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Organized CrimeTransnational organized crime is considered as one of the major threats to human security, impeding the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies worldwide. It is a multi-faceted phenomenon and has manifested itself in different activities, among others, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings; trafficking in firearms; smuggling of migrants; money laundering; etc. In particular drug trafficking is one of the main activities of organized crime groups, generating enormous profits. As globalization has expanded international trade, so the range of organized crime activities has broadened and diversified. The traditional hierarchical forms of organized crime groups have diminished; replaced with loose networks who work together in order to exploit new market opportunities. For example organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking are commonly engaged in smuggling of other illegal goods. The links between drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime calls for a more integrated approach to address this nexus. The signing of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in 2000 was a historic step forward in countering this threat. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which entered into force in September 2003, is the main international instrument to counter organized crime. The Convention commits states to introduce a range of measures, including the creation of domestic criminal offences to counter the problem; the adoption of new frameworks for mutual legal assistance; extradition; law enforcement cooperation; technical assistance and training. UNODC works closely with national governments, organizations and civil society to enhance international cooperation to counter the pervading influence of organized crime and drug trafficking. The Unit has initiated and oversees numerous counter-narcotics and anti-organized crime projects. The Global Financial Crime Congress jointly organized by Interpol and UNODC takes place from 17- 20 April 2007 UNODC assists governments in the efforts to ensure there is a comprehensive response to combating transnational organized crime and drug trafficking by: Assisting Member States in the ratification and implementation of the TOC Convention;
Technical assistanceThe Anti-Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Unit assists States in taking effective, practical steps, in line with the provisions of the Convention, to fight organized crime. An example of practical assistance to Member States is the project "Assistance to the Signatories of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its related Protocols". It provides technical assistance to support the implementation of the Convention, with key outputs to facilitate the assessment and revision of national legislation to ensure compliance with the Convention and its Protocols; strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of law enforcement and judicial bodies to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate serious crimes, including organized crime; enhance international cooperation between criminal justice practitioners; and collect, assess and disseminate best practices in combating organized crime. UNODC has been active in the promotion of the Convention, raising awareness of Member States to their obligation under its ratification. Regional meetings have been held in Algeria for African countries, in Ecuador for Latin American and Caribbean countries, in Guatemala for Central America, in Latvia for Eastern European countries and in Japan for Asian countries. Expert group meetings to prepare legislative guides to the TOC Convention and its three protocols have also been held. National level meetings on legislative and other issues related to the ratification were held in cooperation with the Governments of Cape Verde, East Timor, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Mali, Nigeria, Romania and Indonesia. Moreover, the Unit develops and runs specific technical assistance projects to support specialized organized crime units in a number of countries where the problems of organized crime are particularly severe or have the potential to become more serious. Training of criminal justice practitionersThe Anti-Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Unit has developed various project initiatives aimed at training law enforcement personnel, including police investigators, prosecutors and judges, intelligence analysts and customs officials. In line with the provisions of the Convention, these projects examine best practice to counter organized crime addressing investigations, international cooperation, protection of witnesses, prevention of organized crime and anti-organized crime legislation. Information sharing among criminal justice practitioners
UNODC is a focal point for data being gathered on transnational organized crime.
Assessing organized crime trendsAccurate information providing a detailed overview of organized crime, and state attempts to counter it, is an essential prerequisite for designing appropriate responses, including UNODC technical assistance interventions with respect to cross-border cooperation. Two regional assessment surveys on organized crime have been carried out by the Unit. The first covers the Central Asia region, with a particular focus on the states of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The second covers the West Africa region, specifically Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Assessments for East Africa and South Asia are planned. more on the regional assessment ... Kidnapping and organized crimeThe increasing involvement of organized crime groups in kidnapping for ransom has raised serious concern to the international community. In the most severely affected countries, several hundred kidnappings are conducted each year by organized crime groups. The Anti-Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Unit has developed a United Nations Counter - Kidnap Manual to include best practices for law enforcement authorities to combat kidnapping. The manual presents a constructive tool for policy makers, law enforcement officers and criminal justice practitioners and is aimed at providing national authorities with guidelines on how to deal with a kidnapping case in a practical and effective manner. Although legislative and national policies to target kidnapping are covered, the manual is substantively devoted to the key responses needed for success in prevention and investigation. It was developed from a series of working groups, contributed to by a number of regional experts. The manual will be made available to Member States in all the official languages of the United Nations in early 2006. In addition, information regulating kidnapping received from Member States can be found in a report submitted in six languages at the 12th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Witness ProtectionIn cases involving organized crime, the importance of safeguarding witnesses in order that they have the confidence and ability to give evidence is often crucial to becoming a successful prosecution. It is important that certain witnesses may require special protective Based on the provisions for victim and witness protection, contained in the TOC Convention, UNODC is providing assistance in the field of witness protection to Member States. A series of expert group meetings to set the ground for future regional cooperation, enhance mutual legal assistance and exchange best practices are being convened. UNODC is coordinating the work of experts in this area to compile good practice guidelines for Member States managing witness protection programmes. Contact UsBy Mail:Anti-Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Unit
By Fax:+43(1) 26060-5983
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