CHAPTER XVIII

PENAL MATTERS12bProtocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeNew York, 15 November 2000Entry into force28 January 2004, in accordance with article 22 which reads as follows: "1. This Protocol will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member states of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter inot force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.".Registration28 January 2004, No. 39574StatusSignatories112Parties136TextUnited Nations, <i>Treaty Series</i>, vol. 2241, p. 507; Doc. A/55/383.The Protocol was adopted by resolution A/RES/55/25 of 15 November 2000 at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. In accordance with its article 21, the Protocol will be open for signature by all States and by regional economic integration organizations, provided that at least one Member State of such organization has signed the Protocol, from 12 to 15 December 2000 at the Palazzi di Giustizia in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002.

ParticipantSignatureRatification, Acceptance(A), Approval(AA), Accession(a), Succession(d)Albania12 Dec 2000 21 Aug 2002 Algeria 6 Jun 2001 9 Mar 2004 Antigua and Barbuda17 Feb 2010 aArgentina12 Dec 2000 19 Nov 2002 Armenia15 Nov 2001 1 Jul 2003 Australia21 Dec 2001 27 May 2004 Austria12 Dec 2000 30 Nov 2007 Azerbaijan12 Dec 2000 30 Oct 2003 Bahamas 9 Apr 2001 26 Sep 2008 Bahrain 7 Jun 2004 aBarbados26 Sep 2001 Belarus14 Dec 2000 25 Jun 2003 Belgium12 Dec 2000 11 Aug 2004 Belize14 Sep 2006 aBenin17 May 2002 30 Aug 2004 Bolivia (Plurinational State of)12 Dec 2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina12 Dec 2000 24 Apr 2002 Botswana10 Apr 2002 29 Aug 2002 Brazil12 Dec 2000 29 Jan 2004 Bulgaria13 Dec 2000 5 Dec 2001 Burkina Faso15 Dec 2000 15 May 2002 Burundi14 Dec 2000 24 May 2012 Cambodia11 Nov 2001 12 Dec 2005 Cameroon13 Dec 2000 6 Feb 2006 Canada14 Dec 2000 13 May 2002 Cape Verde13 Dec 2000 15 Jul 2004 Central African Republic 6 Oct 2006 aChile 8 Aug 2002 29 Nov 2004 Congo14 Dec 2000 Costa Rica16 Mar 2001 7 Aug 2003 Croatia12 Dec 2000 24 Jan 2003 Cyprus12 Dec 2000 6 Aug 2003 Czech Republic10 Dec 2002 Democratic Republic of the Congo28 Oct 2005 aDenmark<superscript>1</superscript>12 Dec 2000 8 Dec 2006 Djibouti20 Apr 2005 aDominica17 May 2013 aDominican Republic15 Dec 2000 10 Dec 2007 Ecuador13 Dec 2000 17 Sep 2002 Egypt 1 Mar 2005 aEl Salvador15 Aug 2002 18 Mar 2004 Equatorial Guinea14 Dec 2000 Estonia20 Sep 2002 12 May 2004 Ethiopia22 Jun 2012 aEuropean Union12 Dec 2000 6 Sep 2006 AAFinland12 Dec 2000 7 Sep 2006 AFrance12 Dec 2000 29 Oct 2002 Gambia14 Dec 2000 5 May 2003 Georgia13 Dec 2000 5 Sep 2006 Germany12 Dec 2000 14 Jun 2006 Ghana21 Aug 2012 aGreece13 Dec 2000 11 Jan 2011 Grenada21 May 2004 aGuatemala 1 Apr 2004 aGuinea 8 Jun 2005 aGuinea-Bissau14 Dec 2000 Guyana16 Apr 2008 aHaiti13 Dec 2000 19 Apr 2011 Honduras18 Nov 2008 aHungary14 Dec 2000 22 Dec 2006 Iceland13 Dec 2000 India12 Dec 2002 5 May 2011 Indonesia12 Dec 2000 28 Sep 2009 Iraq 9 Feb 2009 aIreland13 Dec 2000 Italy12 Dec 2000 2 Aug 2006 Jamaica13 Feb 2002 29 Sep 2003 Japan 9 Dec 2002 Kazakhstan31 Jul 2008 aKenya 5 Jan 2005 aKiribati15 Sep 2005 aKuwait12 May 2006 aKyrgyzstan13 Dec 2000 2 Oct 2003 Lao People's Democratic Republic26 Sep 2003 aLatvia10 Dec 2002 23 Apr 2003 Lebanon26 Sep 2002 5 Oct 2005 Lesotho14 Dec 2000 24 Sep 2004 Liberia22 Sep 2004 aLibya13 Nov 2001 24 Sep 2004 Liechtenstein14 Mar 2001 20 Feb 2008 Lithuania25 Apr 2002 12 May 2003 Luxembourg12 Dec 2000 24 Sep 2012 Madagascar14 Dec 2000 15 Sep 2005 Malawi17 Mar 2005 aMali15 Dec 2000 12 Apr 2002 Malta14 Dec 2000 24 Sep 2003 Mauritania22 Jul 2005 aMauritius24 Sep 2003 aMexico13 Dec 2000 4 Mar 2003 Monaco13 Dec 2000 5 Jun 2001 Mongolia27 Jun 2008 aMontenegro<superscript>2</superscript>23 Oct 2006 dMozambique15 Dec 2000 20 Sep 2006 Myanmar30 Mar 2004 aNamibia13 Dec 2000 16 Aug 2002 Nauru12 Nov 2001 12 Jul 2012 Netherlands<superscript>3</superscript>12 Dec 2000 27 Jul 2005 ANew Zealand<superscript>4</superscript>14 Dec 2000 19 Jul 2002 Nicaragua15 Feb 2006 aNiger18 Mar 2009 aNigeria13 Dec 2000 27 Sep 2001 Norway13 Dec 2000 23 Sep 2003 Oman13 May 2005 aPanama13 Dec 2000 18 Aug 2004 Paraguay23 Sep 2008 aPeru14 Dec 2000 23 Jan 2002 Philippines14 Dec 2000 28 May 2002 Poland 4 Oct 2001 26 Sep 2003 Portugal12 Dec 2000 10 May 2004 Republic of Korea13 Dec 2000 Republic of Moldova14 Dec 2000 16 Sep 2005 Romania14 Dec 2000 4 Dec 2002 Russian Federation12 Dec 2000 26 May 2004 Rwanda14 Dec 2000 4 Oct 2006 San Marino14 Dec 2000 20 Jul 2010 Sao Tome and Principe12 Apr 2006 aSaudi Arabia10 Dec 2002 20 Jul 