Editor's Review

Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria, Edwin Afande, has been elected Vice-President of the 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP13).

Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria, Edwin Afande, has been elected Vice-President of the 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP13).

The election placed Afande in a leadership position at the international conference, which opened in Vienna on Monday, October 19.

According to the Kenya Embassy to Austria, the biennial meeting provides an important platform for countries to review their commitments and coordinate efforts to address organized crime across borders.

"Convened biennially, the weeklong session brings States Parties together to Review progress in implementation of the Convention and strengthen global action against transnational organized crime," the mission said.

The embassy also highlighted the country's priorities in implementing the convention and its protocols, with Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Principal Secretary Judith Pareno delivering Kenya's country statement at the conference.

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File image of Edwin Afande

Pareno emphasized the importance of collective commitment among participating states, particularly in strengthening international cooperation, financial intelligence, asset recovery, human rights protection and regional collaboration.

"Pareno delivered the country statement underscoring the need for renewed collective commitment to effective implementation of the Convention and its Protocols, prioritizing among others, international cooperation, financial intelligence and asset recovery, human rights and regional cooperation," the mission added.

This comes months after Kenya was elected to the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the 2027-2030 term during the 31st Session of the ISA Assembly held in Kingston, Jamaica. 

The appointment places Kenya among the countries responsible for contributing to the work of the ISA Council, which oversees the regulation and management of mineral-related activities in the international seabed area under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In a statement on Saturday, August 1, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei said the election demonstrates the trust the international community has placed in Kenya's commitment to global ocean governance and sustainable management of marine resources.

"This election reflects the confidence of the international community in Kenya's longstanding commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); rules-based ocean governance; sustainable management of the common heritage of humankind; and advancing maritime scientific research, and an equitable and inclusive stewardship of the world's oceans," the statement read.

Sing'Oei affirmed that Kenya will continue working with member states of the International Seabed Authority to implement commitments made during key global blue economy conferences hosted by the country.

"Kenya will remain committed ensuring that the outcomes of the Nairobi Sustainable Blue Economy Conference and, the Mombasa Eleventh Our Ocean Conference - the first ever Our Ocean Conference held in the African region - are implemented in close partnership with ISA members, and in line with UNCLOS mandate," the statement added.