Global Programme on Transnational Organized Crime

Global Programme on Transnational Organized Crime

The Global Programme "Assessing Transnational Organized Crime Groups: Dangerousnes and Trends" has been designed in the framework of several resolutions which have emanated from the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council calling upon the Secretariat to collect and disseminate information and data on transnational organized crime. Moreover, article 20 of the United Nations draft Convention against Transnational Organized Crime requests the State Parties to collect, analyse and share comprehensive information on the nature of organized crime and its trends.

Programme summary

the main objectives of the Global Programme are:

to assess organized crime groups worldwide according to their level of dangerousness and societal threat;
to provide Member States and the international community with reliable information and analysis on the major and emerging transnational organized crime groups;
to support and expand the technical cooperation activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention in the field of anti-organized crime strategies;
to assist requesting countries in the formulation of policies and guidelines aimed at preventing and combating transnational organized crime

How?

The Programme is conducting a systematic assessment of the dangerousness and threats posed by transnational organized crime groups through the identification of:

• the characteristics, resources and strategies adopted by the criminal groups;

• the social, political and economic context in which organized crime groups act, including the response of the criminal justice system and law enforcement agencies;

•the criminal markets in which these criminal groups operate.

When?

The Programme has a duration of five years, from October 1999 to September 2004.

The implementation of the first phase of the Global Programme will cover 13 countries and will last until December 2000. The second phase will be implemented during 2001 and will cover two regions: West Africa and Central Asia.

The Programme's further implementation depends on funding from interested Member States and other entities.

Interested donors are encouraged to contribute to the "Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, CICP

The overall goal of the Programme is not only to build up a body of knowledge on transnational organized crime, but also to identify tools which would enable Governments to adopt the most appropriate control measures to combat and prevent organized crime.

Programme organization and implementation

Method of work

The Programme team has adopted a comprehensive methodology for the collection and analysis of relevant data and information on transnational organized crime in order to achieve the broadest perspective regarding this phenomenon. The assessment of the criminal groups according to their level of dangerousness will be conducted through a multidimensional approach based on the identification of different dimensions of harm and threat, and their related indicators. In this regard, CICP has developed the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Assessment Form, a flexible tool aimed at collecting data on organized crime groups active in different countries and regions. Through the establishment of a network of data providers and national focal points in the field (i.e. law enforcement agencies, governmental and non -governmental institutions, research centres, international experts and relevant international organizations), the Programme will ensure continuity and stability in the information-gathering process.

The United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Assessment Survey

The Centre has advanced the implementation of the first phase of the Global Programme which consists of a pilot survey of the most dangerous organized crime groups active in 12 countries and 1 region. The Survey aims to analyse and assess the following:

*Where?*
AUSTRALIA CANADA CARIBBEAN COLOMBIA CÔTE D'IVOIRE CZECH REPUBLIC GERMANY GHANA ITALY JAPAN KAZAKHSTAN KYRGYZSTAN	NETHERLANDS NIGERIA RUSSIAN FEDERATION SENEGAL SOUTH AFRICA TAJIKISTAN TURKMENISTAN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNITED KINGDOM UZBEKISTAN

the modus operandi of the major organized crime groups active in these countries; their international connections; their involvement in transnational criminal markets; prediction of their future trends.

With the assistance of 13 national correspondents in the field, the Centre is currently testing the methodology developed in the field of organized crime research and assessment. A final report, containing the findings of the survey, is expected to be published in September 2000 and launched during an international conference at Vienna.

Evaluation

This component will be implemented by an advisory panel composed of experts and scholars at national and international level who will test the validity of the assessment on a continuous basis.

For additional information:

Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP)

Vienna International Centre

P.O. Box 500

A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Tel: (43)(1) 26060-4269

Fax: (43)(1) 26060-5898