COMMENTARY

Thinking beyond our personal borders: ideas, information, and analysis

The commentary blog
of Criminologists Without Borders

This section provides members and guests with commentary and perspective on current events, themes, and subjects relevant to our international audience.

 

Submission to UN Intergovernmental Expert Group on Crimes that Affect the Environment within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. (2025).  Title: It’s Time for a More Systematic Focus on Organized Environmental Crimes
Abstract: Organized environmental crime has a direct impact on environmental quality, endangers biodiversity, contributes to the depletion of natural resources, and causes harm to humans. It is time that it be treated as a form of organized crime, using the tools created in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Submission by Criminologists Without Borders - Access to Justice
UN resolution 78/227 entitled “Equal access to justice for all” (2024)
Equal access to justice is fundamental to the rule of law and is recognized as a key human right, stemming from the UN Declaration on Human Rights in 1948. Six key reasons are provided why equal access to justice is directly connected to human rights and the rule of law. In summary, equal access to justice is a cornerstone of the rule of law because it ensures fairness, accountability, and trust in the legal system, which are critical for maintaining a just and stable society. 

Accelerating the Recovery from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Statements submitted by Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative 
status with the Economic and Social Council.  The Secretary-General has received the following statements, which are being circulated in accordance with paragraphs 30 and 31 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.  Theme: Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels. (2023).  2023-hls-compilation-of-written-statements-ngo-2.pdf

The Proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty
Five Reasons to Reconsider the Approach to Transnational Cybercrimes

A brief discussion of issues relating to the title of the proposed Convention, why it's not a Protocol to an existing Convention, its narrow scope, and avoiding delays in implementation. (2023)
https://crimwithoutb.substack.com/p/the-proposed-un-cybercrime-treaty

Paths to Migration
Written statement of Criminologists Without Borders on irregular migration at reconvened thirtieth session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. https://youtu.be/L36ZPHmAMAc December 8 (2021).
Summary
Irregular migration continues to occur globally and the reasons for this are three:  escape from oppression,  the human yearning for education and work, and the dream of an opportunity for a better life. The absence of safe & regular pathways for immigration and asylum lies at the heart of migrant smuggling. When the rule of rule is not made available, and visas inaccessible, migrant smuggling is a predictable outcome.      

We Find the Organized Crime We’re Looking For  

The problem is that we always find the organized crime we’re looking for, but never the conduct that we choose to overlook. A commentary by Jay Albanese. (2020).     

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 Submissions (~800-1,000 words) can be submitted for review at justiceworks@yahoo.com