Towards a more effective approach to tackling transnational organized crime in an ever-changing and increasingly polarized world.
The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) held its 34th session in Vienna from 19 to 23 May. This followed the tumultuous March session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), where the current political shifts in the US were on full display . Despite the financial and political crises being experienced by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its policymaking bodies, all the CCPCJ resolutions were adopted by consensus, in stark contrast to how the CND played out. However, the UNODC’s current challenges were still evident beneath the surface, with polarized positions on issues such as sustainable development and gender. This was set against the backdrop of the UN’s funding crisis, including the significant impact of US funding decisions and upcoming UN reforms. Adding to this uncertainty, the UNODC’s executive director, Ghada Waly, resigned unexpectedly one week after the CCPCJ concluded, before the end of her current contract (due to expire in Febru...