Secretary-General, at Event in Support of Anti-piracy Trust Fund, Urges Gulf

 

Region Donors, Private Sector to Help Turn Global Concern into Action

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Patricia O’Brien, United Nations Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, to the event in support of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, in Dubai, today, 19 April:

I commend the United Arab Emirates for its leadership and strong support for regional efforts to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia, and for organizing this timely conference.  I thank all the participants.  Your initiative and commitment sends a strong signal of resolve against a security challenge that affects us all.

In January 2010, at the request of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, I established the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.  The Trust Fund is a vital financing instrument that aims to be efficient and flexible, and to have a strategic impact in the fight against piracy on land.

The Fund is governed by a Board consisting of 10 Member States from the Contact Group, on a rotating basis, and supported by the United Nations system.  It is open to a wide range of donors, including the private sector.  And it can disburse funds quickly when there is an urgent need.  The Trust Fund has two so-called windows:  Window A provides support for prosecution and detention activities, while Window B covers other activities aimed at implementing Contact Group objectives.

Since its inception, the Board has approved 12 projects totalling $4.3 million out of total contributions of about $6.2 million.  These have included initiatives to strengthen the criminal-justice and law-enforcement systems in Somalia, Kenya and Seychelles, and a media project to design and disseminate anti-piracy messages.  The Trust Fund also supports the Expedited Facility, a disbursing mechanism for urgent, time-sensitive initiatives such as prosecution-related expenses like the travel of key witnesses and repatriation flights.

To continue this vital work, the Fund needs more resources.  This is all the more important given that the Fund is expected to be the main funding instrument for the implementation of key recommendations of my former Adviser on Legal Issues related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, Jack Lang.

Today’s event is an opportunity to translate regional and global concern into action.  I urge traditional donors to continue their much appreciated support.  And I call on new donors, especially from this dynamic region, to build on their engagement and make a commitment.

I am especially encouraged by the involvement of the private sector at this conference.  Indeed, the Security Council has urged both State and non-State actors affected by piracy, most notably the international shipping community, to provide support through the Trust Fund.  This would strengthen public-private cooperation in support of counter-piracy efforts, and open up new avenues for joint work on legal issues as well as economic recovery.

Once again, I offer my sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for co-chairing this donor’s conference.  Let us all resolve to launch a new phase of support for countering the global scourge of piracy.

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For information media • not an official record