mr. President, in line with the national objectives, The government of Tanzania has undertaken operational measures by establishing a specialized anti-trafficking secretariat, ongoing institutional processes, established dedicated standalone national body specifically tasked with countering human trafficking. Launch an operational reporting center utilizing a dedicated emergency number, which is free of charge for public sensitization, instant threat reporting, and rapid response. There is establishment of operational safe houses and shelters to guarantee secure accommodation, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support for victims. Mr. President, establishment of trafficking persons management information system guarantees development and deployment of a secure, centralized digital database to systematically capture, profile, and track offender data, victim demographics, and intelligence trends. Law enforcement and victim rescue successes enhances active law enforcement operations and yielded tangible results leading to excessive rescue of number of victims and the arrest of traffickers from July 2025 and February this year. public awareness drives executed in close cooperation, collaboration with civil society organization, CSOs, and international development partners, including the International Organization for Migration, IOM, and the Tanzania Relief Initiatives, TRI. Mister President, the government of United Republic of Tanzania, extend its deepest gratitude and acknowledgement to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ODC for technical guidance, capacity building support, and leadership in convening the 15th section of the working group on trafficking persons, fostering essential international cooperation and knowledge sharing. Thank you, Mr. President.


President [3:06:09]:

I would like to thank the delegation for the United Republic of Tanzania, and I'll now give the floor to the representative of Namibia for a load by Panama and Eswatini. You have the floor, Namibia.


Namibia [3:06:23]:

Yeah, thank you, Mr. President. Namibia reaffirms its commitment to the effective implementation of the protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons. especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Trafficking in persons remains a serious transnational crime and a grave violation of human rights, dignity and freedom. It exploits vulnerability and requires a comprehensive and well-coordinated response. Namibia has established a legislative framework through the Combating of Trafficking in Person Act of 2018, which provides for the criminalization of trafficking and related offense, prosecution of offenders, protection and assistance of victims, particularly women and children. Trafficking methods continue to involve traffickers exploit poverty, inequality, social and economic vulnerability, conflict, and limited access to safe opportunities. Traffickers misuse digital technology and online platforms to recruit victims. Namibia, therefore, underscores the importance of public awareness and engagement with employers, recruitment agencies, community leaders, civil society, the private sector and service provider to identify risk, promote responsible practices, and help people know where to seek help. The identification, safety, dignity, and needs of victims remain central. Early identification and effective referral mechanism are therefore essential. Namibia emphasized the importance of training frontline professionals, including police, immigration officers, labor inspectors, social workers, and health personnel, to recognize indicators of trafficking and connect affected persons with appropriate support and services. Reliable information is critical For evidence-based policy prevention, Namibia encourages stronger collection and analysis of timely and comparable data on victim identification, forms of exploitation, recruitment method, referral investigation, prosecution and judicial outcome, while protecting victims' identities and personal information. Research and exchange of good practices can help identify emerging patterns and effective strategies to utilize limited resources. Mr. President, Namibia recognizes the significant role of UNODC in supporting State Parties through technical assistance, capacity building and exchange of expertise. Just support should respond to identified national needs and strengthen sustainable capacity, particularly in investigation and prosecution, digital evidence, victim-centered approach, data collection, and institutional coordination. Regional cooperation and peer learning can further assist countries in addressing shared challenges. In conclusion, Mr. President, Namibia stands ready to work with the State Party, UNODC, regional and international partners to strengthen the implementation of the protocol, hold perpetrators accountable, prevent exploitation and protect the dignity, safety and rights of all victims. I thank you.


President [3:10:18]:

I thank the delegation for Namibia for your intervention. We still have quite a long list of speakers pending from delegations who would like to take the floor on this item, so I would ask that you stick to the time limit of three minutes for your interventions. And if you could, and I'm asking the conference if you could agree that we could close the speakers list for this item now, and that will help us to make some headway on our agenda, which is still to be covered. Thank you. So now I'll give the floor to the delegation for Panama.


