United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

General Information

Category

Sub category

Groups

What is it about?

Member States to this Convention commit to take steps against transnational organized crime. Measures include mutual legal assistance, extradition, law-enforcement cooperation, technical assistance and training as well as the adoption of domestic legislation combating organized crime. State Parties cooperate in investigating, prosecuting and punishing crimes committed by organized criminal groups if either the crimes or the groups committing them have some element of transnational involvement. This impedes offenders and organized criminal groups to take advantage of gaps in domestic legislation, judicial cooperation or to benefit from a lack of accurate information about the full scope of their activities. The Convention combats organized crime in general and extends its scope to the major activities in which transnational organized crime is commonly involved, such as money laundering, corruption and obstruction of investigations or prosecutions. The Protocols against the trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants and the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms supplement the Convention. These three Protocols deal with specific areas of transnational organized crime that are of particular concern to UN Member States.

Why is it relevant?

This Convention addresses transnational organized crime, which has a negative effect for all and is a priority for current interstate cooperation activities.

Additional Information

A Conference of the Parties is established so as to improve the ability of States to combat against transnational organized crime, and to monitor the implementation of its provisions.

Related treaties

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