Vienna, October 20 (QNA) - The State of Qatar affirmed that addressing transactional organized crime requires strengthening international cooperation, upholding multilateralism, and effectively implementing relevant international agreements, given the growing complexity of those crimes and their entanglement with corruption, drugs, money laundering and terrorism.

This came during the State of Qatar's speech, delivered by HE Head of Qatar's Delegation, Dr. Abdullah Al Mal, before the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), held in Vienna.

His Excellency stressed that the increasingly transnational nature of crime, its growing level of organization, and its links to other forms of criminal activity pose a major challenge to national and collective security, undermine sustainable development and the rule of law, and threaten the security of states, adding that effectively addressing these threats requires coordinated responses, stronger multilateral cooperation, and the proper implementation of international conventions, foremost among them the UNTOC.

Through its institutions and agreements, multilateralism provides a framework for coordination and cooperation in addressing shared threats, he noted, describing it as the bulwark that unites peoples and preserves humanity.

HE Head of Qatar's Delegation highlighted the progress made through international cooperation in implementing the convention and its protocols since the previous session, as well as the achievements outlined in the reports submitted to the current session by the UNODC.

In the context of confronting emerging threats, His Excellency pointed out that Qatar was among the first countries to ratify the UN Convention against Cybercrime, urging other countries to sign and ratify the treaty to facilitate its entry into force as soon as possible and strengthen collective capacity to combat cybercrime.

He pointed out the growing international awareness over the past two years of the risks posed by crimes affecting the environment and the illicit trafficking of cultural property, underscoring the importance of international conferences in strengthening cooperation to combat organized crime and related offenses.

His Excellency highlighted Qatar's efforts to deepen its engagement with the international legal framework for combating organized crime, noting that the country had acceded to the Convention and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, and subsequently joined the Protocols against the Smuggling of Migrants and the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms in March 2026.

At the national level, he highlighted Qatar's achievements in consolidating its position among the world's safest and most stable countries, attributing these achievements to a comprehensive approach to crime prevention that combines preventive measures, enhanced training and capacity-building for law enforcement institutions, greater community participation, and efforts to strengthen public trust, social cohesion, and the values of citizenship and belonging.

HE Head of Qatar's Delegation reaffirmed his country's pride in its longstanding partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), noting that Qatar's hosting of the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2015, which culminated in the adoption of the Doha Declaration, was followed by an agreement with UNODC to implement a global program aimed at translating the Declaration's commitments into practical measures and projects to prevent crime and strengthen the rule of law.

He also highlighted Qatar's cooperation with the UNODC in establishing the Regional Center for Combating Cybercrime in Doha, which was inaugurated in 2023, pointing out that the center continues to provide capacity-building, training, research and innovation services to countries across the region and the developing world.

Qatar remains committed to supporting UNODC and its activities, Dr. Al Mal noted, adding that it was among the first countries to support the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons. He affirmed Qatar's readiness to continue working closely with the Office under its new leadership, particularly in capacity-building and technical assistance, with a focus on developing and least developed countries.

HE Head of Qatar's Delegation concluded his speech by emphasizing that enabling UNODC to continue providing technical assistance and strengthening the capacities of member states to support the effective implementation of the Convention requires adequate financial and administrative resources to ensure that it can fulfill its mandate effectively, affirming that investing in crime prevention is an investment in future generations, peace and the well-being of all. (QNA)