The Environment Team provides assistance to Member States to adopt, strengthen and review national legislation with a view to effectively addressing crimes that affect the environment. Through the Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment, the Environment Team also develops guidance to assist Member States in these endeavours, for example by collaborating with UNODC’s Organized Crime Branch to develop guides on drafting legislation, such as the UNODC Guide on Drafting Legislation to Combat Wildlife Crime. The Guide, available in English and French, is a tool for Member States to amend or draft legislation to better address the challenges posed by wildlife crime. It includes model provisions and guidance, which States can adapt to fit local conditions, constitutional principles, legal culture and structures, as well as existing enforcement arrangements. This practical tool enables countries to draw from existing international agreements and instruments whilst considering national circumstances and policies as well as the composition and structure of national sectors. The success of this tool has led to the development of a series of Guides for Member States on drafting legislation to combat crimes in the fisheries sector, waste trafficking and minerals trafficking, each due to be published in 2022.
Another useful tool for Member States and legislative drafters is the SHERLOC portal. It facilitates the dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols. The SHERLOC portal hosts various databases including on case law and legislation. The portal is being continually populated with case law and legislation related to crimes that affect the environment.