Director-General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you today to reflect on the progress we have made in the implementation of the UNTOC and its protocols on firearms, migrant smuggling, and human trafficking, empowered by the review mechanism adopted four years ago.
The Convention represents our collective commitment to tackle transnational organized crime, and we have come a long way since the adoption of the Convention in Palermo two decades ago.
Today, the UNTOC stands stronger than ever, with 192 States Parties.
It provides a robust global framework to tackle emerging and evolving threats posed by transnational organized crime.
But to truly fulfil the promise of the Convention, we must continuously assess our progress, identify gaps in responses, and strengthen international cooperation.
This is precisely where the UNTOC Review Mechanism comes into play.
Thanks to Italy’s steadfast leadership of the negotiation process, and after 10 years of tough negotiations, the Review Mechanism was born in 2018, marking another major milestone in our collective efforts to prevent and combat organized crime.
Designed by States, for States, the Mechanism provides a tangible way to improve implementation and break down barriers to cooperation.
It ensures that we don’t just talk the talk, but that we deliver on our commitments.
We are currently in the first review phase, focusing on the Convention’s provisions related to criminal offences and jurisdiction.
While progress has been slow, the level of engagement so far has been promising.
More than three quarters of States Parties are taking part, and 84 country reviews have already started, representing a 31% increase since COP11.
Through the peer-review process, States Parties are helping each other identify areas of improvement, as well as key technical assistance needs.
And it’s vital that this process includes all voices.
The Mechanism provides a valuable platform for all stakeholders – civil society, academia, and the private sector – to offer critical insights and shape actionable observations.
This year alone, we received over 1,200 applications from NGOs to participate in four constructive dialogues, to build trust, share best practices, and identify gaps in implementation.
We are also piloting voluntary initiatives to create additional space for collaboration between civil society and States Parties, because it’s not about the quantity but the quality of participation.
And I am encouraged to see that 30% of national focal points are women, ensuring that gender considerations are integrated into the review process.
As the Secretariat of the UNTOC, UNODC has been actively supporting States Parties in engaging with the Review Mechanism.
Since 2020, we have received over 700 requests for assistance and trained over 3,000 government representatives in more than 140 countries.
We have supported them in setting up communication channels, understanding the requirements of the Mechanism, and identifying the type of data and information they need to provide.
We have developed an e-learning manual on the use of our online platform REVMOD, which facilitates the country review process, while our knowledge management portal SHERLOC provides legal resources on organized crime and was used by more than 390,000 users in 2023 alone.
We also launched the Mechanism’s first-ever progress report, providing a preliminary analysis of challenges and recommendations to further improve implementation.
The report outlines that while the majority of States that were surveyed comply with the Convention’s mandatory provisions, there is a greater need for technical assistance, dissemination of best practices, and capacity-building support.
And despite the progress that we have achieved, we cannot take the Mechanism’s continued success for granted.
Funding remains a critical issue, especially in these difficult times, and I urge States Parties to lend their financial support so that we may continue to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support.
I also encourage the remaining States that have yet to nominate focal points to do so, and to engage constructively to meet the agreed timelines for the country reviews.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The UNTOC Review Mechanism is one of our strongest tools for strengthening international cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime.
It is key to turning our commitments into concrete action and driving real progress in implementing the UNTOC, while contributing to our efforts to achieve SDG16.
And I would like to thank the EU and Italy for their continued financial contribution, as well as our partners Uganda and El Salvador for their support to the Mechanism.
Let’s continue working together to fulfil the promise and vision of Palermo.
Thank you.
