United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Last updated: 2024-02-05

About our SID activities

While internet access is viewed as an indicator of development, marked increases in cyber offences nationally, regionally and globally have shown the need to strengthen prevention and awareness raising globally. The increasing number of internet users through broadband and mobile data has resulted in an increasing number of potential cybercrime victims.

At UNODC, we observe that organised crime is already using the full potential of digital tools for criminal purposes, making the most of social media to reach victims.

In this context of increased connectivity and vulnerability, the ability to prevent cybercrime has never been more urgent. As such, the UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime launched three permanent exhibitions at children's museums in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. The exhibitions raise children's awareness and prepare them to recognise and confront cybercrimes and misdemeanours. The exhibitions and educational games were designed to promote and teach children's rights on the internet and inclusion and diversity for disabled people.

What we are doing to create a better internet…

UNODC is working with Member States, international/regional organisations, private sector, and civil society to make both the online and offline worlds safer from crime.

About us

Considering the dimensions of cybercrime risks, the specialised areas involving and traversing this type of criminality, and the diverse capacities that Member States have to prevent and counter it, the UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime promotes long-term, sustainable capacity building to prevent and counter cybercrime through supporting national structures. 

The programme integrates into its package of services technical assistance that goes from preventing to adjudication of crime; detecting to presenting digital evidence to the court; gathering and analysing evidence; support to the investigation, prosecution and sentencing; in cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crimes including online child sexual abuse and exploitation and criminal/illicit use of virtual asset. 
Specifically, UNODC draws upon its specialised expertise on criminal justice systems response to provide technical assistance in capacity building, normative assistance, prevention and awareness raising, cooperation, and research and analysis on cybercrime trends. This expertise is delivered through a holistic programmatic approach: capacity building/technical assistance, cooperation, and normative assistance/legal framework. 

This approach is applied in areas of intervention where the Global Programme on Cybercrime carry out its activities, including cyber investigations, online child sexual abuse and exploitation, digital forensics, digital evidence, virtual assets and prevention. 

Additional links/resources

Website
http://www.unodc.org

Email address
unodc@unodc.org

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