The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully co-hosted the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing together more than 300 participants from 60 countries.
The conference aimed to strengthen regional and international cooperation to combat online scams and address operational gaps in tackling this growing form of transnational crime. Participants included ministerial-level representatives, senior officials, international organizations, private sector stakeholders, and civil society representatives.
At the opening ceremony, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, highlighted the urgent need to enhance global cooperation in responding to online scams that are occurring on an industrial scale across borders. The UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific commended Thailand’s leadership, noting that online scams cause massive economic losses and are closely linked to other serious crimes such as human trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering. UNODC reaffirmed its continued support for the Global Partnership against Online Scams.
During the conference, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, E.A. S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, conveyed Sri Lanka’s sincere appreciation to the Government of Thailand for its crucial assistance in rescuing Sri Lankan nationals stranded in cyber scam centres in Myanmar. She underscored the importance of regional solidarity, coordinated operational responses, and international cooperation in protecting victims and addressing cyber-enabled human trafficking.
The Ambassador also outlined Sri Lanka’s national digital transformation initiatives, including GovPay, the eBMD system for overseas Sri Lankans, and the expansion of digital public services, while acknowledging the growing risks posed by the misuse of digital platforms for scams and forced criminal activity. She highlighted Sri Lanka’s strengthened legislative and institutional framework, including the Online Safety Act, Computer Crimes Act, and Personal Data Protection Act, along with 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 and victim-centred approaches, including challenges in distinguishing victims from perpetrators and ensuring timely consular assistance. The second panel examined illicit financial flows and technology-enabled crimes, stressing the critical role of the private sector, financial institutions, and social media platforms in preventing and disrupting scams.
At a working dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, the Government reaffirmed its strong political commitment to combating online scams as a top national priority, emphasizing the need for 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, marking a significant step forward in global cooperation against online scam networks.