Philippines to participate in the IWT Conference in the UK
The UK Government through the FCO, DFID and DEFRA is hosting the 4th Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference to be held in London on 11 to 12 October 2018.
Philippines to participate in the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in the UK
The UK Government through the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is hosting the 4th Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference to be held at the Evolution Centre in Battersea Park, London on 11 to 12 October 2018. This year’s conference will recognise the illegal wildlife trade as a security issue, affecting people as well as animals. It also aims to strengthen partnerships and build coalitions across borders and beyond government. It will focus on three themes, namely: (i) Tackling the illegal wildlife trade as a serious organised crime: strengthening end to end law enforcement and addressing associated corruption; (ii) Building coalitions: engaging the private sector, NGOs and academia; harnessing technology and innovation; and (iii) Closing markets for illegally traded wildlife, which will be discussed in plenary and break-out sessions.
The participants are expected to share and highlight country initiatives and showcase best practices on enhanced law enforcement and effective collaborative action to combat illegal wildlife trade. The conference will bring together global leaders who are committed to take action on illegal wildlife trade to better protect the world’s most iconic species from the threat of extinction.
The Philippine delegates to the Conference will be led by Congresswoman Josephine Ramirez-Sato together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Their participation is expected to be translated into strong government support including concrete action plans, policies and programs that will help address illegal wildlife trade and other related activities in the Philippines.
British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said:
The UK is committed and determined to combat illegal wildlife trade, as it is among the most serious crimes, with drugs, arms and human trafficking.
Congresswoman Ramirez-Sato said:
The Philippines is undertaking the “Bayanihan” or whole-of-government approach to fast-track the approval of the Revised Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (HB 8320) which I principally authored and the Executive Order creating the National Anti-Wildlife Crime Council drafted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection, in coordination with various agencies including the DENR, is for signature of President Duterte. These efforts will highlight the Bayanihan of the different branches of the government and the private sector to achieve the twin objectives of combatting illegal wildlife trade and conserving Philippine biodiversity.
The illegal wildlife trade, as a mutual concern between the Governments of the Philippines and the UK, is expected to remain a priority area of support.
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