Freedom Collaborative was honored to represent our civil society partners at the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP12) in October, and to present findings from our upcoming report on prioritizing responses to forced criminality at a side event organized by Australia, Indonesia, the UK, and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), alongside Freedom Collaborative.
The report is based on findings from a roundtable discussion held earlier this year with members of our Trafficking for Forced Criminality Response Working Group. Produced in partnership with the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process, it assesses where the overall response stands in terms of progress and outlines the priorities identified by civil society, along with practical recommendations for intervention for all relevant stakeholder groups.
On-the-ground insights
As transnational criminal networks involved in online scamming continue to expand, and the sophistication of their operations continues to outpace current response efforts, a collective and unified response among stakeholders remains crucial. Those working on the ground have particular insight into the way in which human trafficking is used to fuel these operations, and the mechanisms that enable it, as highlighted in our report. Therefore, including their understanding and expertise in global discussions on response strategies would strengthen efforts to develop targeted, effective interventions to disrupt these networks and protect vulnerable populations.
During our presentation, we advanced the view that civil society organizations (CSOs) must be fully included in discussions on effective implementation of the UNTOC, also known as the Palermo Convention, which fosters global cooperation to combat criminal networks such as those involved in online scamming operations.
We also shared that our ground-level partners highlight the importance of exchange forums that clarify roles, prevent duplication, and facilitate the sharing of best practices, noting that responses tend to be stronger in areas with robust partnerships that improve collaboration and create pathways linking local initiatives to regional efforts. Moreover, they emphasized the need to enhance victim support and protection, especially in victim identification processes, saying that, while training is essential, it does not always translate into effective implementation. Furthermore, it remains vital to improve the evidence base and access to relevant data, which is crucial for informing effective response strategies – from raising awareness to designing prevention programs and targeting financial flows – starting with investment in robust data infrastructure.
A shared evidence base
This call for better data ecosystems is echoed in a new report from GI-TOC, which assesses the implementation and impact of the Convention. It cites a lack of centralized data as a key obstacle to effective implementation, a gap that hinders its ability to deliver impactful results. GI-TOC is now calling for more robust data collection, greater transparency, and deeper engagement with civil society in order to strengthen the Convention, and recommends the creation of an independent research center to monitor organized crime trends and track the convention’s progress.
The Convention has provided a crucial legal framework for addressing crimes such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and firearms trafficking since its adoption in 2000, and a Conference of the Parties to the Convention was established to improve the capacity of states to combat crime syndicates and review the implementation of the Convention. This year, to ensure the meaningful and effective engagement of non-governmental stakeholders, the UNODC Civil Society Unit (UNODC CSU) organized various dialogues and discussions, and supported a side event dedicated to the launch of the Civil Society Declaration on More Effective Implementation of the UNTOC, organized by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. With more than 150 signatories, the Declaration calls for greater CSO involvement in the fight against criminal networks.
