Signing of the "United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime"

Japan signed the "United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime" on December 12 (Tue) at a high-level conference held in Palermo, Italy. The signatory was Mr. Kiyohiro Araki, Senior State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

The Convention was drafted by the Ad Hoc Committee established by UN resolution 53/111 of December 1998, and was adopted by the General Assembly at its Millennium meeting on November 15, 2000. The Convention obliges the State Parties to criminalize certain activities including conspiracy of a serious crime and laundering of proceeds of crime. It also provides for the confiscation of proceeds of crime, jurisdiction, extradition, and mutual legal assistance, etc. The Convention aims at establishing a global legal framework to prevent and promote the cooperation to fight against transnational organized crime.

The Heads of the G8 countries reaffirmed in G8 Communiqué during the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit in July 2000 that they would support for the adoption of the Convention by the end of this year. Japan has played a significant role in negotiations for the drafting of the Convention including its contribution in its capacity as a member of the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Committee.

The High Level Political Signing Conference is co-sponsored by the Government of Italy and the United Nations, which is attended by the President of Italy, UN Secretary-General, and also representatives from many countries including ministerial level officials.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan