Security Council calls for regional cooperation to fight piracy in Somalia

The Security Council renewed its call today for tougher anti-piracy measures in Somalia and the wider region, urging all countries to adopt laws and cooperate with international organizations to accelerate the prosecution and punishment of piracy.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body urged countries that have not already done so to criminalize piracy under their domestic laws and to implement prosecution methods in accordance with international human rights law.

Stressing the need for cooperation between countries and international organizations, the resolution urged countries to share evidence and information to enhance the prosecution of suspects, and imprisonment of convicted pirates.

The Council emphasized that the failure to prosecute persons responsible for piracy undermines the broader anti-piracy efforts of the international community, making it crucial that all countries work to ensure that pirates are held accountable for their actions.

The resolution also emphasized the need to establish specialized anti-piracy courts in Somalia and other countries in the region, and requested the Secretary-General, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to consult with countries on the type of international assistance and participation they would need to establish the courts and make them fully operational.

The Council underscored the importance of the courts to establish authority not only over suspects captured at sea, but also over “anyone who incites or intentionally facilitates piracy operations, including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy who illicitly plan, organize, facilitate, or finance and profit from such attacks.”

In addition, the Council reiterated the need for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to work in conjunction with UNODC and UNDP to quickly address the obstacles that are impeding piracy convictions.