The Home and Cultural Affairs Minister introduced the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) in the National Council today. The Minister said once Bhutan becomes a member of the convention, it will help strengthen national measures and boost international cooperation in preventing and combating the trafficking of persons and transnational crimes.
Introducing the Convention, the Home Minister said Bhutan is among the only few countries that have not ratified the convention. 190 countries have already ratified the convention. The minister said the convention’s ratification will indicate Bhutan’s commitment to international rules and regulations.
The minister further added that the ratification is also in line with Bhutan’s current global Trafficking in Persons Report. Bhutan is currently placed in tier two. As per the report, countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards fall under tier two.
“If we don’t ratify the convention, Bhutan will drop down to tier three. This will affect Bhutan in availing of grants and loans from international financial institutions. Experts view that ratifying the convention is one of the wise decisions for the country’s security and sovereignty,” said the Home Minister.
The National Council members said ratifying the convention is timely. The members said the convention’s ratification will help Bhutanese studying and working abroad.
“With the ratification of the convention, it will help create a safe and conducive working environment for Bhutanese working in different parts of the world. According to the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Report, there are more than 15,900 Bhutanese working in 88 countries,” said Sonam Pelzom, Monggar MP.
The National Assembly ratified the Convention during the summer session this year.
The house will deliberate and ratify the convention in the coming days.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
