International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2025; November 15th.

FORUM: "Follow the money. Stop organized crime." International Day for the Prevention of andFight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2025. This year’s theme, “Follow the money. Stop organized crime.”, highlights how illicit profits drive transnational organized crime. Each year, these crimes generate billions in illicit proceeds, infiltrating economies and supply chains, undermining governance and ultimately causing immense harm to people and planet. With nearly every form of organized crime, whether it’s drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, trafficking in persons, crimes that affect the environment or cyber fraud, there is a money trail. By following the money and exposing this trail, we can cut their lifeline and disrupt organized criminal networks. We call on governments, policymakers, law enforcement, the financial sector, digital platforms, civil society and the public to play their part in stopping organized crime. From strengthening cooperation and financial investigations to safeguarding digital spaces and exposing scams, everyone has a role to Stop Organized Crime. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #StopOrganizedCrime, #UNTOC_ReviewMechanism, #TOCday, #15november, #OrganizedFraud, #organizedCrime, #UNTOC.

EVENTS: High-Level Event to mark the International Day for the Prevention of andFight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2025 and to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the UN Convention AgainstOrganized Crime.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention againstTransnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), widely known as the Palermo Convention, on 15 November 2000 and its two protocols- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in persons, Especially Women and Children, and Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. On 31 May 2001, the General Assembly adopted its third protocol- Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their parts and Components and Ammunition. The Convention established the first globally legally binding and comprehensive framework to strengthen national capacities and promote international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime, both in its traditional manifestations and its new, evolving and emerging forms. In March 2024, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/78/267, proclaiming November 15th as International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms ofTransnational Organized Crime. The observance is intended to raise global awareness of the grave threat posed by organized crime, foster stronger cooperation among States, and reinforce collective commitment to the full and effective implementation of UNTOC and its Protocols. The 2025 International Day commemoration, the second of its kind, carries special significance. It marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UNTOC and its Protocols against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants, as well as the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of its third Protocol on Firearms. This milestone commemoration offers a unique opportunity to take stock of progress achieved, honour those who have dedicated their lives to advancing the anti-crime agenda, and renew efforts to ensure that the Convention is fully and effectively implemented to uphold the vision of global justice, cooperation and security enshrined in it. The commemoration will convene high-level representatives, diplomats, youth leaders, civil society actors and experts in a ceremony designed to showcase political will, joint commitment and shared vision in the fight against organized crime.

AGENDA PROGRAMME

Time Agenda Speaker 

13:15 – 13:20 Opening remarks • H.E. Mr. Maurizio Massari, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN 

13:20 – 13:32 Key Interventions (6 min each) • H.E. Ms. Chiara Colosimo, President of the Italian Parliament's Antimafia Commission (Video statement) • Ms. Xiaohong Li, Representative of the UNODC New York Liaison Office 

13:32 – 14:10 Interventions by co-organizers (3-4 min each) • H.E. Mr. Luis Felipe Ugarelli, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru • H.E. Mr. Bart De Wolf, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN • H.E. Mrs. Alejandra Hernandez Gonzalez, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the UN • H.E. Mr. Umetsu Shigeru, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN • Mr. Stefan Pretterhofer, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN • Ms. Majda Moutchou, Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN • Mr. Robert Pulver, Chief of the DPO/OROLSI Justice and Corrections Service 

14:10 – 14:25 Interventions from the floor 

14:25 – 14:30 Closing remarks • H.E. Ambassador Mr. Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN • Ms. Xiaohong Li, Representative of the UNODC New York Liaison Office

LIVESTREAM: UNTOC at 25

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY:

"Follow the money" is a key strategy for combating organized crime by investigating financial transactions to uncover criminal networks and prosecute masterminds. To stop organized crime, law enforcement and international bodies use this method to trace illicit financial flows, while a multi-layered approach also involves strengthening cooperation, enhancing digital safeguards, and preventing crimes through various means.

Key strategies for following the money

Investigate financial transactions: Track money through bank accounts, utility bills, and other financial records to find connections between criminals and their networks.
Prosecute masterminds: By tracing illicit financial flows, investigators can link lower-level criminals to the high-level masterminds and corrupt networks.
Use financial intelligence: Organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) set international standards for combating money laundering and terrorism financing, providing a framework for investigation.

Gather evidence: Financial transactions can provide crucial evidence for building a case, such as exposing bribery and corruption.

