United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 15 November 2000 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime ( also called the Palermo Convention ), is a milestone in international cooperation in this field. For the first time prevention and control of organized crime in an international treaty were globally regulated and created the legal basis for international legal assistance, extradition and police cooperation. The aim is to harmonize national laws and to set uniform standards for national law and to strengthen the cooperation of States in the fight against organized crime.

Based on the Convention the following protocols were adopted by the UN General Assembly in addition:

• Protocol of 15 November 2000 against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (protocol " smuggling " )
• Protocol of 15 November 2000 to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Protocol "trafficking" )
• Protocol of 31 May 2001 against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition illicit trafficking (protocol "Firearms " )

Content

The main objective of the Convention is to provide a minimum standard of regulations and measures for international cooperation. The Parties undertake to explain the involvement in a criminal organization and money laundering for criminal offense. You must also check whether the active and passive corruption to be punished by foreign officials. Next to legal persons can be prosecuted criminal, civil or administrative law. Tort acquired assets must be collected by the criminal authorities.

Firearms Protocol

The aim of the Firearms Protocol is the comprehensive prevention, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing and illicit trafficking of firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. As a preventive funds serve the individual marking of firearms, the firearms registration, and, where appropriate, the registration of their parts and components and ammunition. Other objectives are reliable export, import and transit control measures and increased cooperation and exchange of information among the participating States at the bilateral, regional and international levels. Repressive to bring improvements stricter penal provisions, forfeiture and generally destroying illegally circulating firearms, any parts and components and ammunition.

The Firearms Protocol was signed by 51 countries and the European Union (which in 2008 led to a change in the EC Weapons Directive). The scope of the UN Firearms Protocol therefore currently comprises 79 states. Of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, only the United Kingdom and China have signed the Protocol, ratified it so far has none of these two countries.

To carry out, 2001 was adopted the Small Arms Programme of Action of the United Nations among others to pressure from civil society.