UN council debates spread of piracy
20 Nov 2012 12:28 AM GMT
Centuries after piracy was recognized as the first international crime against humanity, its spread around the world has prompted the UN Security Council's first debate on Monday on piracy's rise as a threat to world peace and security.
In the past, the council has focused on various regional outbreaks of the scourge. But piracy has been metastasizing worldwide with hotspots off Somalia, in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa and in Southeast Asia.
On Monday's Security Council debate was called by the council's president, Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, representing a country that has many sailors held hostage by modern pirates. Seven per cent of all maritime workers are Indian nationals.
The Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau, which tracks pirate attacks, reported 252 attacks worldwide for the year as of late October. Nine ships were being held for ransom off Somalia at that time with 154 hostages.
In the past, the council has focused on various regional outbreaks of the scourge. But piracy has been metastasizing worldwide with hotspots off Somalia, in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa and in Southeast Asia.
On Monday's Security Council debate was called by the council's president, Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, representing a country that has many sailors held hostage by modern pirates. Seven per cent of all maritime workers are Indian nationals.
The Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau, which tracks pirate attacks, reported 252 attacks worldwide for the year as of late October. Nine ships were being held for ransom off Somalia at that time with 154 hostages.
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