[Shabelle] In calling upon members of the international community to bring domestic piracy legislation up to speed with the applicable international law Monday, the UN Security Council urged states to consider prosecuting and imprisoning pirates and their enablers.
Acknowledging the improved numbers, the Security Council lauded cooperation between states. Still, it urged the imperative of more teamwork in combatting the issue: "The Security Council stresses the need for a comprehensive response by the international community to repress piracy and tackle its underlying causes for a durable eradication of piracy and armed robbery at sea and illegal activities connected therewith."
The presidential statement issued as the outcome of a Security Council meeting on piracy is replete with mentions of prosecution. The international community has grappled in recent years with how best to extinguish the threat of modern piracy. Confusion has prevailed over who can -- and perhaps more importantly, who should -- exercise jurisdiction over acts of piracy. |