#COP10: Is measuring Target 16.4 possible?

On October 13th 2020, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) participated in the event “Countering Transnational Organized Crime through Comprehensive Responses while Advancing SDG16” organized by the Government of Mexico, in collaboration with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and UNODC in Mexico.

This side event was part of the Tenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols (COP-UNTOC). The Conference of the Parties (COP) was established in accordance with Article 32 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime with the aim of improving the capacity of countries to combat transnational organized crime.

Discussions focused on the fulfilment of Target 16.4 of 2030 Agenda which seeks to significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows.

The CoE Coordinator, Ms. Salomé Flores, talked about the importance of data collection and the challenges in measuring indicators 16.4.1 and 16.4.2 related to illicit financial flows and seized, found or surrendered arms, respectively. These flows, due to their characteristics, represent an important challenge for those countries that have committed to reporting statistical information about them within the framework of the international agenda. The efforts that the CoE is promoting in this area, to technically assist countries in these measurement efforts were also mentioned.

Additionally, the panel of speakers included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF in Spanish) of the Government of Mexico, as well as the non-governmental organization Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

The speakers talked about the illicit trafficking of firearms, with special emphasis on the results of the 2020 Working Group on Firearms organized by the Global Firearms Programme of UNODC. The prevention of illicit financial flows and the role of civil society in promoting the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions were also discussed.

To attend other side events at COP-UNTOC, please visit: https://bit.ly/3dynsjh