The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DAFF) said on Thursday, it welcomes the adoption of a resolution at the Thirteenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
The meeting is held in Vienna, Austria.
The resolution plans to address illicit trafficking in wildlife and timber, illegal mining and illicit trafficking in minerals precious metals and illicit trafficking in waste.
South Africa co-sponsored and adopted 87.37% of votes cast in favour, of the resolution, which establishes a process to elaborate on an additional Protocol to UNTOC.
The Department said “the achievement reflects a coordinated South African effort involving the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the South African Police Service (SAPS), and marks an important step forward in strengthening the global response to transnational environmental crime.”
Picture: Supplied