A/RES/71/326
Tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife
Recognizing with concern the growth in online trade and cybercrime in the
context of illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, which require innovative
strategies and increased intergovernmental cooperation, as appropriate,
Concerned about the use of forged or illegally issued permits and certificates
or the fraudulent use of authentic permits and certificates in order to misuse
domestic legal markets to mask trade in illegally obtained wildlife or wildlife
products, or to launder such illegally obtained wildlife or wildlife products,
Recognizing the legal framework provided by and the important role of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1
as the primary mechanism for regulating international trade in species of wild fauna
and flora listed in its appendices, and in this regard welcoming the relevant
resolutions and decisions adopted at the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of
the Parties to the Convention, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from
24 September to 5 October 2016,
Recognizing also the importance of other multilateral environmental
agreements, including the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of
Wild Animals, 2 the Convention on Biological Diversity, 3 the Convention concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 4 and the Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 5
Reaffirming its resolutions 69/314 of 30 July 2015 and 70/301 of 9 September
2016 on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife,
Reaffirming also its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled
“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, by which
it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and
transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2013/40 of 25 July 2013 on
crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected
species of wild fauna and flora, in which the Council encouraged Member States to
make illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora involving
organized criminal groups a serious crime,
Reaffirming that the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime 6 and the United Nations Convention against Corruption 7
constitute effective tools and an important part of the legal framework f or
international cooperation in fighting illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild
fauna and flora,
Bearing in mind that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons could be
linked to illicit trafficking in wildlife, which may pose a serious threat to national
and regional stability in some parts of Africa,
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1
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 993, No. 14537.
Ibid., vol. 1651, No. 28395.
3
Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619.
4
Ibid., vol. 1037, No. 15511.
5
Ibid., vol. 996, No. 14583.
6
Ibid., vol. 2225, No. 39574.
7
Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146.
2
2/7