Rome (Italy), 29 July 2021 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Italy’s Department of Public Security of the Ministry of the Interior concluded today a memorandum of understanding to develop joint activities across UNODC’s mandate areas of drugs, crime corruption and terrorism.
The MOU was signed by UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly and Prefect Lamberto Giannini, Chief of Police-Director General of Public Security, during Ms. Waly’s mission to Rome to address the G20 Culture Ministerial Meeting, under the G20 presidency of Italy, on protection of cultural heritage.
Ms. Waly said: “Italy is a long-standing partner of UNODC in the fight against organized crime. We just marked the 20th anniversary of the landmark Palermo Convention, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and I welcome these concrete steps to strengthen our cooperation, also to support other countries to benefit from Italy’s support and expertise in tackling challenges posed by drugs, organized crime, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, trafficking in cultural property, corruption and terrorism.”
Prefect Giannini said: “This strategic MOU between UNODC and the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of the Interior to combat all forms of transnational crime represents an excellent opportunity and framework for cooperation. It will further enhance the action of Italian law enforcement agencies with UNODC and with UN Member State counterparts, to share know-how through joint, concrete and pragmatic programmes, and help to ensure security, growth and development for our communities while respecting the rule of law.”
The partnership with the Department of Public Security, which handles the operational coordination of Italian police forces including the State Police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza and Penitentiary Police, will address preventing and combating transnational organized crime, corruption, drug and arms trafficking, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, terrorism and other serious or emerging forms of crime, and encompass:
- joint projects and programmes, in particular technical assistance, capacity building and awareness-raising campaigns;
- provision of experts;
- research, data analysis and risk assessment;
- study visits; and
- exchange of competencies, experience and good practices.
The Italian Central Directorate of Anti-Drug Services, the Scientific Police Service of the State Police, the Department of Anti-Drug Policies, the Special Operations Group of the General Command of the Carabinieri have previously hosted study visits. The Italian Central Directorate of Anti-Drug Services and the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate have also provided advisory services and technical expertise.
