Vienna: Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly has urged countries worldwide to collaborate in addressing the increasing threats posed by organized crime and terrorism. Waly made this call during the inauguration of the 34th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). She emphasized the initiative "80UN," launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which aims to significantly enhance the effectiveness of UN actions. The world is currently experiencing a surge in violence, unrest, and uncertainty, creating an environment ripe for criminal and terrorist organizations to flourish. These entities are exploiting instability to extend their influence, infiltrating regions with fragile security, and significantly increasing the illegal trade of manufactured drugs.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Waly highlighted the dangers posed by crimes often mistakenly considered non-lethal, such as the trafficking of cultural properties and the trade in counterfeit goods, particularly fake medicines, which result in approximately half a million deaths annually in Africa alone. In addressing environmental crimes, she warned against the illegal wildlife trade, illicit gold mining, and the misuse of technology, including artificial intelligence, by criminal groups for purposes such as recruitment, planning, and money laundering. Additionally, she pointed out the growing issues of online child abuse and electronic fraud.
The UNODC has taken significant actions, including cracking down on 2,500 cases involving illegal commodities, conducting 400 investigations and judicial pursuits related to human trafficking and immigrant smuggling, dismantling 60 makeshift drug production facilities in the Amazon, and securing convictions for money laundering and terrorism financing in Somalia and Mozambique. Waly also disclosed that human trafficking in Pakistan has surged by 52 percent over two years. She urged member states to support the UNODC with both action and funding to achieve a more just and secure world.