Islamic Republic of Iran

 

The Sub-Programme 2, "Project Crime, Corruption, and Criminal Justice" would support and enhance three main partnership areas, namely in relation to: (1) enhancing the national legislative and institutional frameworks and mechanisms on countering transnational organized crime, in line with UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocols; (2) strengthening the national institutional anti-corruption capacities, in line with UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC); and (3) improving the national crime prevention capacities and measures and criminal justice procedures and practices.

Legislative, regulatory, and institutional capacity-building will be provided in the areas of Anti Money Laundering (AML), Countering of Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA). The Office will continue to enhance cooperation with the national counterpart and implementing partners, in particular with Financial Intelligent Unit (FIU), for monitoring and investigation of money-laundering cases; promoting FIU cooperation with sister agencies internationally; and assisting the country to engage and cooperate closely with international AML/CFT forums like FATF and EGMONT Group, with a view to enlightening the international community about the achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to Money Laundering.

The project will also support the enhancement of the national institutional and legislative framework and capacities on countering trafficking in cultural property and the recovery and return of stolen artefacts. It will also work to foster international and regional cooperation which are facing similar challenges (e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey), along with destination countries. Other areas of cooperation will include combating Cyber Crime and the seizure of trafficked goods and assets. UNODC will also seek possibilities to start a new partnership with the relevant national implementing partners to identify tools and/or good practices for addressing new forms of crime e.g. environmental and wildlife crimes.

An important part of activities and deliverables will be fostering international and regional cooperation and partnership on matters related to transnational organized crime through facilitating active participation in relevant forums, events, and frameworks, and supporting an extended network of contacts between Iranian counterpart and international experts. Moreover, UNODC will continue to interact with the counterpart on the importance of the ratification of UNTOC and accession to its supplementary Protocols through advocacy activities, specialized workshops and meetings.

In the field of fighting corruption, Sub-programme 2 will provide technical support to the national counterpart and implementing partners for institutionalizing and implementing a robust and comprehensive anti-corruption strategy in accordance with United Nations Convention against Corruption. UNODC will also address other important issues of awareness and advocacy.

UNODC's activities will further aim to strengthen national capacities to prevent corruption and promote international cooperation in asset recovery, MLA and extradition through technical support for Iran's participation in and follow up to the second cycle of the UNCAC Review Mechanism. Moreover, necessary measures and follow up for meeting the technical assistance needs identified within the first cycle of the UNCAC Review Mechanism would be provided.

The project will provide the relevant national authorities with technical and normative support to improve crime prevention measure and promote an effective, fair, and accountable criminal justice system, in line with the relevant UN Conventions, as well as universally recognized standards and norms. The work will cover, inter-alia, the areas of preventive policies, access to legal aid, prison reform and alternatives to imprisonment, justice for children, and victims and witnesses protection. The outcome would further contribute to the ratification of the international legal instruments to prevent and combat terrorism, upon the national counterparts request as well as assist to improve the capacities to prevent terrorism in accordance with international norms and standards.