Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa during her address to the United Nations General Assembly condemned international terrorism and violent extremism.

In her address on the weekend, Fiame stated that they want a future of peaceful societies, free from conflict, and the threat of terrorism.

“We condemn all acts of international terrorism and violent extremism which must be dealt with through international cooperation and in accordance with the UN Charter,” Fiame said in her address to the United Nations General Assembly.

“The elimination of all forms of weapons is a step closer to a world of peace. The recent events in Afghanistan highlight the plight of thousands of people fleeing their homes in search of refuge and safety. We urge the global community to lend all possible humanitarian assistance to those in desperate need.”

 Fiame emphasised that Samoa continues to contribute to the peace and security agenda through its police peacekeepers.

“We are embracing the many advantages cyberspace offers, and our economy and quality of life are the better for it. However, we also recognise that they also pose threats in some ways,” she said.

Fiame explained that the increasing use of Information Communications Technology (I.C.T) has raised issues of security and privacy.

“The exploitation of computers and telecommunications technology for criminal activities has increased. Incidents of hacking, virus attacks, access and dissemination and misuse of information and network security can longer be ignored,” she said.

“We look forward to actively engaging in discussions of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes.

Fiame said that Samoa relies on the collective responsibility of the global community to prevent and combat high-tech cyber and electronic crimes, including social media abuse and online child sexual exploitation.

“The reality for us is that the criminals are more advanced than our nations in these technologies. Thus we need to work together to combat and eliminate these destabilising activities,” she said.