Panama [3:10:59]:

Thank you, President. The Republic of Panama reiterates its commitment to the effective implementation of the Protocol against Trafficking in Persons and to the strengthening of the measures for prevention, investigation and criminal prosecution for this crime, with a focus on human rights and integrated protection of victims. Panama continues to strengthen coordination between institutions under the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons, international organizations, and civil society organizations, with a view to consolidating an integrated and coordinated national response. On a legislative level, we would highlight law 458 of 3 December 2024, which reforms Law 79/2011 on trafficking in persons and related activities, as well as the Criminal Code and other legal provisions. These reforms contribute to strengthening the national legal framework in aspects that relate to assistance to and protection of victims, confidentiality, reparation of damages and criminal prosecution. Furthermore, we promote the dissemination and implementation of the amended provisions amongst public officials and justice operators, with a view to fostering appropriate support and prevent re-victimization. As regards the judicial outcomes, Panama has recorded convictions in cases of trafficking in persons, which include prison sentences of up to 12 years, as well as measures for financial reparation for victims. This reflects the work done by the competent authorities and the importance of ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable before the justice system, promoting reparation for harm caused and strengthening international cooperation in cases of a cross-border nature. In terms of prevention and capacity building, Panama is driving awareness-raising initiatives in coordination with non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, as well as special training days, specialized courses, and training for trainers activities. These are all actions which seek to improve the identification of possible victims, as well as the recognition of warning signs and the implementation of appropriate support and protection procedures. Furthermore, Panama continues to work closely with the UNODC, particularly in terms of the work that relates to the compendium of national legislation on trafficking in persons. This is aimed to facilitate access to the regulatory framework, as well as support the work done by public officials and justice operators. On a regional level, Panama's participation in the Regional Commission Against Trafficking in Persons, CORET, as the technical secretary, contributes to the exchange of experiences and best practices, as well as strengthening cooperation between states. President, for Panama, the effective application and implementation of the protocol requires a sustainable commitment to institutional strengthening, international cooperation, and the protection of the rights of victims. We reiterate our willingness to continue working with States Parties and the UNODC to strengthen the implementation of the Protocol, to promote coordinated responses to trafficking in persons, and make progress in preventing this crime, as well as prosecuting perpetrators and ensuring the effective protection of persons affected. Thank you very much.


President [3:14:45]:

I thank the delegation for Panama for your intervention. I now give the floor to the delegation for Eswatini. You have the floor.


Eswatini [3:14:54]:

Mr. President, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, Eswatini congratulates the Chairperson for assuming chairmanship. and the BERU. We also extend gratitude to the outgoing chairperson for job well done together with the BERU. Eswatini commends UNODC, Mr. Chair, for continued support to State Parties and tirelessly work in programs, including the UNTOC review mechanism, as well as facilitating the working group meetings as reported. As a signatory to UNTOC, Eswatini supports the implementation of UNTOC and wishes to emphasize the importance of international Particularly cross-border corporate collaboration among state parties as the success of implementation also lies within strengthened collaborative efforts to ensure successful prevention, investigation and prosecution. Eswatini has developed operational tools, including the National Referral Mechanism and the National Strategic Framework and Action Plan to Combat People Trafficking, which is under review. The National Strategic Framework and Action Plan highlights prevention, prosecution, and cooperation, as well as coordination at international and national level, respectively. We therefore are inclined to emphasize, Mr. President, the need for strengthened collaborative efforts among State Parties at regional level and cross-border initiatives, as well as heightened capacity building. Thank you so much, Mr. President.


President [3:16:33]:

I thank the delegation for Eswatini for your intervention, and I now give the floor to the delegation for Sudan, followed by Nigeria. Sudan, you have the floor.