Broader strategies to stop organized crime

Strengthen international cooperation: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and international bodies like the UNTOC work to improve cooperation and intelligence sharing among nations to combat transnational crime.
Implement multi-layered prevention: This includes a "Four P" approach (Prepare, Prevent, Pursue, and Protect) that combines various methods like security systems and surveillance.
Safeguard digital spaces: Acknowledge and address the role of digital platforms and online scams in organized crime.
Build a skilled workforce: Ensure law enforcement agencies have a workforce equipped with the skills for intelligence analysis, surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration to tackle the complexity of organized crime.

PUBLICATION: Explainer: What is the Organized Crime Convention?, Why does this global commitment still matter today?, What is the Convention and why does it matter? 

25 years ago today, countries united under one commitment: to work together to Stop Organized Crime. Today, we celebrate 25 years of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. 25 years of partnerships, progress and protection for people and communities worldwide.

The Launch of the Global Organized Crime Index 2025.

The world is at a crossroads when it comes to dealing with illicit economies. Organized crime is undermining democracy, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security. The rules-based order that has prevailed for decades is now being exploited by those who don’t play by the rules. Criminal groups are some of the biggest profiteers. Illicit economies reflect broader socio-economic, political and geopolitical processes, because criminals are often the ones who adapt first and take advantage of disruptions such as geopolitical competition, rapid technological innovation, violent conflicts, trade wars and the erosion of democracy. So, the Global Organized Crime Index is not just a tool for measuring crime: it is a mirror reflecting what is going on within states and the international system. Since this is our third edition, we now have three data sets that enable us to track and compare how criminal markets and actors have evolved over the past five years. Among the findings the data of this edition of the Index identifies is that there have been several shifts in the global criminal economy. For example, synthetic drugs and cocaine are rapidly dominating world drug markets. This shows the ability of criminal actors to capitalize on changing consumer preferences, technological developments in production and increasingly interconnected trafficking networks. At the same time, this Index shows a significant and rapidly growing trend: a rise in non-violent forms of crime such as financial and cyber-dependent crimes. These ‘invisible’ forms of organized crime are less reliant on traditional violent methods or corruption, but have become more embedded in transnational financial and digital systems. And they are often harder to detect. Despite the absence of violence in these illicit economies, they still cause untold harm. Financial fraud and cyber-dependent crimes have high costs for their victims – individuals, businesses and states. Counterfeiting, another silent crime, is also becoming more pervasive, the Index finds. Inflation, weak economies, job insecurity and trade wars are fuelling this market as consumers with less purchasing power seek cheaper products. This year’s Index also shows that, while state-embedded actors are the most prevalent criminal actors, yet again, foreign actors registered the sharpest overall increase since the last Index in 2023. This suggests criminal groups are increasingly mobile and that there is closer transnational cooperation between them. Private sector actors are also playing an increasingly significant role in illicit economies, particularly as facilitators of criminal activity, for example in logistics, finance and technology. In addition to analyzing criminal markets and actors, the Index measures resilience. While many criminal markets are witnessing growth, resilience scores appear to have plateaued. An example of this is international cooperation. While this indicator usually outperforms the other 11 resilience indicators, an increasingly fractured international system and a retreat from multilateralism suggest that states are less willing to cooperate to fight crime. This is a worrying trend, not least in this year when we mark the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. That said, the trajectories of crime can be changed. For example, the Index shows that, statistically, by strengthening key areas of resilience we can reduce the influence of state-embedded actors over illicit activities to a measurable degree, while stronger response measures can shift communities, even societies, into a more positive direction. The Index is both a record of vulnerabilities and a tool for solutions. By charting trends, risks and trajectories across every country, the Index provides a foundation for action to guide reforms, to strengthen institutions and to empower civil society. Its continuity across editions makes it possible to track change over time, offering not only a mirror of today’s realities, but also a compass for the choices that lie ahead. We therefore invite governments, policymakers, civil society and international actors to use the Index as a shared evidence base to transform knowledge into policy, and urgency into action.

International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024; November 15th..

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.

LIVESTREAM: Watch the High-level Event to Commemorate the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime.

 

COMING UP ON NOVEMBER

November

6 November
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

10 November
World Science Day for Peace and Development [UNESCO]

12 November
World Pneumonia Day [WHO]

14 November
World Diabetes Day [WHO]

15 November
(Third Thursday in November)
World Philosophy Day [UNESCO] 

 

16 November
World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day [WHO]
& International Day for Tolerance

 

17 November
(Third Sunday in November)
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims [WHO]

20 November
Universal Children’s Day
& Africa Industrialization Day 

 

21 November
World Television Day

 

25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 

 

29 November
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Complete list of UN Observances