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STRATEGY FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AGAINST GLOBAL CRIME , UNTOC & UNCAC WANTING
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
Global challenges of crime governance today see an increasingly close link between
organized crime and corruption, as both activities are intertwined through mutual
instrumentality. Corruption offers the means to allow illicit markets to operate
— by ensuring impunity for criminal actors, facilitating methods of legitimizing
illicit gains or ensuring flows of illicit goods through trafficking networks and
across borders. Conversely, the power, influence and wealth accrued through
organized crime places criminal actors in a position to influence state officials
and shape the wider political economy.
In summary, transnational organized crime is characterized by modes of
operation and instruments which include: threats, extortion, violence and
corruption. Corruption in particular is used, on the one hand, for the maintenance
and expansion of illicit activities and control over illicit markets and trade, and on
the other, to access licit market and/or state-based economic opportunities (e.g.
public works; public bids, etc) and influence both law and policy making as well
as law and policy administration and implementation.
Corruption is today an organized endeavour. Without taking away the
dangerous and risks posed by the routine, petty level corruption transactions to
which many citizens all over the world are exposed every day in their everyday
contacts with public administration at the local, regional and national levels, the
increasing threat is manifested in the high level and international corruption.
These are by no means organized illicit endeavours — the transnational organized
corruption.
In the context of development, the impact of organized crime on governance
and the rule of law is heightened, particularly in fragile and post-conflict states.
Organized crime and corruption are increasingly recognized as impeding
development (SDGs Goal 16), inhibiting economic growth and amplifying state
fragility. Although neither are new phenomena, over recent years their spread,
impact and influence have reached unprecedented levels, with profound effects
in both developing and developed countries.
The inextricable links between organized crime and corruption require an
integrated, coordinated approach to prevention, international cooperation and
in particular asset recovery. This includes minimizing the opportunity for such
activities, targeting illicit profits (including anti-money-laundering efforts and
asset recovery), nurturing an anti-crime culture and concerted international
cooperation efforts.
The transnational organized corruption will be the predominant manifestation
of corruption and organized crime nexus on the international level. This emerging
international challenge requires much more integration both normative and
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