Sudan [3:16:49]:

Mr. President, distinguished guests, it is my pleasure to speak on behalf of the Republic of the Sudan on our issue of combating trafficking in persons, particularly women and children. Sudan ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in December 2004 and acceded in December 2014 to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. This commitment forms part of our responsibility to protect human dignity. Mr. President, Sudan enacted the Combating Human Trafficking Act in 2014, which was adopted by the parliament in March 2014. The law criminalizes trafficking in persons and exploitation, including sexual exploitation, and imposes penalties. The law is consistent with the letter and spirit of the protocol. The law established the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking. The committee operates under the Ministry of Justice and brings together relevant ministries. It is tasked with developing national strategies and coordinating among relevant bodies. The committee launched two national plans, the first from 2017 to 2019 and the second from 2021 to 2023. The plans are based on four pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership and coordination. In cooperation with Interpol, operations were carried out that resulted in the rescue of 253 victims and the arrest of 23 suspects in 2021. Training programs were also conducted for judges, investigators, prosecutors, and media professionals in cooperation with UNODC. Mr. President, Sudan faces real challenges, including vast borders and complex migration routes. The security situation and widespread displacement since 2023 have increased the risks of exploitation faced by women and children. We therefore need technical support and capacity building to expand shelters, referral mechanisms, and services for victims. Mr. President, we recommend the following: Strengthening international cooperation and exchange of information among countries of origin, transit, and destination. supporting conflict-affected countries with funding and technical expertise, periodically review national legislation to strengthen victim protection and the identification of exploitation. In closing, Sudan renews its commitment to the Protocol and to working with States Parties and UNODC to protect women and children. Thank you.


President [3:19:12]:

Thank you very much for your intervention. And I will now give the floor to the delegation for Nigeria. You have the floor.


Nigeria [3:19:20]:

Mr. President, Nigeria welcomes the attention being given to this agenda item and acknowledges the importance of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Nigeria implements this protocol primarily through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTI. The agency operates through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and survivor-centered framework that is focused on policy, prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. Mr. President, Nigeria has recorded significant progress in policy development, nationwide prevention campaigns, victim protection and rehabilitation, strengthened prosecution outcomes, as well as enhanced national and international partnerships. Key achievements include the formulation and implementation of critical policies and standard operating procedures, as well as extensive grassroots sensitization reaching hundreds of thousands of people nationwide. In the last two years, 21,287 trafficked victims have been rescued and 9,102 suspects arrested. Recent convictions of human trafficking cases further demonstrate sustained progress. We've had 64 convictions in 2023, 56 in 2024, 97 in 2025, and 55 between January and September 2026. These enforcement outcomes reinforce our preventive objective of ensuring that trafficking does not go unpunished and that criminal networks are effectively disrupted. The Agency has also expanded its operational footprint through the creation of state commands across all 36 states and has further reinforced its work through strategic partnerships with development partners, foreign organizations, international organizations, and civil society. Mr. President, with the new wave of cyber-enabled trafficking globally, the Agency has commenced bilateral talks with countries within the West African sub-region on best approaches to strengthen ties in combating human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Addressing this evolving cyber-enabled trafficking threat also requires targeting the organized criminal networks directly. In this regard, NAFCCIP and the Nigeria Immigration Service in collaboration with the UNODC established a joint operational task force in April 2026 to strengthen our law enforcement and prosecution response to cyber-enabled trafficking. As criminal networks continue to adapt to new technologies and deceptive business models, coordinated institutional responses are critical to protecting vulnerable populations. Mr. President, No country can successfully combat this crime in isolation. Nigeria, therefore, calls for stronger international cooperation through information sharing, joint investigations, capacity building programs, strengthening mutual legal assistance, as well as extradition and law enforcement cooperation to prevent and counter trafficking in persons. Mr. President, Nigeria affirms its commitment to preventing human trafficking, prosecuting offenders, and protecting victims, especially women and children. I thank you.


President [3:22:43]:

Thank you very much to the delegation for Nigeria for your intervention. And now, I will give the floor to the Republic of Ghana.


Ghana [3:22:52]:

Mr. President, distinguished ladies, Ghana welcomes the opportunity to contribute to discussions on the implementation of the trafficking of persons Protocol and commend UNODC for its continuous support to Member States in combating this grave violation of human rights and human dignity. Ghana remains firmly committed to the effective implementation of the Protocol through strengthened legislative and institutional frameworks, enhanced law enforcement cooperation, and comprehensive victim-centered approaches. In this regard, Ghana is pleased to highlight its elevation from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Department of State's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report. This recognition reflects sustained national efforts to strengthen investigations and prosecutions, improve victim identification and protection, and enhance interagency coordination. These efforts are anchored in Ghana's Human Trafficking Act 2005 Act 694 as amended and the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Human Trafficking 2022 to 2026, which prioritizes prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships. Through intelligence-led investigations, targeted operations, information sharing, institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Economic and Organized Crime Office, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and other relevant agencies continue to strengthen the identification of victims, investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenses, and provision of protection and rehabilitation services. Mr. President, notwithstanding these achievements, trafficking in persons remains a persistent challenge, particularly among vulnerable populations in rural and underserved communities. where poverty, limited economic opportunities, and inadequate access to protective services increase the risk of exploitation. Of particular concern is the growing convergence of human trafficking, cybercrime, and transnational organized criminal activities. Trafficking networks are increasingly exploiting digital platforms, fraudulent employment advertisements, and deceptive recruitment schemes Schemes to lure vulnerable individuals into situations of forced labor and forced criminality, including operations in online scam centers. Victims may be subjected to confinement, threats, confiscation of identity documents, and coercion to perpetrate cyber-enabled financial crimes. These emerging forms of exploitation present significant challenges for law enforcement, particularly in distinguishing between victims compelled to commit offenses from perpetrators directing criminal operations. The misuse of artificial intelligence and encrypted communication technologies further complicates investigations, particularly in identifying perpetrators, tracing digital communications, preserving electronic evidence, and securing timely cross-border cooperation. Ghana therefore underscores the urgent need to strengthen digital forensic capabilities, specialized investigative training, intelligence sharing, and mechanisms for obtaining admissible electronic evidence across jurisdictions. At the same time, Ghana recognizes the potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, to support identification of trafficking patterns, detection of illicit recruitment networks, and investigation of organized criminal groups with appropriate safeguards for human rights and data protection. Mr. President, effective implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol requires that technological and operational responses be complemented by stronger victim protection systems and institutional capacities. Ghana continues to face challenges relating to the availability of specialized investigative resources, victim identification and referral mechanisms, coordinated case management, and comprehensive trafficking data systems. We therefore call for sustained needs-based technical assistance from UNODC and development partners, particularly in strengthening the capabilities of frontline enforcement officers, prosecutors, and border management. authorities, while improving access to victim support, rehabilitation, and reintegration services. Ghana further emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, timely exchange of intelligence and electronic evidence, and closer collaboration among countries of origin, transit, and destination. In this regard, strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and engagement with international partners remain essential to dismantling transnational trafficking networks and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice. Mr. President, in conclusion, Ghana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. We remain convinced that combating trafficking in persons requires a comprehensive response that addresses its root cause, embraces technological innovation, strengthens international cooperation, and places the rights, dignity, and protection of victims at the center of our collective efforts. Ghana looks forward to continued collaboration with UNODC, Member States, and other partners in translating our shared commitment into concrete, coordinated, and sustainable action Thank you, Mr. President.


President [3:28:46]:

Thank you to the delegation for Ghana. And given the time, we will need to adjourn this morning's session. Before I do so, I'd just like to say we still have the delegation for Uganda and the United Arab Emirates are still on my list, as well as some intergovernmental organizations and seven NGOs, non-governmental organizations. So I would now like to close the speakers list so that we can continue at 3:00 PM with our session with these delegations on the speakers list, and then we'll be moving on to the next item on the agenda. Thank you very much. And the secretariat also wants to make a few announcements before we adjourn.


UNODC · Secretariat [3:29:36]:

Thank you. We would just like to bring to the attention that the provisional.

List of participants is now ready and it's available on ODS.

It's also available on the web page and we have created a QR code where it is available. It was established based on the approved registration on the Indico platform. And importantly, delegations are requested to submit corrections in writing to untorq.cop@un.org or in person in the room MO123 by Friday at the latest.

We leave this on so that you can take photos.


President [3:30:13]:

And one more announcement from my colleague.


UNODC · Secretariat [3:30:17]:

Thank you very much. With reference to the next agenda item on the smuggling of migrants, I'd just like to note that UNODC will launch new research findings on the financial aspects of migrant smuggling in a side event at 2:00 p.m. today in room M3. 00 p.m. Thank you.