The NTS Mekong Watch project team met with UNODC to discuss to collaborative on comprehensive security border management to address non traditional security in the future.

The NTS Mekong Watch project team met with UNODC to discuss  to collaborative  on comprehensive security border management to address non traditional security in the future. 

March 19, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., under the directive of Ms. Wijaraporn Amatayakul, Director of the Technical Services and Planning Bureau at the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), Ms. Sukhumal Wiriyothin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Division, was assigned to leads the project team of ‘Enhancing people-to-people connectivity to address Non-Traditional Security in the Mekong Region’ (NTS-Mekong Watch) meeting with Ms. Valentina Pancieri, Law Enforcement Expert Border Management and Ms. Suchaya Mokkhasen, Border Management Programme Officer for Thailand at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The discussion was constructive, exchanging missions and projects being driven especially for the NTS-Mekong Watch project aimed at developing participatory cross-border management to address and cope with NTS. It focuses on building strong cross-border communities to create proximity to prevent and monitor various transnational crimes, such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

UNODC acknowledged that the project aligns with its mission, emphasizing community involvement in vigilance and prevention of new security threats robustly. This is achieved through the Border Liaison Office (BLO), which collaborates with target district offices consistently. The project also supports the work of the Village Security teams, who are crucial personnel in safeguarding border communities from various transnational crimes.

Both NTS- Mekong Watch and UNODC agree on the need for future collaboration to sustain momentum and engagement in the area. There will be further coordination and discussions on detailed plans moving forward.