2007 Senegal13 Dec 2000 27 Oct 2003 Serbia12 Dec 2000 6 Sep 2001 Seychelles22 Jul 2002 22 Jun 2004 Sierra Leone27 Nov 2001 Slovakia15 Nov 2001 21 Sep 2004 Slovenia15 Nov 2001 21 May 2004 South Africa14 Dec 2000 20 Feb 2004 Spain13 Dec 2000 1 Mar 2002 Sri Lanka13 Dec 2000 St. Kitts and Nevis21 May 2004 aSt. Vincent and the Grenadines20 Nov 2002 29 Oct 2010 Suriname25 May 2007 aSwaziland 8 Jan 2001 24 Sep 2012 Sweden12 Dec 2000 6 Sep 2006 Switzerland 2 Apr 2002 27 Oct 2006 Syrian Arab Republic13 Dec 2000 8 Apr 2009 Tajikistan 8 Jul 2002 aThailand18 Dec 2001 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia12 Dec 2000 12 Jan 2005 Timor-Leste 9 Nov 2009 aTogo12 Dec 2000 28 Sep 2010 Trinidad and Tobago26 Sep 2001 6 Nov 2007 Tunisia13 Dec 2000 14 Jul 2003 Turkey13 Dec 2000 25 Mar 2003 Turkmenistan28 Mar 2005 aUganda12 Dec 2000 Ukraine15 Nov 2001 21 May 2004 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland14 Dec 2000 9 Feb 2006 United Republic of Tanzania13 Dec 2000 24 May 2006 United States of America13 Dec 2000 3 Nov 2005 Uruguay13 Dec 2000 4 Mar 2005 Uzbekistan28 Jun 2001 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)14 Dec 2000 19 Apr 2005 Zambia24 Apr 2005 aAlgeriaReservations:The Government of the Algerian People's Democratic Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 20, paragraph 2, of this Protocol, which provides that any dispute between two or more States concerning the interpretation or application of the said Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation shall, at the request of one of those States, be submitted to arbitration or referred to the International Court of Justice.The Government of the Algerian People's Democratic Republic believes that any dispute of this kind can only be submitted to arbitration or referred to the International Court of Justice with the consent of all parties to the dispute.Declarations:Ratification of this Protocol by the Algerian People's Democratic Republic in no way signifies recognition of Israel.Such ratification cannot be construed as leading to the establishment of any kind of relations with Israel.AzerbaijanDeclaration:"The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it is unable to guarantee the application of the provisions of the Protocol in the territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia until these territories are liberated from that occupation."Reservation:"In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 20 of the Protocol, the Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of Article 20."BahamasReservation:“In accordance with Article 20 paragraph 3, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas enters a specific reservation to the procedure established under Article 20 paragraph 2 of the Protocol on the basis that referral of a dispute concerning the application or interpretation of the provisions of the Protocol to arbitration or to the International Court of Justice must be by consent of all the parties to the dispute.”BahrainReservation:“... the Kingdom of Bahrain does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of article 20 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.”BelgiumUpon signature:<i>Declaration:</i>The French, Flemish and German-speaking Communities and the Regions of Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels-Capital are also bound by this signature.EcuadorDeclaration and reservation:With regard to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, the Government of Ecuador declares that migrants are the victims of illicit trafficking in persons on the part of criminal organizations whose only goal is unjust and undue enrichment at the expense of persons wishing to perform honest work abroad.The provisions of the Protocol must be understood in conjunction with the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1990, and with current international instruments on human rights.Exercising the powers referred to in article 20, paragraph 3, of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, the Government of Ecuador makes a reservation with regard to article 20, paragraph 2, relating to the settlement of disputes.El SalvadorUpon signature:<i>Reservation:</i>The Government of the Republic of El Salvador does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of article 20, inasmuch as it does not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. With regard to article 9, paragraph 2, it hereby declares that only in the event of the revision of criminal judgements shall the State, in keeping with its domestic legislation, by law compensate the victims of judicial errors that have been duly proved. With regard to article 18, it states that the return of smuggled migrants shall take place to the extent possible and within the means of the State.Upon ratification:<i>Reservation:</i>With regard to article 20, paragraph 3, the Government of the Republic of El Salvador does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article, inasmuch as it does not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.