Vienna, 18 July 2024 – At the core of the UNTOC Review Mechanism lies a network of stakeholders engaged in advancing the review process of the Convention and its supplementing Protocols. To leverage the potential of this joint endeavour, the Mechanism’s Secretariat organized the second gathering of UNTOC Review Mechanism Officials in the margins of the Working Group on the Smuggling of Migrants.
The meeting, held on 12 July at the Vienna International Centre, focused on the progress of the country reviews relating to the implementation of the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol as well as on the sharing of good practices, experiences and lessons learned. Approximately 20 officials including Focal Points and Governmental Experts as well as Member States' delegates, informally exchanged views on how to boost the progress of the country reviews and received tailored guidance from the Secretariat.
Enhancing cooperation between the various components of civil society and governments was a primary issue under discussion. The role of civil society in the review process was acknowledged as instrumental in broadening perspectives and deepening analyses on trends in the fight against organized crime.
“It is important for academia to be involved in the Review Mechanism as it can critically contribute to assessing the substantive provisions of the Convention,” said in that respect Ioannis Androulakis, the Focal Point of Greece. “Academics offer a more nuanced approach to some of the issues relevant to the outcomes of country reviews,” he added.
Participants also highlighted the value of international cooperation in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with migrant smuggling.
“One effective way to address the complexity of migrant smuggling while ensuring the fulfilment of the rights of migrants is by reinforcing international cooperation” emphasized Martin Borza, a Governmental Expert from Slovakia. “The UNTOC Review Mechanism allows us to work together to find solutions to many of the issues that we face,” he further said.
Building on the inaugural event in June 2024, this second meeting underscored the value of in-person exchanges among stakeholders engaged in the UNTOC Review Mechanism. The gathering showcased the potential of open dialogue in fostering coordinated efforts against organized crime through stronger implementation of the relevant international legal framework. Officials highlighted how multi-stakeholder collaboration can inspire creativity and drive collective action towards common objectives.
More opportunities for such kinds of interactions are planned for the coming months.
The UNTOC Review Mechanism is a peer review process supporting States parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto in the effective implementation of these instruments and helping them identify and substantiate specific needs for technical assistance and promoting international cooperation.
