The Indonesian Foreign Minister Highlights Trans-Border Crime During The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi highlighted the continued occurrence of cross-border crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, even in the health aspects such as drug counterfeiting and cyber attacks on vital health infrastructure.

He conveyed this in his speech at the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) which was held virtually from United Nations Headquarters in New York, Friday, November 13.

To face the challenges of transnational organized crime, Retno emphasized the importance of building and maintaining cooperation between countries globally.

"No country can solve this problem alone, not before and not during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said as conveyed in a statement by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by Antara, Saturday, November 14.

Then, Retno also expressed her view that there is no one-size fits all solution that can address all types of organized crime.

According to him, the characteristics of transnational organized crime tend to be different from one country to another, so the approach taken must be situational.

Retno explained that the approach and solution taken must continue to experience adjustments according to the characteristics of the crime.

In this case, Rento re-emphasizes the importance of continuous adaptation so that UNTOC remains always relevant in overcoming organized transnational crime both now and in the future.

In particular, Foreign Minister Retno also touched on the problem of Rohingya refugees as a form of organized human smuggling and trafficking in the region.

Indonesia currently hosts more than 900 people who have been victims of human trafficking and displaced on the high seas.

Therefore, he said, Indonesia again emphasized the importance of solving the Rohingya problem from the root of the problem through voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation.

"For Indonesia, Myanmar is a home for Rohingya refugees," said Retno.

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 selected to be one of the joint sponsors with Italy and Morocco at the 20th anniversary event 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 of Indonesia's role and leadership in the effort to combat transnational organized crime.

The commemoration was also attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir, and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.