News and Events

This page includes news and events on the work and efforts of UNODC in the fight against transnational organized crime. News on human trafficking and migrant smuggling, illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms, cybercrime and money laundering are available on the following pages:

Trafficking in persons and Smuggling of migrants

Illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms

Cybercrime

Money laundering

A group photo taken in a meeting room arranged in three rows. Behind the participants of a meeting, two roll up banners: on the left side, the roll up banner of Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC (SE4U) and on the right side, the roll up banner of the UNTOC Review Mechanism.

Role and potential of law enforcement cooperation highlighted at the Constructive Dialogue on International Cooperation

Vienna, 20 September 2023. How can States strengthen law enforcement cooperation to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of transnational organized crime? The practical implementation of Article 27 on law enforcement cooperation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) was the focus of the discussions of the 2023 Constructive Dialogue on International Cooperation which took place in Vienna on 13 September 2023. Read more

Participants of a meeting are sitting behind a U-shaped table. In the background, a panel with three men and a woman. Behind the panel, two projector screens display the logo of Hotel Mepas.

Bosnia and Herzegovina discusses the implementation of its Strategy for Combating Organized Crime

12-13 July 2023, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the leadership of the BiH Ministry of Security, the relevant law enforcement and other authorities engaged in the implementation of the BiH Strategy Against Organized Crime met to analyze the execution of the Strategy and the follow-up development of the institutional Action Plans. Read more

A group photo taken inside a building with students participating in the Summer School on Transnational Organised Crime.

Summer School on Transnational Organised Crime successfully completed!

Vienna, 3 July 2023. 34 students from several universities across the world participated in the 2023 Summer School on Transnational Organised Crime held in Vienna from 12 June until 23 June 2023. Read more

Interview with Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly featured in the International Review of the Red Cross’ edition on Organized Crime

Vienna, 28 June 2023. What are the linkages between transnational organized crime and corruption in conflict settings? Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, UNODC Executive Director, was interviewed on the challenges posed by the interplay of organized crime and corruption in conflict settings and the responses to them for the latest issue of the International Review of the Red Cross. Read more

A group photo taken in a meeting room with participants of a workshop. On the right side, the flags of Colombia and the United Nations. On the left side, the roll up banner in Spanish of the Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment.

Using the Organized Crime Convention for stronger legislation on illegal mining and trafficking in metals and minerals in Latin America

Cartagena, 16 June 2023. Gold, iron, copper, tin… On one hand, the abundance in minerals and metals in Latin America constitutes a significant source of revenue for many countries in the region. But on the other hand, the illegal exploitation and trafficking of these resources, including in protected areas, undermines security and the rule of law while causing serious harms to the environment and human rights. Read more

A group photo taken in a meeting room with participants of a meeting. On the wall, two projector screens display an image of the room. Behind the participants, two roll up banners: one of the UNTOC Review Mechanism and the other of Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC (SE4U).

“Building trust” between governments and civil society critical for the prevention of organized crime: highlights from the Constructive Dialogue on Technical Assistance

Vienna, 8 June 2023. What are the areas in which civil society can contribute to the implementation of UNTOC and how can it support the mainstreaming of human rights and gender considerations in it? How can non-governmental organizations contribute to developing analysis and policies that support States parties in responding to transnational organized crime? Read more

A panel with two men and two women. A man is speaking on a microphone. A woman is sitting on a chair behind the panel.

Achievements of 20 years of UNTOC implementation and way ahead highlighted at CCPCJ side event

Vienna, 26 May 2023. What are the key achievements of 20 years of implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)? How can UNTOC continue to represent an irreplaceable instrument to fight all forms of transnational organized crime in the present and in the future? Read more

Panel with three women and four men, and their name plates. On the wall, two projector screens display the image of a man speaking who is sitting at the center of the panel. Behind the panel, on the left side, a roll up banner with the logo of SE4U Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC and on the right side, a roll up banner with the logo of the UNTOC Review Mechanism.

Role of civil society in universalization and implementation of the Firearms Protocol highlighted at the 2023 Constructive Dialogue on Firearms

Vienna, 10 May 2023 - Strengthening the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Firearms Protocol through the contribution of civil society, academia and the private sector was one of the key topics of the 2023 Constructive Dialogue on Firearms. Read more

A panel with five women. On the left side, a man and two women sitting behind tables.

