United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime

{{Short description|United Nations treaty against crime}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox treaty | name = United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime | long_name = | image = UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.svg | image_width = 220px | caption = {{legend|#00aa00|Signed and ratified or acceded}} {{legend|#eeee00|Only signed}} {{legend|#ff1111|Non-party}} | type = Organized crime; international criminal law | date_drafted = 15 November 2000 | date_signed = 12 December 2000 | location_signed = Palermo, Italy | date_sealed = | date_effective = 29 September 2003 | condition_effective = 40 ratifications | date_expiration = | signatories = 147 | parties = 193 | depositor = Secretary-General of the United Nations | language = | languages = Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish | website = | wikisource = }}The '''United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime''' ('''UNTOC''', also called the '''Palermo Convention''') is a 2000 United Nations-sponsored multilateral treaty against transnational organized crime.

==History== The convention was adopted by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 15 November 2000.

The Convention came into force on 29 September 2003. According to Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, the convention was the first international convention to fight transnational organized crime, trafficking of human beings, and terrorism.<ref>Loredana Pianta, [https://phys.org/wire-news/325476267/researchers-simulate-mafia-and-terrorism-recruitment.html Researchers simulate mafia and terrorism recruitment], ''Phys.org'', 25 July 2019 (accessed on 30 July 2019)</ref>

In 2014, the UNTOC strengthened its policies regarding wildlife smuggling.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Wildlife trafficking to become a ‘serious crime’ under UNTOC |url=https://www.worldecr.com/wildlife-trafficking-to-become-a-serious-crime-under-un-transnational-crime-convention/ |work=WorldECR |date=2019 |access-date=2026-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818211541/https://www.worldecr.com/wildlife-trafficking-to-become-a-serious-crime-under-un-transnational-crime-convention/ |archive-date=2019-08-18 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Botswana signed the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2014 to comply with UNTOC on the human smuggling protocol.<ref>Tshepo Mongwa, [https://allafrica.com/stories/201809130150.html Botswana Makes Progress], ''Allafrica.com'', 12 September 2018 (accessed on 18 August 2019)</ref>

In 2017, as Japan prepared the organization of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, it faced the issue of not being fully compliant with the UNTOC, thus jeopardizing its eligibility to organize those events.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/opinion/japan-and-an-anti-conspiracy-bill.html Japan and an Anti-Crime Bill], ''Nytimes.com'', 1 June 2017 (accessed on 18 August 2019)</ref>

In February 2018, Afghanistan introduced a new penal code which made the country's laws UNTOC-compliant for the first time.<ref>[https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/02/1003271 Afghanistan: UN mission welcomes new penal code, urges measures to protect women from violence], ''Un.org'', 22 February 2018 (accessed on 18 August 2019)</ref>

==Description== UNTOC's three supplementary protocols (the Palermo Protocols) are:<ref name=convention>{{Cite report |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |title=United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto |publisher=United Nations |location=New York |year=2004 |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/Publications/TOC%20Convention/TOCebook-e.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>

*Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. *Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. *Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms.

All four of these instruments contain elements of the current international law on human trafficking, arms trafficking and money laundering. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) acts as custodian of the UNTOC and its protocols.<ref>{{Cite web|title=United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) {{!}} veritaszim|url=http://www.veritaszim.net/node/839|website=veritaszim.net|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

The UNTOC is the main legal international instrument to fight organized crime, but its efficiency depends on each member's ability to implement the organization's framework.<ref>Laura Adal, [https://enactafrica.org/enact-observer/weak-laws-make-tackling-organised-crime-harder Organised crime in Africa / Weak laws make tackling organised crime harder], ''Enactafrica.org'', 8 November 2018 (accessed on 18 August 2019)</ref> As an example, the UNTOC requires a minimum sentence of four years imprisonment for transnational organised criminal offences.<ref>Carina Bruwer, [https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-02-20-lions-tigers-and-bears-wildlife-trafficking-in-the-age-of-globalisation/ Lions, tigers and bears: Wildlife trafficking in the age of globalisation], ''Dailymaverick.co.za'', 20 February 2019 (accessed on 18 August 2019)</ref>

==Parties== {{as of|2025|07}}, it has 193 parties,<ref>[https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-12&chapter=18&clang=_en UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: Treaty status]</ref> which includes 187 United Nations member states, the Cook Islands, the Holy See, Niue, the State of Palestine, and the European Union. The four UN member states that are ''not'' party to the convention are (* indicates that the state has signed but not ratified the convention):

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| *{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}* *{{flag|Papua New Guinea}} *{{flag|Solomon Islands}} *{{flag|Tuvalu}} }}

In June 2018, the Iranian Parliament approved the bill to join the UNTOC. The bill was initially blocked by the country's Expediency Discernment Council, until May 2025 when it was eventually approved upon further review.<ref>[https://en.radiofarda.com/a/palermo-bills-suspended/29390533.html Palermo Bills Suspended], ''Radio Farda'', 25 July 2018 (accessed on 30 July 2019)</ref><ref>[https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-fatf-untoc-bilss-money-laundering-terrorism-financing/29365904.html Iran's Watchdog Rejects Bills To Join U.N. Crime Conventions], ''Radio Farda'', 15 July 2018 (accessed on 30 July 2019)</ref><ref>[https://www.intellinews.com/iran-s-expediency-council-conditionally-approves-palermo-convention-381100/ Iran's Expediency Council conditionally approves Palermo Convention], ''bne IntelliNews'', 14 May 2025 (accessed on 14 May 2025)</ref>

== See also == *European Public Prosecutor *International Criminal Police Organization *ISO 37001 Anti-bribery management systems *United Nations Convention against Corruption *Proxy criminal networks *Transnational organized crime

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/index.html}}

{{International criminal law}} {{Authority control}}

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