Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links between organized crime and terrorism, to the twilight of the Yakuza. In this series Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against...

This episode explores the importance of gender equality and gender sensitive policies and programmes in national and international responses to organized crime, including how these issues are approached in multilateral negotiations. Ian Tennant speaks to Ambassador Corinne Kitsell, an experience British multilateral diplomat, who is currently the UK's Permanent Representative to several international organizations in Vienna. Presenter: Ian Tennant, Director of Multilateral Engagement, Global...

On 29 July 2024, the reconvened session of the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) to conclude negotiations on a new UN convention on cybercrime began. The AHC is mandated to submit a draft convention to the UN General Assembly by 9 August. Since the AHC began its negotiations in 2022, competing visions for this convention have not been reconciled. Some countries have pushed for a treaty with a narrow scope and clear rights protections and safeguards. Others, who have pushed for an expanded instrument...

This second podcast episode on cybercrime and critical technologies in South East Asia starts to explore what the possible regional and indeed global responses might be to tackling these entrenched and growing threats.  With the support of the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our partner, Lydekker, the GI-TOC has been exploring the specific vulnerabilities and challenges of these trends in South East Asia and exploring, with an expert multistakeholder group what best...

This episode explores the challenges that cybercrime and the exploitation of critical technologies pose in Indonesia and the Philippines and the broader South East Asia region. With the support of the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our partner, Lydekker, the GI-TOC has been engaging across the region to understand the specific vulnerabilities and challenges that these growing threats pose to the populations and governments in South East Asia. Louise talks to Giselle...

This episode reflects on what was supposed to be the concluding session of the UN’s ad Hoc committee that had been set up to negotiate a new convention on cybercrime. Following seven negotiating sessions over two years, each lasting two weeks and costing almost a million dollars each for the UN, member states have not come to agreement on what the convention should do, or even what it should be called. Ian talks to Summer Walker and Ana Paula Oliveira, who represented GI-TOC at the 7th AHC in...

In this episode, Ian talks to William O'Neill, the UN's designated expert on the human rights situation in Haiti. In the context of the escalating and untrammelled gang violence in Haiti, and the unprecedented security and human rights crisis, O'Neill explains how the multilateral system is responding. How will the multinational police mission led by Kenya work? What are the human rights priorities? And what effect with targeted sanctions have? Presenter: Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna...

This episode explores how 'ECOSOC consultative status' enables NGOs to engage on policy issues at the UN, and how GI-TOC finally gained its accreditation earlier this year. The episode also discusses the challenges NGOs face in gaining this status, and in more generally engaging in multilateral settings. Presenter(s): Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna Multilateral Representation & Resilience Fund, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Guests: Tuesday Reitano, Deputy Director,...

In this episode, Ian Tennant talks to Amy Brouillette of the International Press Institute to discuss the risks that the treaty negotiation poses to freedom of the media. This is one of many risks and challenges that remain to be resolved as delegates await a final draft treaty to discuss at the concluding session in early 2024. Presenter(s): Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna Multilateral Representation & Resilience Fund, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Guests: Amy...

This episode explores the latest developments in the process to negotiate a UN treaty on cyber crimes, including a look back at April's 5th Ad Hoc Committee meeting, the upcoming publication of a draft treaty, and the next meeting in August. GI-TOC's Ian Tennant discusses key issues such as how the treaty should enable capacity building for states whilst protecting rights, and ensuring the involvement of civil society - with leading experts from Chatham House and the CyberPeace...

In April 2023, the Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate a treaty on the misuse of ICTs for criminal purposes will meet to discuss a chapter on technical assistance, among other topics. As well on 6 March, technical assistance will be discussed during the intersessional with multi-stakeholders and governments.  In this podcast, Summer Walker speaks to Tomslin Samme-Nlar and Nate Allen, authors of report, The downsides of digital revolution: Confronting Africa’s evolving cyber threats.  They discuss...

In this episode, we look back at the recent CITES Conference of the Parties in Panamá, and explore how this multilateral process addresses environmental crimes. The GI-TOC was there and focussed on international cooperation and responses to the online illegal wildlife trade. But what was achieved at the Conference and what impact it could it have on the damaging criminal markets concerned. Presenter(s): Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna Multilateral Representation & Resilience Fund, Global...

