A/RES/70/235
Oceans and the law of the sea
134. Recognizes that some transnational organized criminal activities threaten
legitimate uses of the oceans and endanger the lives of people at sea, as well as the
livelihoods and security of coastal communities;
135. Notes that transnational organized criminal activities are diverse and may
be interrelated in some cases and that criminal organizations are adaptive and take
advantage of the vulnerabilities of States, in particular coastal an d small island
developing States in transit areas, and calls upon States and relevant
intergovernmental organizations to increase cooperation and coordination at all
levels to detect and suppress the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and
illicit trafficking in firearms, in accordance with international law;
136. Recognizes the importance of enhancing international cooperation at all
levels to fight transnational organized criminal activities, including illicit traffic in
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, within the scope of the United Nations
instruments against illicit drug trafficking, as well as the smuggling of migrants,
trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms and criminal activities at sea
falling within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime; 58
137. Notes with grave concern the recent proliferation of, and endangerment
of lives through, the smuggling of migrants by sea, underscores the necessity to
address such situations in accordance with applicable international law, and
encourages States, acting nationally or through relevant global or regional
organizations, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance and capacity -building
to flag, port, and coastal States, upon request, to enhance their capabilities to
prevent smuggling of migrants and human trafficking by sea;
138. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties
to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,
supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime, 59 the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in
Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United
Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 60 and the Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and
Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime, 61 and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective
implementation;
139. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation, the safety of
navigation and the rights of transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage and
innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particu lar the Convention;
140. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to
the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in
particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in st raits used
for international navigation, and calls upon that Organization, States bordering
straits and user States to continue their cooperation to keep such straits safe, secure
_______________
58
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574.
Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574.
60
Ibid., vol. 2326, No. 39574.
61
Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574.
59
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