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Bhutan Joins Global Fight Against Organized Crime and Trafficking with UNTOC Accession

A Significant Step Towards Combating Transnational Organized Crime and Trafficking in Persons

Thimphu, Bhutan - February 20, 2023: Bhutan has joined the international effort to combat transnational organized crime (TOC) and trafficking in persons (TIP) by acceding to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocol against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. This move makes Bhutan the 191st party to the Convention.

What is UNTOC?

The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) was adopted in 2000 as a critical international instrument to address TOC, which poses a significant threat to the safety and security of societies worldwide. By joining UNTOC, Bhutan commits to:

  • Creating domestic criminal offenses
  • Adopting legislative frameworks
  • Enhancing law enforcement and judicial cooperation
  • Promoting training and technical assistance for building capacity

The TIP Protocol: A Global Definition and Protection for Victims

The TIP Protocol, which forms a part of UNTOC, sets the first global definition of TIP. This agreed-upon definition aims to ensure that each country shares a consistent approach in establishing domestic criminal offenses, enabling effective international cooperation to tackle TIP cases. Additionally, the Protocol focuses on protecting and assisting TIP victims with respect to their human rights.

Support from UNODC

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), responsible for overseeing UNTOC implementation, has supported Bhutan in meeting its commitments. UNODC has:

  • Helped amend the Bhutan Penal Code to align with the TIP Protocol in 2021
  • Conducted various training sessions for:
    • Hundreds of local leaders, front liners (health workers, legal officers, teachers, and community volunteers)
    • Law enforcement officials
    • Judges
  • Addressing required adjustments to strengthen systems in addressing TOC and TIP

Awareness Campaigns and Community Engagement

Awareness campaigns on a massive scale - reaching tens of thousands of youth and vulnerable populations - further support efforts to combat these challenges.

A Significant Step Towards Safeguarding Society

Bhutan’s accession to UNTOC and the TIP Protocol is an essential step towards safeguarding the welfare of its society, particularly the most vulnerable members. The Government and UNODC will continue to work together to strengthen multi-stakeholder responses to counter TIP, an objective set to be achieved as a core component of the new UNODC Regional Programme for South Asia (2023-2027), currently under development.

Read More: 2022 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons