Adaptation and International Cooperation are Key in Efforts to Resolve Transnational Crime - focus                                                                                         ctoc

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi said that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, organized crime continues to occur, even in the health aspect, such as drug counterfeiting and cyber-attacks on vital health infrastructure. This was expressed by Minister Retno Marsudi in her speech at the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The commemoration was held virtually from the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday (13/11). The website of the Ministry of Foreign, kemlu.go.id reported that this commemoration was also attended by UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir and UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly.

Minister Retno Marsudi also said that to face the challenge of transnational organized crime, she emphasized that the first thing to understand is that the characteristics of transnational organized crime tend to differ from one country to another country. So, the approach taken must be situational. The second point is the importance of building and maintaining cooperation among countries globally. According to Minister Retno, no country can solve this problem alone, both before and amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister Retno also specifically touched on the issue of Rohingya refugees as a form of organized human smuggling and trafficking in the region. Currently, Indonesia is hosting more than 900 people who have been victims of human trafficking and stranded on the high seas. Indonesia re-emphasizes the importance of solving the Rohingya problem from the root of the problem through voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation. She also said that for Indonesia, Myanmar is the home of the Rohingya refugees.

The third point is that the approach and solution taken must continue to adapt according to the characteristics of the crime. In this regard, Minister Retno reiterated the importance of continuous adaptation so that UNTOC remains always relevant in overcoming organized transnational crime both now and in the future.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) was adopted in Palermo, Italy in 2000. The convention is the main international legal instrument regulating the problem of combating trafficking in persons, people smuggling and the illicit trade in firearms. Indonesia has been a party to the Convention since 2009. Indonesia was chosen to be one of the joint sponsors of Italy and Morocco at the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UNTOC which was initiated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The offer as the only sponsor from Asia shows international recognition for Indonesia's major role and leadership in the effort to combat transnational organized crime.