<i>Declarations:</i>With regard to article 9, paragraph 2, it hereby declares that only in the event of the revision of criminal judgements shall the State, in keeping with its domestic legislation, by law compensate the victims of judicial errors that have been duly proved.With regard to article 18, it states that the return of smuggled migrants shall take place to the extent possible and within the means of the State.EthiopiaReservation:Ethiopia does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice which is provided under Article 20(2) of the said Protocol.European UnionDeclaration:"Article 21 (3) of the Protocol provides that the instrument of accession of a regional economic integration organisation shall contain a declaration specifying the matters governed by the Protocol in respect of which competence has been transferred to the organisation by its Member States which are Parties to the Protocol.The Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, air and sea shall apply, with regard to the competences transferred to the European Community, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty, in particular Article 299 thereof and the Protocols annexed to it.This declaration is without prejudice to the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland under the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union and under the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community.This declaration is equally without prejudice to the position of Denmark under the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community.Pursuant to Article 299, this declaration is also not applicable to the territories of the Member States in which the said Treaty does not apply and is without prejudice to such acts or positions as may be adopted under the Protocol by the Member States concerned on behalf of and in the interests of those territories. In accordance with the provision referred to above, this declaration indicates the competence that the Member States have transferred to the Community under the Treaties in matters governed by the Protocol. The scope and the exercise of such Community competence are, by their nature, subject to continuous development as the Community further adopts relevant rules and regulations, and the Community will complete or amend this declaration, if necessary, in accordance with Article 21 (3) of the Protocol.The Community points out that it has competence with regard to the crossing of external borders of the Member States, regulating standards and procedures when carrying out checks on persons at such borders and rules on visas for intended stays of no more than three months. The Community is also competent for measures on immigration policy regarding conditions of entry and residence and measures to counter illegal immigration and illegal residence, including repatriation of illegal residents. Moreover, it can take measures to ensure cooperation between the relevant departments of the administrations of the Member States, as well as between those departments and the Commission, in the aforementioned areas. In these fields the Community has adopted rules and regulations and, where it has done so, it is hence solely for the Community to enter into external undertakings with third States or competent international organisations.In addition, Community policy in the sphere of development cooperation complements policies pursued by Member States and includes provisions to prevent and combat smuggling of migrants."GreeceReservation:“Article 13 of the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, without prejudice to Articles 9A of the Constitution, 19(3) of the Constitution, 8(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights, 436-457 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and 352B of the Criminal Code, as added by Article Second (12) of Law 3625/2007 (Government Gazette 290A), Law 2472/1997, as amended by Articles 8 of Law 2819/2000 (Government Gazette 84A), 10 of Law 3090/2002 (Government Gazette 329A) and Eighth of Law 3625/2007, Law 3471/2006 (Government Gazette 133A) and Presidential Decree 