Does it work UNTOC? | Global initiative

In 2000, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), also known as the Palermo Convention, was adopted in a milestone for promoting global cooperation to combat organized crime. With 192 States Parties, the Convention and its protocols have provided a crucial legal framework for tackling types of crime such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling and firearms trafficking. However, as transnational criminal networks continue to expand, new challenges arise, and the global community must take decisive action to ensure UNTOC reaches its full potential.

Our latest report highlights the key obstacles to effective implementation: inconsistencies in national legislation, a lack of centralized data, and delays and limitations in the convention’s Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). While UNTOC’s widespread ratification is an achievement, these gaps hinder UNTOC’s ability to achieve impactful results. Without timely assessments and better international cooperation, the global response to organized crime remains fragmented and inadequate.

We believe that strengthening UNTOC requires more robust data collection, greater transparency and deeper engagement with civil society. Our report recommends the establishment of an independent research center to monitor trends in organized crime and monitor the progress of the convention. In addition, we call for greater political will and resources to accelerate the IRM and ensure that UNTOC becomes a more powerful tool in the fight against developing criminal markets.

As the 25th anniversary approaches (in 2025) and organized crime increases, now is the time to revitalize UNTOC and enhance its ability to dismantle organized crime networks worldwide.

Check out our side-event agenda for the 12th session of the UNTOC Cop (Vienna, October 14-18, 2024).

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GI-TOC’s engagement with the UN on transnational organized crime has always been an important pillar of our work, and we are committed to contributing substantially to important debates on organized crime in the multilateral fora, through the support of civil society and the involvement of experts. Join our dedicated mailing list which will be used to share updates, event information, analysis and multimedia content.

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