Why is Implementing the UNTOC Essential to Combat Environmental Crime

Abstract

Transnational organised crime seriously impacts the environment, as the correlation was acknowledged in several UN resolutions. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is essential to combat environmental and wildlife crime. The UNTOC was accepted within the United Nations framework and adopted by the General Assembly Resolution 55/25 in November 2000. The convention entered into force in September 2003, following the receipt of the fortieth ratification document. In the last few decades, organised criminal groups have noticed the valuable possibility of exploiting natural resources, thus facilitating the entanglement of transnational organised crime and crimes against the environment. In 2018, the CoP of the TOC accepted the resolution 9/1 entitled „Establishment of the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols”. In 2020, the decision was made to launch the review mechanism. The information gathered by self-assessment questionnaires will provide essential feedback on the national implementation of the UNTOC. In this article, the Author concentrates on the main connection points of transnational organised crime and environmental crime, analysing the importance and role of international instruments, primarily the Transnational Organized Crime Convention, in fighting transnational environmental crime, including wildlife crime.