The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully hosted the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok, Thailand. This conference aimed to bolster and complement ongoing regional and international efforts to combat online scams while enhancing global collaboration to address operational gaps in tackling this complex transnational crime. The event gathered over 300 participants from 60 countries, including ministerial-level representatives, senior officials, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
During the opening ceremony, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced global cooperation in combating online scams that occur on an industrial scale across borders. The UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific praised Thailand’s leadership, noting that online scams cause significant economic losses and are closely linked to other serious crimes, including human trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering. UNODC reaffirmed its commitment to support the Global Partnership against Online Scams.
At the Conference, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, E.A. S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Government of Thailand for its crucial assistance in rescuing Sri Lankan nationals stranded in cyber scam centers in Myanmar. She highlighted the importance of regional solidarity, coordinated operational responses, and international cooperation in protecting victims and addressing cyber-enabled human trafficking. The Ambassador also underscored Sri Lanka’s national digital transformation agenda, which includes initiatives like GovPay, the eBMD system for overseas Sri Lankans, and expanded digital public services. She acknowledged the growing risks from the misuse of digital platforms for scams and forced criminality and outlined the country’s strengthened legislative and institutional responses, including the Online Safety Act, Computer Crimes Act, and Personal Data Protection Act, alongside coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies, Sri Lanka CERT, and anti-human trafficking mechanisms.
The Conference featured a High-Level Segment and two thematic panel discussions. The first panel focused on justice responses from investigation to prosecution, emphasizing human rights-based, victim-centered approaches and addressing challenges such as distinguishing victims from perpetrators and ensuring timely consular assistance. The second panel examined tracking illicit financial flows and technology-enabled crimes, highlighting the crucial role of the private sector, financial institutions, and social media platforms in scam prevention and disruption. During a working dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, the Government’s strong political will to combat online scams was reaffirmed as a top national priority requiring collective international action.
The Conference concluded with the adoption of the 2025 Bangkok Joint Statement by the Global Partnership against Online Scams, co-sponsored by Peru, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and TikTok.
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