Malaysia: Strengthening civil society responses against organized crime

Putrajaya, Malaysia/17 January 2025: "We are stronger together in the fight against criminal networks.”

Over 50 stakeholders representing civil society, academia and the private sector from South and Southeast Asia echoed this statement at a UNODC capacity-building workshop to strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

Supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented in the context of the Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC (SE4U) project, the workshop provided a platform for collaboration, where participants shared insights and strategies to combat organized crime more effectively across nations.

Organized crime poses a serious threat to security, justice, and development. It weakens the rule of law and erodes public trust. Fighting it requires more than just government efforts—and non-governmental stakeholders and civil society have a crucial role to play. Community organizations help by raising awareness, supporting victims, monitoring illegal activities, and pushing for better policies.

Through hands-on sessions led by UNODC experts and group exercises, participants learned new and strengthened existing skills to advocate for change, refine their strategies, and collaborate across borders. Discussions covered key issues like human trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, and organized fraud. Participants worked together to develop creative solutions, from advocacy campaigns and digital literacy programs to regional policy reforms and public awareness drives.

In a discussion on cybercrime, a participant from Thailand pointed out, “Cybercrime is evolving fast. If civil society and authorities don’t work together, we’ll always be playing catch-up.” Another participant from Nepal reflected on human trafficking: “Survivors must be at the heart of our efforts. They should shape policies that truly address their needs.”

A key takeaway was the development of prototype initiatives designed to disrupt criminal networks. There was a strong focus on mainstreaming perspectives and ideas of young people, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to make meaningful contribution. The interactive sessions encouraged brainstorming, knowledge-sharing, and cross-border teamwork.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Karima El Korri, highlighted the importance of working together: “Organized crime erodes the rule of law. We need to engage everyone—not just governments—to fight it.” UNODC experts Billy Batware and Daniela Eilberg reinforced this message, emphasizing how UNTOC serves as a key tool for international cooperation against organized crime.

An important outcome of the workshop was the launch of Asia Regional Civil Society Network (NET4U), a new UNODC-supported network of civil society groups dedicated to strengthening UNTOC implementation across Asia. This platform will help organizations share knowledge, build capacity, and coordinate efforts to promote security, peace, and justice in the region.

This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)