Experts meet to discuss forthcoming UNODC Toolkit to support States in mainstreaming gender and human rights in the implementation of UNTOC

Vienna, 5 April 2023 - Gender and human rights mainstreaming helps contribute to a society that is more accessible and equitable for all. In the context of organized crime, gender and human rights dimensions help strengthen national normative and policy responses by taking into account the different and complex ways in which men, women, non-binary and gender diverse people experience organized crime and interact with the criminal justice system. Read more

A group photo of the participants of the conference taken inside a room. In the back, banners with words "Implementing UNTOC" and "UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia" are visible.

UNODC supports Central Asia and Southern Caucasus States’ efforts in developing national and regional strategies to counter transnational organized crime

Tashkent, 13 March 2023 - National and regional strategies and plans of action against transnational organized crime play a key role in the fabric of the global response to the threats presented by organized criminal groups. To maximize the efficiency of such strategies and increase their cumulative impact, it is vital to ensure that these documents are comprehensive, coherent and evidence based. Read more

Crisis and organized crime: building resilient responses

Bangkok, 27 February 2023 - Organized crime – from money-laundering to human trafficking, cybercrime and more – tends to flourish in times of crisis. Quick to exploit vulnerabilities, organized criminal groups seize on lucrative opportunities that have multiplied during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent economic downturns, natural disasters, and armed conflicts. Read more

Group photo taken outside a building. A man in the group is holding a heart-shaped symbol.

Bhutan: Bhutan accedes to UNTOC and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol

Thimphu, 20 February 2023 - On 20 February 2023, Bhutan has acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. Read more

A group photo taken outside a building. Both on the left side and on the right side of the photo, a roll up banner of the Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention: from Theory to Practice.

Ecuador prepares its National Strategy against Organized Crime through a participatory and inter-institutional process

Cuenca, 9 February 2023 - In order to provide a holistic and collaborative response to the complex problem of organized crime, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held the Second Workshop for the Development of the National Strategy against Organized Crime in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, from 7 until 9 February 2023. The work methodology promotes a participatory and inter-institutional process through the approach of four fundamental pillars: prevention, prosecution, protection and promotion of international cooperation. Read more

A group photo taken inside a building. On the left side, the flag of Jamaica. On the right side, the flag of the United Nations.

Jamaica: A step closer to the finalization of the National Strategy against Organized Crime

Ocho Rios, 3 February 2023 - Supported by UNODC, Jamaica is currently finalizing its National Strategy against Organized Crime, which aims to provide a holistic and collaborative response to this complex problem, while fostering opportunities and prosperity for Jamaica’s people. Read more

4^th Training Week on the UNTOC Review Mechanism and on the use of REVMOD successfully completed

Vienna, 2 February 2023 - 302 focal points, governmental experts, observers, and representatives from Permanent Missions to the United Nations, involved in the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols thereto (UNTOC Review Mechanism) participated in the online training sessions organized by UNODC from 23 January until 1 February 2023 on the functioning of the Mechanism and on the use of REVMOD, the platform to conduct the country reviews. Read more

UNTOC Review Mechanism's latest milestone: launch of the last group of 64 reviews

Vienna, 1 November 2022 - The Review Mechanism established by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) marks today a very important milestone: the launch of the third and final group of 64 country reviews. By launching the last group of country reviews today, all States Parties[1] to the UNTOC are now engaged in the UNTOC Review Mechanism process. Read more

Presentation of the Organized Crime Component of the Education for Justice Initiative (E4J) at the International Seminar "Mafia and Anti-mafia in Europe".

18 April 2018 - The organized crime component of the E4J was invited to present at the International Seminar on "Mafia and Anti-Mafia in Europe", held at the University of Milan, Italy, on 17-19 April 2018. Read more

Global Citizenship Education for a Culture of Lawfulness initiative begins its work

16 March 2018 - Under the Education for Justice (E4J) initiative of UNODC's Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, CSS/OCB participated in an Expert Consultation Meeting organized in the context of the UNESCO/UNODC partnership on "Global Citizenship Education for a culture of lawfulness", held on 15-16 March at UNESCO headquarters in Paris (France). Read more