In this episode, Ian sits down with Dr Jarrett Blaustein, the author of a new book 'Unraveling the Crime-Development Nexus' . Together, Ian and Jarrett discuss the evolution and history of the UN's response to organized crime and its governance structures, in the context of the upcoming Conference of Parties to the UNTOC. They consider the link between crime and sustainable development, and why more integrated and strategic approaches are needed from the multilateral system. Looking ahead to...

In this episode, we discuss the ongoing UN negotiations to create a global instrument to address cybercrime, or what it is called formally: countering the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for criminal purposes. In May and June the second meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) took place in Vienna. It was the first meeting that dealt with the potential substance of a treaty. Delegates addressed three main topics: general provisions, such as overall purpose;...

From 30 May to 10 June, the second cybercrime UN 'AHC' negotiation meeting took place in Vienna. As delegations started exploring the issues in more detail, governments differed widely on what crimes to cover under the convention and how to define them, but they were generally eager to include measures to address a wide array of crimes committed using computer systems under provisions covering procedural measures and law enforcement. In this episode, Summer Walker and Ian Tennant discuss what...

On 28 February, UN Member States began the official negotiation process of a new UN legal instrument on cybercrime. In this episode we delve into the substantive issues at play in the first negotiation session and in subsequent written submissions by UN Member States, ahead of the next session which starts on 30 May in Vienna. There are major gaps between different camps, and geopolitical pressures and fractures to navigate. We discuss what to expect for the upcoming session and beyond as...

On 28 February, UN Member States began the official negotiation process of a new UN legal instrument on cybercrime.  In this episode we look back at the first negotiation session with a representative of the UK's delegation. We consider the major issues in the negotiations, how different positions are emerging on issues like defining cybercrimes, what activities should be criminalized, and how human rights and sovereignty play into discussions. We also discuss how widely adopted existing...

In the final episode of the Road to Kyoto podcast series, Ian Tennant speaks to civil society participants at the 14th Crime Congress to reflect on what happened at the Congress, and what it means for the future of multistakeholder responses to transnational organized crime. Presenter: Ian Tennant, Fund Manager, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Guests: Siria Gastelum Felix, Resilience Director, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Jean-Paul Laborde,...

We have arrived in Kyoto, at least virtually. In this episode of the Road to Kyoto podcast, Ian Tennant reflects on how the Congress has functioned so far, and what that means for civil society's ability to engage and influence this multi-stakeholder meeting. Information on GI-TOC's range of events at the Congress can be found here. Presenter: Ian Tennant, Fund Manager, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

In this episode Ian is joined by a selection of distinguished guests and members of the GI Network of experts. They will discuss the current global state of organized crime, in the context of the quinquennial Congress, and the more recent developments as a result of COVID-19.  The podcast will also analyse the current framework of international responses to issues of concern to the Experts, and make suggestions on what should be the key issues and recommendations discussed by governments and...

Ian takes a look back at the first major UN Conference on organized crime to have taken place this year – the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime – the UNTOC. He will consider what implications this Conference had for the upcoming Crime Congress, the broader international response to organized crime, and the place of civil society within those discussions.  Presenter: Ian Tennant, Fund Manager, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized...

The Global Initiative has always championed the community leaders and civil society groups and activists who face the damage caused by organized crime at the local level. In this episode, we will hear some of those voices.  All of the people you will hear from are beneficiaries of the Global Initiative’s Resilience Fund, which supports exactly these kind of groups and individuals as they seek to build their community’s resilience against criminal governance.   Presenter: Ian Tennant Global...

Ian Tennant is joined by Ambassador Ugi Zvekic, Permanent Observer Office of the European Public Law Organization to United Nations in Vienna and Senior Advisor at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. They dicuss criminal justice governance at the UN.

This week Ian is joined by Olivia Rope, the Director of Policy and International Advocacy at Penal Reform International. Global Initiative Road to Kyoto