South Sudan ratifies two UN treaties on drugs and organised crime – Sudans Post

JUBA – South Sudan’s parliament on Wednesday ratified two United Nations treaties aimed at combating illicit drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.

The National Transitional Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has adopted the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 and their protocols.

The treaties were submitted to parliament in June by Justice Minister Ruben Madol after being approved by the cabinet.

Oliver Mori Benjamin, chairman of the parliamentary committee on information and communications, called the move an important step for South Sudan in tackling global crime problems.

“The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 was thoroughly discussed in the House and after thorough deliberation it was ratified by the 1988 Convention,” Benjamin told reporters.

He said the convention on transnational organised crime would help South Sudan combat transnational criminal activities.

“The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol. This deals with organized crimes by the state and people who commit these crimes go to other countries to commit them,” Benjamin said.

“Sometimes when they are asked to be taken back to countries, they committed these crimes, certain countries would not allow that. This is very important after South Sudan joined this treaty, it became the 193rd country in the world and so this is a very important step for South Sudan as a member of the UN to tackle transnational crimes all over the world,” he added.

The 1988 Drug Trafficking Convention provides a framework for international cooperation in combating the production, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs.

The 2000 Convention on Organised Crime focuses on preventing and combating transnational organised crime through measures such as extradition, mutual legal assistance and asset recovery.