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25th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)

Side-event: Strengthening the Security and Integrity of the Precious Metals Supply Chain - Launching of a new technical report

Vienna -

Side-event “Strengthening the Security and Integrity of the Precious Metals Supply Chain” 

Launching of a new technical report

Vienna International Center, Wagramer Str. 5, 1400 Wien, Austria, Conference room M2 - 25 May 2016 h: 13:10

A technical Report on “Strengthening the Security and Integrity of the Precious Metals Supply Chain” will be launched by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) on the occasion of the Side-event that will be held on 25 May at the 25th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).

The report, prepared by UNICRI, within the framework of its initiative to counter illicit trafficking in precious metals, aims at assessing the vulnerabilities of the precious metals supply chain, highlighting the involvement of transnational organized crime and presenting other criminal activities associated to the illicit trafficking in precious metals.

Illicit trafficking in precious metals generates a number of local and global challenges and threats. It not only harms the mining companies, but also severely hinders the socio-economic development of producing countries while putting local communities at risk. In addition, the infiltration of transnational organised crime in the precious metals sector is frequently associated to different serious cross-border crimes.

Based on the cases analysed, the report presents the complex and interlinked levels of criminal actors; it explains the different challenges deriving from gold and platinum group mining and refining processes, and provides examples of the several crimes affecting this sector, including corruption, money laundering, drug and arms trafficking, smuggling of migrants, sexual and gender based violence and child labour.

The report also presents the different initiatives and tools in place to combat the illicit trafficking in precious metals in different countries and regions as well as the challenges they face. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the legal supply chain and UNICRI recommendations to develop comprehensive systems to combat trade and trafficking in precious metals will be discussed during the Side-event. On that occasion an international strategy to strengthen the security and integrity of the precious metals supply chain will be launched.

Download the concept note and the agenda of the side-event For more information please contact preciousmetals@unicri.it