Delivered by: Saeed Al Dhaheri, Counsellor/Police Adviser

Mr. President,

I would like to begin by thanking Assistant Commissioner Adriana Polaz for her presentation in the name of the co-facilitators and main sponsors of the draft resolution A/77/L.20, on “cooperation between the United Nations and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)”.

We thank Canada for their collaboration in co-facilitating the consultations on the draft resolution with the UAE. We also thank INTERPOL and the delegations which participated in and supported the negotiations, as well as those which have co-sponsored the draft resolution.

 The UAE would like to echo the importance of the draft resolution for welcoming the collaboration between the United Nations and INTERPOL. As the only international law enforcement policing organization with a global character, INTERPOL plays an indispensable role in supporting states and linking national police forces to each other through its global network.

Building on our collective achievements, I would like to emphasize the following key elements:

First, the work of INTERPOL is important for helping to combat new and evolving threats, including from criminal and terrorist groups. The international community must work together and with INTERPOL to prevent the flow of weapons and technology, such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), to such groups. We are pleased that the draft resolution addresses this issue. As new technology becomes more accessible to terrorists and organized criminal groups, making it easier for them to launch attacks and traffic drugs, for example. To this end, we strongly encourage the international community to update its efforts to effectively prevent and respond to the acquisition and use of unmanned aerial systems and other weapons for criminal and terrorist purposes.

The UAE is also concerned about the increasing risks of cybercrime and the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes. Organized crime groups and terrorists are taking advantage of the shift in digital connections across the world to target fragility in networked systems and infrastructure. The UAE stresses the importance of increased coordination between the UN, INTERPOL, and Member States in combating cybercrime.

Second, an all-inclusive response from law enforcement agencies is required to strengthen maritime security, which is impacted by a broad range of traditional and non-traditional challenges – including piracy, armed robbery, terrorism, as well as transnational organized crime against ships at sea, including the trafficking of humans and weapons, and crimes in the maritime and fisheries sectors. The UAE encourages law enforcement agencies to make full use of INTERPOL’s capabilities, including the Global Maritime Security Database, to prevent and combat illicit maritime activities.

Third, it is important to increase collaboration between the UN and INTERPOL, which enables the development of joint programs and initiatives to maximize synergies and promote greater efficiency.

Mr. President,

The negative impact of transnational financial crime is being felt from across the globe, and with technological advancement, it has taken a different magnitude. The UAE acknowledges the importance of the use of Notices and Diffusion to circulate details of new and existing crime trends, as well as INTERPOL’s Global Stop Payment Mechanism.

Finally, ensuring a continued international focus on gender-responsive law enforcement remains a priority of the UAE. We strongly encourage initiatives that will deepen cooperation between the UN and INTERPOL to advance and mainstream gender perspectives in law enforcement as well as efforts to increase the number of uniformed policewomen. I am pleased to announce that, just last week, the latest cohort of women cadets from Africa, Asia and the Arab region graduated from the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace, and Security Initiative in the UAE. The Initiative continues to contribute to gender-responsive security sectors around the world.

In closing, I would like to thank all delegations for their constructive approach, which helped the co-facilitators achieve consensus on the text reflected in the draft resolution. That positive outcome is the result of considerable preparatory work, including by INTERPOL, and a lot of outreach and informal discussions, beyond the negotiating room, to bridge gaps. We believe that the successful result demonstrates the UN Membership’s belief that INTERPOL will continue to be a vital partner for the UN as we all work to deliver on the UN’s mandate to create a safer world. Along this line, we hope that the draft resolution will be adopted by consensus.

Thank you.