47/2005 (Government Gazette 64A).The Greek State makes use of Article 20(3) of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, and declares that it is not bound by para. 2 of this article.”IndonesiaDeclaration:"..., the Government of the Republic of Indonesia conveys her declaration on the provision of Article 6 paragraph (2) subparagraph c, Article 9 paragraph (1) subparagraph a, and Article 9 paragraph (2) of the Protocol [which] will have to be implemented in strict compliance with the principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state;"Reservation:"..., the Government of the Republic of Indonesia conveys her reservation not to be bound by the provision of Article 20 (2) and takes the position that disputes relating to the interpretation and application on the Protocol which have not been settled through the channel provided for in Paragraph (1) of the said Article, may be referred to the International Court of Justice only with the concern of all Parties to the dispute;"Lao People's Democratic RepublicReservation:"In accordance with paragraph 3, Article 20 of the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Lao People's Democratic Republic does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2, Article 20 of the present Protocol. The Lao People's Democratic Republic declares that to refer a dispute relating to interpretation and application of the present Protocol to arbitration or the International Court of Justice, the agreement of all parties concerned in the dispute is necessary."LithuaniaReservation:"AND WHEREAS, it is provided in paragraph 3 of Article 20 of the Protocol, the Republic of Lithuania would like to declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of Article 20, which provides that any State Party may refer any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the said Protocol to the International Court of Justice."MalawiDeclarations:"The Government of the Republic of Malawi in its efforts to curb and stamp out offences related to trafficking in persons especially women and children has embarked upon various social and legal reforms to incorporate obligations emanating from this Protocol;Further, expressly declares its acceptance of Article 20 (2) on settlement of disputes concerning interpretation and application of this Protocol in consonant with Article 20 (3)."MyanmarReservation:"The Government of the Union of Myanmar wishes to express reservation on Article 20 and does not consider itself bound by obligations to refer disputes relating to the interpretation or application of this Protocol to the International Court of Justice."Republic of MoldovaReservation and declaration :In accordance with paragraph 3 of article 20 of the Protocol, the Republic of Moldova does not consider itself bound by provisions of the paragraph 2 of article 20 of the Protocol.Until the full establishment of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, the provisions of the Protocol will be applied only on the territory controlled by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova.South AfricaReservation:"AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 20 (2) of the Protocol which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Protocol. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."Syrian Arab RepublicReservation:The Syrian Arab Republic expresses a reservation about the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, article 20, paragraph 2.Declaration:… The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic is not a party to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees referred to in the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, article [19], paragraph 1.TunisiaReservation:In ratifying the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15 November 2000, declares that it does not consider itself bound by article 20, paragraph 2, of the Protocol and affirms that disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Protocol may be referred to the International Court of Justice only after it has given its prior consent.United States of AmericaReservation:"(1) The United States of America criminalizes most but not all forms of attempts to commit the offenses established in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1 of this Protocol. With respect to the obligation under Article 6, Paragraph 2 (a), the United States of America reserves the right to criminalize attempts to commit the conduct described in Article 6, paragraph 1 (b), to the extent that under its laws such conduct relates to false or fraudulent passports and other specified identity documents, constitutes fraud or the making of a false statement, or constitutes attempted use of a false or fraudulent visa.