5 March 2013: Ministers and high-level government representatives convened on 4 March in Bangkok in a roundtable on the sidelines of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 16) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to address illicit trade in wildlife and forest products.

Representatives from over 30 countries, as well as observers from international organizations, shared their experiences in addressing wildlife crime. Ministers recognized the serious nature of transnational organized wildlife and forest crime and its impacts on species, livelihoods, economies, regional security and human lives. They reaffirmed the commitment of their countries to combat this issue and the importance of comprehensive action across range, transit and consumer States. The event was hosted by ICCWC, with support from Sweden. [CITES News][IISD RS summary of ICCWC partners meeting]