Crimes that affect the environment are often serious, transnational organized crimes, and thus of direct relevance to the mandate of UNODC, notably in its role as Secretariat to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In 2021, Member States further reiterated their commitment to addressing such crimes. ECOSOC resolution 2021/24 details practical actions for Member States and the international community to prevent and combat crimes that affect the environment. The resolution requests UNODC to support Member States in this regard, as well as in relation to corruption and money-laundering related to such crimes. The resolution further requests UNODC to expand coordination as well as cooperation with relevant organizations including the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC).
Since 2015, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted five resolutions on trafficking in wildlife, demonstrating a continuing and strengthened commitment of the international community to address this issue. Through these resolutions, UNODC is mandated to support Member States to address illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora. For example, General Assembly resolution 75/311, adopted in July 2021, recognizes the important work of UNODC and ICCWC and calls upon the United Nations to continue to support efforts by Member States to fight illicit trafficking in wildlife. Further, it requests UNODC to support Member States to prohibit, prevent and counter any form of corruption that facilitates illicit trafficking in wildlife and to continue to strengthen its research efforts. Resolution 28/3 adopted by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in May 2019 recognizes UNODC’s role and emphasizes the importance of its provision of technical assistance and capacity building to Member States.