(2) In accordance with Article 20, paragraph 3, the United States of America declares that it does not consider itself bound by the obligation set forth in Article 20, paragraph 2.".Understanding:"The United States of America understands the obligation to establish the offenses in the Protocol as money laundering predicate offenses, in light of Article 6, paragraph 2 (b) of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, as requiring States Parties whose money laundering legislation sets forth a list of specific predicate offenses to include in such list a comprehensive range of offenses associated with smuggling of migrants."Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)Reservation:The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in accordance with the provision of article 20 (3) of the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, formulates a reservation with respect to the provision established under paragraph 2 of the said article. Consequently, it does not consider itself obligated to refer to arbitration as a means of settlement of disputes, nor does it recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.Armenia<right>26 March 2012</right>“… updated data of the national competent authority designated under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto.Name of Authority: Police of the Republic of ArmeniaFull postal address: str. Nalbandyan 130Yerevan 0025Name of service to be contacted: General Department on Combat against Organized CrimeName of person to be contacted: Mr. Armen PetrosyanTitle: Police Major, Head of Division on Combat against Illegal MigrationTelephone: +374 10 523 749Fax: +374 10 564 772Email: armpet777@mail.ruOffice Hours: 09:00 to 18:00Lunch breaks: from 13:00 to 14:00GMT: +4Languages: RussianAcceptance of requests through YesINTERPOL:Formats and channels accepted: Any, for police purposes onlySpecific procedure in urgent cases: Depends on the case.”Austria<right>28 January 2008</right>Notification under article 8 (6):“FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INTERIOR–Criminal Intelligence ServiceCentral Service for Combating Illegal Immigration/Human TraffickingBUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR INNERES–BundeskriminalamtZentralstelle Bekämpfung Schlepperkriminalität/MenschenhandelJosef Holaubek Platz 1A-1090 Vienna, AustriaTel.: +43-1-24836-85383Fax: +43-1-24836-85394E-Mail: BMI-II-BK-3-6@bmi.gv.at.”7 February 2008“FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGYSupreme Navigation Authority, Dept. IV/W1BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR VERKEHR, INNOVATION UND TECHNOLOGIEOberste Schifffahrtsbehörde, Abt. IV/W1Radetzkystrasse 2A-1030 Vienna, AustriaTel.: +43-1-71162-5900Fax: +43-1-71162-5999E-Mail: w1@bmvit.gv.at”Azerbaijan"In accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 8 of the Protocol, the Republic of Azerbaijan declares that the Ministry of Transport is designated as an authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for conformation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures."BelgiumIn accordance with article 8, paragraph 6 of the supplementary Protocol, the Federal Department of the Interior, rue de Louvain 3, 1000 Brussels (for the coastline, the Maritime coordination and rescue centre) has been designated as the authority.Denmark"Authorization granted by a Danish authority pursuant to Article 8 denotes only that Denmark will abstain from pleading infringement of Danish sovereignty in connection with the requesting State's boarding of a vessel. Danish authorities cannot authorize another state to take legal action on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark."Finland"In Finland the authorities responsible for suppressing the use of vessels for smuggling of migrants by sea are the Border Guard and the National Bureau of Investigation. The authority responsible for responding to a request concerning confirmation of registry or the right of a vessel to fly the flag is the Finnish Maritime Administration."GermanyGermany designates theBundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency]Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 78D-20359 HamburgTel. :+49 (0) 40-31900Fax: +49 (0) 40-31905000as the responsible authority under Article 8, paragraph 6 of the Protocol.Guatemala<right>2 July 2007</right>Notification under article 8 (6) of the Protocol:In accordance with article 8, paragraph 6 of the