FORUM: “Organized crime steals, corrupts and kills. It’s time we pull together to push back.“ International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024. The Open Debate on "Threats to International Peace and Security - Transnational Organized Crime, Growing Challenges and New Threats", held in December 2023, highlighted the serious concerns expressed by the Security Council regarding this escalating threat. The United Nations Secretary-General affirmed: "Transnational organized crime is a vicious threat to peace, security and sustainable development wherever it operates. And it operates everywhere - in all countries, rich and poor, North and South, developed and developing". On the same occasion, the President of the Security Council issued a statement expressing concern about the links between international terrorism and organized crime and the use of new technologies by criminal networks; he also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation to combat transnational organized crime and recognized the role of civil society in achieving this goal. Recently, the Pact of the Future dedicated Action 24 to this issue, focusing in particular on efforts to combat transnational organized crime and related financial flows through the implementation of comprehensive strategies that should include prevention, early detection, protection, law enforcement, addressing root causes and cooperation with relevant stakeholders. In addition, the Pact of the Future calls to strengthen international collaboration to prevent and combat cybercrime and welcomes the elaboration of the draft Convention against Cybercrime, which is scheduled for adoption by the end of this year. Furthermore, the Discussion guide for the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2026, delivered in May 2024 by Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, focuses, inter alia, on Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through crime prevention and criminal justice efforts. In particular, the following points have been underscored: • On the occasion of the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in 2021, Member States with the “Kyoto Declaration” acknowledged the interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature of sustainable development and the rule of law. They recognized that crime hinders sustainable development, and that achieving sustainable development enables States to effectively prevent and combat crime. Effective criminal justice systems can contribute to socio-economic development by reducing violence, improving social cohesion, and providing avenues for redress when rights are violated. Conversely, development can enhance crime prevention by reducing inequality and addressing the root causes of crime through social development programs. Investing in effective criminal justice institutions within development programs positively impacts justice reform. Recognizing the linkages between crime prevention, criminal justice and the 2030 Agenda necessitates a comprehensive approach that enhances safety and security while promoting equitable economic growth, social cohesion, and the rule of law. Renewed efforts are essential to ensure that sustainable development, supported by a resilient and just framework, ultimately contributes to the holistic well-being of societies globally. Thus, it is crucial to integrate the 2030 Agenda into national and international crime prevention and criminal justice strategies. Member States and Observers of the General Assembly, as well as representatives of UN Agencies, regional and sub-regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders including CSO will be invited to attend. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #StopOrganizedCrime, #UNTOC_ReviewMechanism, #TOCday, #15november, #OrganizedFraud, #organizedCrime, #UNTOC.
EVENTS: On November 15th; From 11:30 to 12:30 CET; In light of General-Assembly Resolution 78/267, the UNODC is organizing this High-Level Event to commemorate the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against all Forms of Transnational Organized Crime. Get the flyer and watch the event!
On November 13th, 2024; At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 8 at 11am CET, will be held a High-Level Event to celebrate the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024. The High-level Event aims at discussing how organized crime represents a risk to international peace, security and sustainable development on a global scale, and in highlighting both regional and international initiatives to address the threat and mitigate its impact. The event will analyze transnational organized crime's harmful impacts on social cohesion, trust in national institutions, rule of law, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The High-Level event will focus on the analysis of national, regional, and international experiences that demonstrate how the effective countering of organized crime has led to significant progress in achieving peace, security, development and social cohesion. Space will also be devoted to examining areas that are still severely affected by transnational organized crime, and to reflecting on actions that the United Nations and the international community can take to counter this trend, including victims of TOC. The event will also be an opportunity to highlight the continuing relevance of the Palermo Convention, the most effective international legal instrument in this fight, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year. The High-level event will be held in person and consist of an opening segment, three segments with representatives from Member States, UN agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, as well as Academia, Q&A’s and lastly closing remarks. Get the Agenda programme and Watch The High Level Event to observe the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime!
From 25 to 30 April 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will be held The Fifteenth Crime Congress under the overall theme “Accelerating crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: protecting people and planet and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the digital age”, in line with the General Assembly Resolution 78/223. The Congresses provide a forum for (a) the exchange of views between States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines; (b) the exchange of experiences in research, law and policy development; and (c) the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice. Get the Useful Resources on the Overall theme, agenda items and workshop topics, the Discussion guide and learn more about the Generation Justice Initiative. The congress will be organized by the CCPCJ.
PUBLICATION: The release of the new Issue Paper on organized fraud is right on time; The focus of the issue paper is organized fraud that targets individual members of the public or private institutions for the purposes of obtaining a financial or other material benefit. Fraud is an expansive category of crime. One of the greatest challenges to understanding it is its scope. It encompasses a range of criminal behaviours that are bound together by the common principle of dishonesty. The opportunities to employ dishonesty for the purposes of fraud span the full range of social, commercial, financial and technological settings, which can vary in different regions of the world. These opportunities are exploited by criminals from highly diverse backgrounds, ranging from professionals exploiting a legitimate corporate position to cybercriminals from within deprived communities. In this way, fraud is distinct from many other criminal categories that cover more discrete criminal behaviours occurring in specific settings (e.g. burglary). This diversity creates challenges in terms of developing a single, cohesive and comprehensive picture of fraud. The newly adopted resolution on technical assistance recommends enhanced protections for witnesses and victims, along with access to compensation and restitution. Read the full report!
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024; November 15th and the Statement of the President of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024; November 15th.
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