May 19, 2009 - The report entitled "The Impact of Piracy on the IGAD Region" commissioned by ICPAT is being distributed to officials of IGAD member states and partner countries. The Steering Committee of ICPAT at its last meeting held in Mombasa, Kenya in December 2008, had decided that a report on piracy be prepared in the first part of 2009. Four researchers were involved in the work of preparing the Report, two of whom travelled to Somalia and Djibouti in the course of their research. The 96 -page Report has three sections, including a political analysis, an assessment of the legal issues involved, and a third party view on the meaning and impact of the international naval depolyment off the coast of north-eastern Africa. It also includes extensive reccomendations that states in the region and their partners take on board to deal effectively with the challenge posed by piracy. The Report is due to be distributed to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of IGAD member states on the occasion of their extraordinary meeting due to be held in Addis Ababa on May 20, 2009. (ICPAT Information)