Protocol, the Government of the Republic of Guatemala has designated the judiciary and the Public Prosecutor’s Office as the central authorities for the receipt of requests for mutual legal assistance, with the power either to execute them or to transmit them to the competent authorities for execution.In addition to the central authorities referred to above, the Government of the Republic of Guatemala has designated the Ministry of Defence, through the Navy, as the authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly the Guatemalan flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures.Iraq“ ... pursuant to article 8 (6) of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Iraqi authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures is the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation in cooperation with the competent Iraqi security authorities.”<right>24 May 2010</right>… in order to carry out [the] Republic of Iraq commitments under the Convention, the relevant Iraqi authorities have designated the Ministry of the Interior of Iraq as the central authority with responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance and to take action in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Convention and Article 8 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.Italy<right>17 February 2009</right>“…..the Italian Ministry of Infrastructures and Transportations has designated the “Comando Generale del Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto” (Port Authority Headquarters) as the competent authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance, confirmation of registry or the right of a vessel to fly its flag, and authorization to take appropriate measures.”Furthermore, on 17 March 2009, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations informed the Secretary-General of the following:"... a correction has been made to the English translation of the “Comando Generale del Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto” from “Port Authority Headquarters” to “Italian Coast Guard Headquarters”as the competent authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance, confirmation of registry or the right of a vessel to fly its flag, and authorization to take appropriate measures.”Latvia“In accordance with article 8, paragraph 6 of the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Republic of Latvia designates the following national authorities to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures:"<right>31 August 2010</right>"Ministry of InteriorAddress:Cierkurkalna 1st line 1, K-2Riga, LV-1026LatviaPhone: +371 67219263Fax: +371 67829686E-mail: <i>kanceleja@iem.gov.lv</i>Website: <i>http://www.iem.gov.lv</i>Malawi"The Competent Authority charged with the responsibility of coordinating and the rendering of mutual legal assistance is:The Principal SecretaryMinistry of Home Affairs and Internal SecurityPrivate Bag 331, Lilongwe 3. MALAWIFax: 265 1 789509 Tel: 265 1 789 177The Official Language of communication is English."Netherlands<right>18 January 2007</right>“The central authority of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for the Kingdom in Europe is:Ministry of JusticeDepartment of International Legal Assistance in Criminal MattersP.O. Box 203012500, EH The HagueThe Netherlands”Panama<right>13 December 2004</right>..... in accordance with article 8 (6), the Republic of Panama has designated the Maritime Authority of Panama as the authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance and for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag.Republic of MoldovaIn accordance with paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Protocol, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication is designated as a central authority responsible for receiving the requests of legal assistance referred to in this article.Romania“In accordance with Article 8 paragraph 6 of the supplementing Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, the Romanian central authority designated to receive the requests for assistance is the Ministry of Public Works, Transports and Housing (Blvd. Dinicu Golescu nr. 38, sector 1 Bucuresti, tel. 223 29 81/fax,223 0272).”Serbia<right>20 April 2009</right>“The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna ... has the honour to notify of the Serbian competent authority for the implementation of the Article 8 (Measures Against Smuggling of Migrants by Sea) of the Protocol ...The requests shall be addressed to:Name of Authority: Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of