Publications

UNICRI Framework on Multilingualism - August 2024

  "In an interconnected world, multilingualism contributes to building trust and making the United Nations more efficient, more representative and more transparent"  António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations   UNICRI actively participates in the ongoing dialogue on how multilingualism enhances its work and supports the imperatives of the UN, contributing to racial diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also recognises the release of its Framework on Multilingualism as one of the first to follow the United Nations' recently issued Strategic Framework on Multilingualism. The Institute is committed to exploring practical, responsive, and targeted ways in which multilingualism can guide and support its efforts in addressing complex transnational cri...

Article: Current Challenges and Continuing Relevance of the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Considering Mali as a Case-Study - March 2023

The United Nations Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was inaugurated in 2000 with the unanimous adoption of the Security Council landmark resolution 1325. This resolution, together with the ones that followed, described as a “norm bundle”, are a crucial framework to address the unique ways in which women and girls are affected by conflict and to promote their protection and participation in the maintenance of peace and security, in conflict prevention and post-conflict efforts. However, despite the headway that has been made over the past 20 years there are still many challenges. This article explores the several current challenges and highlights the need to make the agenda a living instrument that evolves and effectively adapts to the rapid changes of the world. It places a stro...

Compendium of best practices on the engagement and advancement of women in chemical safety and security - November 2022

  Male-dominated leadership in the chemical field makes career progression more difficult for women.   In today’s globally interconnected, technologically advanced society, science (and Chemistry - as a sub-discipline) is fundamental to our daily life. Increasing the number of people involved in the fields of science and technology, especially women and girls - who represent half of the world’s population – is a fundamental requirement for the achievement of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which relies on innovation and equality as preconditions. The UN considers gender equality as a global priority and the “necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” While women continue to play an increasingly important...

Настанова для працівників прокуратури щодо злочинів, пов'язаних з застосуванням хімічних та біологічних речовин. The Prosecutor’s Guide to Chemical and Biological Crimes available in Ukrainian - November 2022

The purpose of the Guidebook, now available in Ukrainian, is to provide police and civil prosecutors, and relevant investigative agencies, with guidance to support the successful prosecution of incidents involving the deliberate use of a chemical or biological agents. The Guidebook aims to provide awareness and insight into the current and emerging challenges related to the investigation and prosecution of such crimes. Foreword by the Director of UNICRI Antonia Marie De Meo The world we currently live in is complex and ever changing. Criminal entities are responding to evolving threat landscapes and advancing technology with ease, presenting a multitude of challenges to those who investigate and prosecute crime. Particularly challenging crimes involve the deliberate acquisition and u...

Gaming and the Metaverse: The alarming rise of online child sexual exploitation and abuse within the new digital frontier - November 2022

  UNICRI dives in the virtual world together with partners from the Bracket Foundation and Value for Good in the new report Gaming and the Metaverse: The alarming rise of online child sexual exploitation and abuse within the new digital frontier. The metaverse is an emerging digital environment offering users with new, immersive social experiences, all within a growing digital economic ecosystem. The metaverse stands apart from more ‘traditional’ closed-platform gaming experiences, enabling a wider array of social interactions, encompassing making friends, connecting with other players and consuming content. However, the growing community of users on such social gaming platforms also includes many children, who may be exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse, if proper safeguard...

The Conflict in Ukraine and its Impact on Organized Crime and Security - November 2022

      This report assesses the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for organized crime and security-related issues for neighbouring countries, with a focus on Moldova. These include: Organized crime and illicit trafficking (including trafficking in persons, drugs, arms, illicit tobacco, and other goods);  Cybercrimes and fraud;  Disinformation and propaganda; and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. This study provides key recommendations to inform concerned stakeholders at the national and regional levels to identify lessons learned and guide future initiatives to mitigate risks in the above-mentioned areas.  UNICRI has been present in Ukraine and in the European Union’s Eastern Par...

A Policy Framework for Responsible Limits on Facial Recognition. Use Case: Law Enforcement Investigations - November 2022

The World Economic Forum, in partnership with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the Netherlands police, published A Policy Framework for Responsible Limits on Facial Recognition Technology, Use Case: Law Enforcement Investigations. While the adoption of facial recognition technology (FRT) has many socially beneficial uses in various industries, it also creates a unique set of challenges that require an appropriate governance process to ensure its ethical and human rights compliant use. To address these challenges, the World Economic Forum and project community published its initial vision for a policy framework for the responsible use of FRT in law enforcement investigations in 2...

Perceptions of climate change and violent extremism - October 2022

  The report Perceptions of climate change and violent extremism: Listening to local communities in Chad has been produced by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in partnership with SWISSAID. Building upon UNICRI’s previous research it explores the lived experiences of community members and their perceptions on the role climate change and degradation of natural resources have in exacerbating local conflicts, as well as the impact of climate change on violent extremist groups’ recruitment narratives. The research is based on primary data collected through more than 100 in-depth interviews across four provinces of Chad — Hadjer-Lamis, Lac, Logone Occidentale and Mandoul. The report specifically analyses the effects of clima...

The Taliban in Afghanistan: Assessing New Threats to the Region and Beyond - October 2022

This brief threat assessment report by UNICRI aims to analyse and assess the recent developments in Afghanistan and their broader implications on the security context at the domestic, regional, and international levels. This is a prelude to a more comprehensive report that will aim to explore and identify: (i) current sources of Taliban funding; (ii) the relationship between the Taliban and foreign terrorist groups, notably Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K); (iii) the use of sanctions, and their unintended consequences; (iv) regional relations and dynamics; and (v) potential implications for the European security context. This research aims to provide actionable recommendations to guide the design of an integrated programme for neighbouring countr...