UNTOC at 25: Multilateralism remains key to addressing transnational organized crime

MANILA. Multilateralism and international cooperation are more critical than ever in addressing online and transborder crime in an increasingly digitalizing world, said Philippine government experts at an event organized by the United Nations to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

Organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and with support of the United Kingdom, the event convened over 130 delegates representing the Philippine government, diplomatic community, legal profession, and the youth for a dialogue on the continued relevance of UNTOC 25 years on.

With the theme “Follow the Money,” the forum’s discussions focused on the work being done by state authorities to track down the international money flows that sustain criminal activities, such as trafficking in persons, money laundering, corruption, which have been evolving with the rapid development of technology and increased virtual connectivity.

“The task of following the money has become more complex,” said Undersecretary Anthony Alcantara, Executive Director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime. “Because money trails no longer stop at our borders, no single nation can uncover them alone. International cooperation is not optional. Every case today requires shared intelligence, shared technology, and our shared resolve.”

Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin shared the Philippines’ commitment to addressing transnational organized crime, highlighting the government’s efforts to stop the illicit activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

“The [Marcos] administration has taken bold and decisive action to defeat or eliminate the scourge of online criminality. The massive crackdown against illegal POGO hubs and scam syndicates has set a strong message that the Philippines will refuse to be a haven for criminal enterprises,” said Mr. Bersamin.

In a report released earlier this year, UNODC identified the proliferation of scam centers in Southeast Asia as one of the most significant developments in the region’s criminal ecosystem. The syndicates that run these hubs control interconnected networks that facilitate money laundering, trafficking in persons, and cyber-enabled fraud.

“The world has changed since 2000,” said UNODC Program Office in the Philippines’ Country Manager Daniele Marchesi. “The challenges here in Southeast Asia are particularly alarming, but there are lessons we have learned since the UNTOC took effect 25 years ago. “We need political commitment, international cooperation, and stronger capacities on financial investigation. We also need to focus on prevention, by including youth.” 

To keep up with the changing landscape of transnational organized crime, world leaders from 72 countries convened last month in Hanoi, Viet Nam to sign the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime, the first comprehensive global treaty dedicated to combating crimes committed through information and communications technology systems, including online fraud, child exploitation, and illicit data trafficking.

“This success of multilateralism is proof that the spirit of Palermo [where the UNTOC was signed in 2000] is alive even in the digital age,” said Mr. Marchesi.

In addition to messages from the Philippine government, the event to commemorate the UNTOC’s 25th anniversary also featured a panel discussion on international cooperation with a panel composed of the Ambassadors of Italy, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and South Africa to the Philippines, a presentation on why the UNTOC matters to young generations by Mathew Joseph, former Deputy Senior State Counsel of the Attorney-General’s Chambers Singapore and Delegation Leader of Singapore to the UNTOC Negotiation Session in Vienna, and a panel discussion on youth, education, and whole-of-society approaches to disrupting transnational organized crime.