SerbiaMinistry of Infrastructure,Full postal address: 22-26 Nemanjina Street, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of SerbiaName of Service to be contacted: Department for Water Traffic and Navigation SafetyName of Person to be contacted: Mr. Veljko Kovacevic, Department for Water Traffic and Navigation SafetyTelephone: +381 11 202 90 10Fax: +381 11 202 00 01E-mail: vkpomorstvo@mi.gov.rsOffice hours: from 08:30 to 16:30Time zone: GMT 1Languages English.”South Africa"AND WHEREAS the Secretary-General is hereby notified, in accordance with Article 8 (6) of the Protocol, that the Director-General of the Department of Transport has been designated as the authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance in terms of the Protocol."St. Vincent and the Grenadines“Pursuant to article 8(6), the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would like to notify the Secretary-General of the following:Designation of Authority:Mr. Keith MillerCommissioner of PolicePoint of Contact for the Designation of the AuthorityAttention: Commissioner of Policec/o Coast Guard BaseCalliaquaP.O.Box 3020KingstownSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesTel: +1784 457 4578/4554Fax: +1784 457 4586Email: sygcoguard@vincysurf.com”Sweden"Pursuant to Article 8 (6) of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Sweden designates the Ministry of Justice, as central authority to receive and respond to requests for assistance referred to in this article.Furthermore, the Swedish Coast Guard is a designated authority to respond to requests of the right of a vessel to fly a Swedish flag. Such requests should be addressed to:NCC (National Contact Centre) Sweden at Coast Guard HQP.O.Box 536S-371 23 KARLSKRONASwedenPhone: + 46 455 35 35 35 (24 hours)Fax: + 46 455 812 75 (24 hours)E-mail:ncc.sweden@coastguard.se (24 hours)."United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<right>10 April 2006</right>"The United Kingdom has the honour to designate the Director of Detection at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs as the authority for the purposes of paragraph 6 of article 8 of the above-mentioned Protocol. Communications should be addressed as follows:Director of DetectionHer Majesty's Revenue and CustomsCustoms House20 Lower Thames StreetLondon EC3R 6EETel No: +44 (0) 870 785 3841 (office hours)+44 (0) 870 785 3600 (24 hours)Fax No: +44 (0) 870 240 3738 (24 hours)(Office house 08:00 - 18:00 GMT:0:language English)* Please note that requests in languages other than English must be accompanied by a translation in English. Please provide a name; telephone number; fax number; status and requesting authority. Please also provide details of the name of port; registry type; description of vessel; vessel port; last port of call; intended destination; persons on board; nationality (ies); details of reasons for suspicion and intended action."United Republic of Tanzania<right>23 June 2006</right>".....the notification of the designation of the necessary authority or authorities to receive and respond to request for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures under article 8 (6) of the Protocol:Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation P.O. Box 9000Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.United States of America"Pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 6 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, I request that you notify the other States concerned with the Protocol that the Operations Center, U.S. Department of State, is designated as the United States authority to receive and respond to requests made under the above-referenced provision of the Protocol."1With a territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.2See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.3For the Kingdom in Europe. Further, on 18 January 2007, the Kingom of the Netherlands informed the Secretary-General that the Protocol would apply to Aruba with the following : In accordance with article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention the central authority of Aruba is: The Procurator-General of Aruba Havenstraat 2, Oranjestad Aruba Tel: (297) 582 1415 Fax: (297) 583 8891 om.aruba@setarnet.aw Following a modification of the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (see note 2 under “Netherlands” in Historical Information), effective 10 October 2010, the Protocol applies to the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba).4With the following territorial exclusion:".....consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory....."