Incidents in Asia have closely doubled, while West Africa, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the South China Sea, were the most affect areas, she said .
The “ unprecedented ” levels of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, and more recently in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, were besides particularly concerning .
Growing interlinked threats
“ Maritime insecurity is besides compounding the terrorist terror emerging from the Sahel, ” Ms. Viotti told ambassadors.
“ These growing and interconnect threats call for a rightfully ball-shaped and incorporate response. A reception that addresses these challenges directly arsenic well as their settle causes – including poverty, a miss of alternative livelihoods, insecurity, and weak government structures. ”
Maritime security is besides being undermined by challenges around contest boundaries and seafaring routes, and depletion of natural resources through illegal or unreported fishing, Ms. Viotti added .
She said the meet, held via videoconference, was a chance to farther boost ball-shaped military action on a vital but building complex emergence as all countries are affected, whether they are coastal or landlocked .
‘Shared global commons’
The open debate was organized by India, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month .
For the state ’ s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, oceans are “ our shared ball-shaped commons ” and the “ line of life ” of international barter. The UN estimates that more than three billion people global, chiefly in developing countries, depend on the ocean for their support and wellbeing .
“ however, today this common nautical heritage of ours faces respective types of threats, ” said Mr. Modi. “ Maritime routes are being misused for plagiarism and terrorism. There are nautical disputes between respective countries. And climate change and lifelike disasters are besides challenges to the nautical domain. ”
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From commitment to action
Ms. Viotti highlighted legal instruments that uphold nautical security, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea .
“ But this framework is merely a strong as countries ’ commitment to full and effective implementation, ” she stressed. “ We need to translate commitment into action. ”
The UN has welcomed moves by the international community to strengthen cooperation on maritime security. The Organization besides supports regional initiatives, including to fight plagiarism off the coast of Somalia and to try and cut down on the armed looting of ships in Asia .
Global programme afloat
Ghada Waly, Executive Director at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) reported that a 2009 plan, initially established to address the Somali piracy terror, is now its largest first step, with a budget that has grown from $ 300,000 to over $ 230 million .
The Global Maritime Crime Programme encompasses some 170 personnel based in 26 countries who provide capacity building and corroborate for legal reform, simulated trials and maritime train centres.
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“ Yet, the challenges to maritime security continue to grow, and our responses must keep up, ” said Ms. Waly .
The UN agency head encouraged the Security Council to take carry through towards implementing the associate legal framework, build capabilities, expanding partnerships and promoting crime prevention reply. She underscored the want to reduce vulnerabilities .
“ Pirates, criminals, and terrorists exploit poverty and desperation to seek recruits, reach support, and find shelter. To counter these threats, we need to raise awareness and educate people, particularly youth, while providing alternative livelihoods and defend for local businesses, ” said Ms. Waly .
