Australia and the United Nations criminal justice system

United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

Australia is a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the main international instrument on transnational organized crime.

The Convention recognises the serious harm caused by transnational organized crime and the need for countries to work together to fight this crime effectively.

By ratifying this instrument, states commit to undertaking a series of measures to tackle transnational organized crime, including the creation of domestic criminal offences and the adoption of extradition, mutual legal assistance and law enforcement cooperation frameworks.

Australia is also a party to two supplementary Protocols to the Convention: the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.

These Protocols deal specifically with two forms of transnational organized crime, human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime promotes and reviews the Convention and its Protocols.

Australia plays an active role at the Conference’s biennial meetings and also participates in various working groups.

For more information, visit the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime website.

United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

The Commission is the governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. It takes action through resolutions and decisions and guides the activities of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.

Australia attends the Commission’s annual meetings as an observer and plays an active role in the discussions and consultations on resolutions.

For more information, visit the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime website.