The remarks were made at a meeting on June 19 in Vienna, Austria, between the ASEAN Committee in Vienna (ACV) and Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The ACV comprises ambassadors and chargés d’affaires from eight ASEAN member states-Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Singapore.
The meeting marked the first formal engagement between ASEAN ambassadors in Vienna and Juma since she assumed office in May 2026. It came as UNODC is shaping strategic priorities for the time ahead to improve its response to increasingly complex global challenges related to transnational organised crime, drugs, corruption, human trafficking and cybercrime.
Juma hailed ASEAN’s role and active contributions to global efforts to combat transnational crime and advance multilateral cooperation. She highlighted ASEAN as one of UNODC’s key partners and acknowledged the bloc’s notable achievements in building regional cooperation mechanisms, advancing policy dialogue and implementing practical initiatives to resolve non-traditional security challenges.
Juma also thanked the Vietnamese Government for successfully hosting the opening ceremony for the signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi. She described the event as an important milestone in international efforts to establish a global legal framework for preventing and combating high-tech crimes, while commending Vietnam’s active and responsible role in promoting multilateralism and contributing to the development of international law.
She noted that Southeast Asia remains one of UNODC’s priority regions as it faces increasingly serious challenges, including synthetic drugs, cybercrime, online scams, human trafficking, money laundering and activities by transnational organised crime networks.
ASEAN member states reaffirmed the importance they attach to their partnership with UNODC and expressed appreciation for the agency’s practical support for the region. They called for closer coordination in priority areas, particularly cybercrime, online fraud, human trafficking, synthetic drugs and child protection in cyberspace.
The member states also proposed maintaining regular dialogue between UNODC and ASEAN ambassadors in Vienna, while continuing support for capacity-building programmes and stronger linkages between UNODC and ASEAN cooperation mechanisms.
In his address, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang said Vietnam values UNODC’s support for ASEAN and the region, and urged UNODC to continue prioritising capacity-building programmes, technical assistance and the effective implementation of international legal instruments against transnational crime.
The nation also underscored the importance of a people-centred approach and raising international awareness of the United Nations’ essential role in addressing current global challenges.
Juma affirmed her commitment to working closely with Vietnam and relevant partners to promote the initiative to establish an Asia-Pacific regional training centre on cybercrime prevention and control. The centre will help build the capacity of law enforcement and judicial agencies across the region to respond more effectively to growing cybercrime threats.
The meeting took place in an open, constructive and substantive atmosphere. Participants agreed to maintain regular dialogue and boost coordination between UNODC, ASEAN and member states to better address non-traditional security challenges and contribute to peace, stability, security and sustainable development in the region and beyond.
Vietnam pushes for closer cooperation with UNODC on crime prevention
VOV.VN – Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to closer cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) during a meeting in Vienna on May 13 with Monica Kathina Juma following her assumption of office as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director of the UNODC.
UNODC-Vietnam cooperation marks milestone at historic Convention signing
VOV.VN – Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations and other international organisations in Vienna (Austria) recently held a farewell meeting with Ghada Waly as she concluded her tenure as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the UN Office in Vienna.
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