SIGNING CONFERENCE FOR UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

Palermo, Italy, 12–15 December 2000

VIENNA, 18 October (UN Information Service) -- In response to the rapid globalization of organized criminal groups, United Nations Member States have forged a new treaty intended to close the major loopholes that block international efforts to combat cross-border crimes.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which, along with its protocols, aims at stemming the buying and selling of human beings into new forms of slavery, the smuggling of migrants and the high-profit trade in illicit firearms, is expected to be adopted by the General Assembly in November. The instruments will be opened for signature at a high-level conference to be held in Palermo, Italy, from 12 to 15 December.

Organized by the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention and hosted by the Italian Government, the conference is expected to gather world leaders, high-level government officials, prominent personalities, representatives from the media and experts for a series of panels on key issues related to the treaty.

Among those events will be a seminar entitled “Transnational Organized Crime and the Media”, which will focus primarily on professional aspects of reporting on crime and corruption, including management of and access to information. The one- day seminar, which will feature four panels and floor discussions, will take place on 13 December. Investigative journalists specializing in coverage of organized crime in all parts of the world have been invited to take part.

The conference will be held at several venues in Palermo, starting in the morning of 12 December. The 13 December Media Seminar will take place in the Palazzo dei Normanni, Sala Gialla, in the morning and afternoon. Accredited journalists may obtain passes beginning at 8:30 a.m. on 11 December in the Palazzo di Giustizia. As indicated, completed application forms for accreditation should be returned to the specified address not later than 15 November 2000.

* *** *
United Nations