The United Nations General Assembly
on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution supported by 70
nations including Italy against the trafficking, poaching and
illegal trade in wildlife.
Such crimes are organized internationally, and contribute
to the financing of criminal organizations and armed conflicts,
the resolution said.
The approval came shortly after American dentist Walter
James Palmer killed a 13-year-old protected lion named Cecil who
was the symbol of Hwange national park in Zimbabwe, sparking an
international outcry.
The dentist reportedly admitted he killed the lion, but
said he thought it was legal to do so.
The resolution promoted by Gabon and Germany calls on
countries to "take decisive steps on the national level to
prevent, combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wild
animals".
"The resolution marks a new phase in the fight against
crime that damages wildlife - a threat that not only affects
countless species, but also puts the national security and
sustainable development of entire countries at risk," said World
Wildlife Fund Director-General Marco Lambertini.
As of 2016, the UN secretary general will be tasked with
making a yearly report on crimes against wildlife and
implementation of the resolution in the various signatory
countries, as well as making recommendations for further action.
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