UN and Organized Crime Podcast Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

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 Hernandez and Tio Syamsuri, two regional experts, to hear their perspectives on the challenges faced by their respective countries, and whether these threats pose a broader and more global threat.
Presenter: Louise Taylor, Asia-Pacific Representative, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Guests:
Giselle Hernandez, State Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines (presenting in her personal capacity)
Praswistiadi (Tio) Syamsuri, Senior Expert on Financial Inclusion, RISE Indonesia.
Additional Reading
A dream deferred or a near miss? UN committee postpones decision on cybercrime convention
Cyber Convention Check-in

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 January and February, to get their take on what happened, hear their insights they drew from being in the room, and talk about what happens next.
Presenter: Ian Tennant, Director of Multilateral Engagement, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Guests:
Summer Walker, Head of Multilateral Affairs, NY, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Ana Paula Oliveira, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
Additional Reading
A dream deferred or a near miss? UN committee postpones decision on cybercrime convention
Cyber Convention Check-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 Multilateral Representation & Resilience Fund, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Guests:
William O'Neill, the United Nations designated expert on the human rights situation in Haiti.
Additional Links
Illicit economies and the UN Security Council
Haiti Country Profile
(GI Paper) Gangs of Haiti: Expansion, power and an escalating crisis
(GI paper) Gang control and security vacuums: Assessing gender-based violence in Cité Soleil, Haiti
(GI Blog) New sanctions target Haiti gangsters
Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
The Global Organized Crime Index

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, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Maithili Pai, UN Advocate, International Service for Human Rights
Additional Links
Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
The Global Organized Crime Index

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 Brouillette, Director of Advocacy, International Press Institute (IPI)
Additional Links
Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
The Global Organized Crime Index
UN Cybercrime Treaty: Summary of the GI-TOC's key positions

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 Institute.
Presenter(s):
Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna Multilateral Representation & Resilience Fund, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Guests:
Joyce Hakmeh, Deputy Director, International Security Programme; Co-Editor, Journal of Cyber Policy, Chatham House
Pavlina Pavlova, Public Policy Adviser, CyberPeace Institute.
Additional Links
Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
UN cybercrime treaty Ad Hoc Committee: Circle remains unsquared