Publications

  The new issue of 1540 Compass (Issue 5, January 2026) is now available, the journal dedicated to supporting the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors.This fifth issue focuses on Disrupting proliferation in finance and trade, offering an in-depth examination of how financial flows, international trade and emerging technologies can be exploited to support proliferation activities, and of the regulatory and operational measures required to counter these risks effectively.The

Cyberspace has become a defining arena for contemporary crime, conflict and security. As emerging technologies transform the way societies function, they are also reshaping how criminal actors operate, how conflicts unfold, and how legal and governance systems are challenged to respond. This new issue of Freedom From Fear Magazine (F3), The New Criminal Code: Deciphering Emerging Threats in Cyberspace, jointly produced by UNICRI and Ghent University, examines these dynamics through a multidisciplinary and forward-looking lens.One of the themes explored in this issue is the growing role of arti

Level Up – Gaming and Violent Extremism in Africa aims to deepen understanding of online harms in gaming spaces, particularly in the context of violent extremism. As gaming becomes increasingly social — especially through online mobile multiplayer titles with in-game chat — the potential for terrorist and violent extremist exploitation continues to grow.Africa, the largest and fastest-growing gaming region globally, is particularly relevant in this regard, given that it is already heavily affected by terrorism. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa alone is expected to reach 751 million mobile-phone own

  Organized crime and corruption undermine state revenues, weaken institutional credibility, and obstruct long-term development goals. Asset recovery, and in particular the social re-use of seized and confiscated assets, is a key response to ensure that illicitly-acquired resources - from financial proceeds to real estate - are not only recovered, but also redirected to serve community needs. The social re-use of seized and confiscated assets is an essential element of the asset recovery cycle, which includes the tracing, seizure, confiscation, management, and eventual return of

The integration of digital infrastructure into every dimension of modern society has created unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth. At the same time, it has opened new avenues for exploitation by serious and organized criminal actors.The new publication Clicks, Links & Tricks, Oh My! How Serious Organized Criminals Exploit Digital Trust Pathways examines how fundamental components of the Internet - domain names, uniform resource locators (URLs), and web traffic systems - are systematically manipulated. These elements, referred to throughout the report as “digital trust path

 UNICRI has released its new report entitled Strategies and Partnerships for the Women, Peace, Security Agenda between Mauritania and Italy, a strategic document that explores possible synergies between the two countries in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. Prepared with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this report offers an in-depth analysis of the institutional landscape in Mauritania, mapping the main actors – governmental, civil society, and international – involved in peace, security, and gender equa

  The second issue of the 1540 Compass explores the critical components of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), with a focus on border and export control systems crucial for its full and effective implementation. This edition particularly underscores the significance of clauses in operative paragraph 3, highlighting the global commitment to securing a world where proliferation risks are minimized through robust domestic controls.This issue offers a comprehensive look at the implementation, especially across Africa, examining the varied approaches to managing export

  Download the first issue, celebrating 20 years of UNSCR 1540 here.Articles in Issue 1Note from the Editor Francesco MarelliMessage from the Acting Director of UNICRI Leif VilladsenInterview with Ambassador Mihnea MotocInterview with Ambassador José Javier De la GascaInterview with Dr Bilal NsouliThe Impact of Resolution 1540 on Non-Proliferation Architecture in the Past 20 Years by Kiwako TanakaUNSCR 1540: Improving Implementation to Ensure a Safer Tomorrow by, Mara Zarka and Sarah Case LacknerUNSCR 1540 Lessons Learned from the ‘Tending’ of the Biological Weapo

 Africa’s digital transformation is progressing rapidly, unlocking remarkable socio-economic opportunities across the continent. However, this transformation is also giving rise to a growing array of cyberthreats, with women and girls disproportionately affected. As internet penetration deepens, the gap between technological progress and legal safeguards is becoming more pronounced, exposing critical vulnerabilities in existing protection mechanisms.This new report explores how cybercrime is impacting access to justice in four African countries (Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uga