They should not be able to use one country as a safe base for committing crime in another. They should not be able to use trust law and financial havens to do the same thing by proxy in the so-called offshore jurisdictions. The United Nations has a special role to play in all this. It can mobilize political will to attack crime, including such things as the trade in illicit drugs, money laundering, and traffic in human beings. Its mission is to help achieve a safer world by attacking crime, promoting the rule of law, establishing stable systems of justice in post-conflict societies, improving cooperation against transnational organized crime, carrying out research, training police officers, judges, prosecutors, prison staff and other officials, and providing a wide range of technical assistance.
Crime is an attack on human rights.
The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is a tool to do the job better. We stand ready to assist all Member States to tackle all these issues. We are honoured to be joined by such distinguished company at the Symposium. More than fifteen ministers from various countries will address the main topics of the Convention. Each of our three sessions will include a round table discussion, where everyone will have an opportunity to express their views.