Enhancing dialogue and promoting cooperation between ASEAN and UNODC
WVR - On June 19, in Vienna (Austria), the ASEAN Committee in Vienna (ACV), comprising Ambassadors and Chargé d'Affaires from eight member countries—Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, and Singapore—held a meeting with Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
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| Overview of the meeting between the ASEAN Committee in Vienna and Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Austria) |
This was the first official meeting between ASEAN Ambassadors in Vienna and Juma since she assumed the position of Executive Director of UNODC in May 2026. The meeting took place as UNODC is formulating strategic directions for the upcoming period to enhance its effectiveness in addressing increasingly complex global challenges related to transnational organized crime, drugs, corruption, human trafficking, and cybercrime.
Speaking at the meeting, Juma praised ASEAN's role and positive contributions to the international community's joint efforts in combating transnational crime and promoting multilateral cooperation.
She affirmed that ASEAN is one of UNODC's important partners and acknowledged ASEAN's outstanding achievements in establishing regional cooperation mechanisms, promoting policy dialogue, and implementing practical initiatives to address non-traditional security challenges.
The UNODC Executive Director particularly thanked the Government of Vietnam for successfully hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime in Hanoi.
She emphasized that this is a significant milestone in the international community's efforts to establish a global legal framework to effectively prevent and combat high-tech crimes, while also appreciating Vietnam's active and responsible role in promoting multilateralism and contributing to the development of international law.
Juma confirmed that Southeast Asia remains one of UNODC's priority regions as the area faces increasingly severe challenges such as synthetic drugs, cybercrime, online fraud, human trafficking, money laundering, and activities of transnational organized crime networks.
ASEAN countries affirmed that ASEAN values its strong partnership with UNODC and appreciates the practical support UNODC has provided to the region in recent times. They expressed a desire to continue enhancing cooperation in the region's priority areas, particularly in combating cybercrime, online fraud, human trafficking, synthetic drugs, and protecting children in cyberspace. They also requested that UNODC maintain regular dialogue with ASEAN Ambassadors in Vienna and support the effective implementation of capacity-building programs and strengthen connections between UNODC and ASEAN cooperation mechanisms.
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| Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang speaking at the meeting. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Austria) |
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang stated that Vietnam highly appreciates UNODC's support for ASEAN and the region, and suggested that UNODC continue to prioritize capacity-building programs, technical support, and effectively promote the implementation of international legal instruments on combating transnational crime.
Vietnam also emphasized the importance of a people-centered approach and raising international community awareness about the essential role of the United Nations in addressing current global challenges.
Juma agreed on the determination to closely coordinate with Vietnam and other relevant partners to soon realize the initiative to establish the Asia-Pacific Regional Training Center on Cybercrime Prevention, contributing to enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and judicial agencies in the region to effectively respond to the increasing challenges posed by cybercrime.
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| Monica Juma and the Ambassadors pose for a group photo after the meeting. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Austria) |
The meeting took place in an open, substantive, and constructive atmosphere. The parties agreed to continue maintaining regular dialogue and enhancing coordination between UNODC and ASEAN and its member countries to more effectively address non-traditional security challenges, contributing to peace, stability, security, and sustainable development in the region and globally.
(Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Austria)
