MEXICO ATTENDS THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

• Mexico introduced a resolution on the implementation and promotion of the Palermo Protocol on the illicit arms trade, which was adopted by consensus.

The sixth session of the Conference of the States Parties (6th COP) to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Convention, was held in Vienna, Austria, from October 15-19. Mexico was represented at the meeting by senior officials.

The Palermo Convention establishes the most up-to-date global legal and regulatory standards for how its States Parties can prevent, criminalize, deal domestically and cooperate to fight the activities of transnational criminal organizations. The treaty has three additional protocols that address crimes such as trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling and trafficking in firearms and ammunition.

Currently, the Palermo Convention has 172 States Parties (countries that have ratified or acceded to the treaty and are legally bound by its contents). Mexico has been a party to the Convention since 2003.

The Conference of the Parties to the Palermo Convention meets every two years. This year, the Parties reviewed the progress that has been made in implementing the treaty and its protocols. To facilitate implementation, the States Parties discussed adoption of a review mechanism to evaluate the ability of each country to comply with the treaty and to determine the amount of international aid it needs to do so.

Mexico chaired the meetings of the working group that has been defining the main features of the mechanism since 2010. However, no consensus was reached on funding nor on the participation of civil society in the mechanism.

During the 6th COP, Mexico introduced a resolution on implementation and promotion of the Palermo Protocol on the illicit trafficking of firearms, explosives and ammunition. The resolution was co-sponsored by the Latin American and Caribbean countries, Italy and the United States and adopted by consensus.

Mexico’s delegation was headed by Interior Secretary Alejandro Poire and including officials and specialists from the Attorney General’s office and the Ministries of Public Security and Foreign Affairs.