UN Urges Nations to Respond to Piracy

On Tuesday the United Nations Security Council reiterated calls for a comprehensive global response to piracy at sea.

The Security Council condemned the attacks and robberies off the coast of Somali despite increased operations in the area. Member states and organizations were called to use their full capacity to fight piracy in accordance with international laws, including the deployment of naval ships, arms and military aircraft to deter attacks and apprehend pirates and their equipment.

The Council also urged members to prosecute not just the pirates committing crimes at sea but all those involved in the facilitation of piracy, including organizers and financers. States were told to make all acts associated with piracy, including laundering money earned from acts of piracy, unlawful under domestic law.

The cooperation of UN states and Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government has been extended another year, to allow UN States to enter Somalia's territorial waters to fight piracy and use all necessary means to thwart the attacks.

Tuesday’s resolution also calls on States to work in accordance with Interpol and Europol to investigate the criminal networks supporting piracy.

In October the UN said that despite major efforts to combat piracy off Somalia, the threat has expanded and pirates have become more violent. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 316 people and 15 vessels were being held hostage as of early October 2011.

The UN also noted that links found between piracy and the Al-Shabaab Islamist insurgent group “were a cause for concern.”

Oceans Beyond Piracy, a One Earth Future private foundation, says the cost of Counter-Piracy efforts in 2010 were $24.5 million USD.  With the total macroeconomic costs at $1.25 billion USD.

According to the EUNAVFOR, 10 vessels are currently being held by pirates and an estimated 243 hostages are being held captive.