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 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