Page 179 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Tackling Environmental Crime throUgh standardized Methodologies

Failure to prosecute, convict and sentence wildlife criminals

Jorge Rios
Chief of UNODC Sustainable Livelihoods Unit

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today about the failures
of the international community to adequately prosecute, convict and sentence
wildlife criminals. Wildlife crime is a lucrative crime, ranking as the fourth most
profitable international crime behind drugs, arms, and human trafficking.
Wildlife crime is an environmental issue, a security issue and a development
issue. Currently, not enough is being done to dissuade criminals from engaging
in the illicit trafficking of wild fauna and flora. The international community
needs to improve its efforts to better tackle wildlife and forest crime and bring
wildlife criminals to justice.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a specialised
agency of the United Nations Secretariat, is mandated to fight organised crime,
including wildlife crime. Furthermore, UNODC is the guardian of the United
Nations Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention
against Transnational Organised Crime, also called the Palermo Convention.
For UNODC “wildlife” refers to all wild fauna and flora; including terrestrial
and marine species.
Over the past few years, we have had a number of fruitful international
meetings on wildlife crime, proving there is international support and political
commitment by Member States to address this crime. This is reflected in
United Nations resolutions, from the Commission on Crime Prevention and
Criminal Justice, the Economic and Social Council, and most recently the
United Nations General Assembly, which unanimously adopted resolution
69/314 on wildlife crime in July 2015.
Wildlife crime impacts biodiversity, conservation and livelihoods.
Elephants, in addition to being iconic mammals, are also “ecological engine-
ers”, as they control soil erosion, spread plant seeds, and clear bushes, in ways

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