Publications

Local Cooperation for Prevention, Trust and Resilience Across Europe, the protection of public spaces remains a priority for policymakers. The EU Action Plan on the Protection of Public Spaces, the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda and wider EU work on preventing violent extremism, hate crime and discrimination all point to the need for prevention, preparedness and cooperation. Schools, places of worship and community institutions require particular attention within this agenda. These are symbolic spaces: places where identity, belief, education, culture and belonging are expressed. When such spaces

Q1–Q2 | January–June 2026The first edition of the Crime & Justice Quarterly reviews crime and justice developments during the first half of 2026 (January–June), drawing on threat assessments and indices published by international organizations, specialized agencies, think tanks and investigative networks.Some of the most recent trends represent a continuation of earlier developments, which explains why a small selection of sources predates the reporting period.During the reporting period, transnational organized crime continued to evolve, with criminal groups operating increasingly profess

Food insecurity and violent extremism are among the defining challenges affecting peace, security and sustainable development in many regions of the world. While there is no direct causal relationship between the two, food insecurity can, in certain contexts, exacerbate grievances and vulnerabilities that violent extremist groups exploit for recruitment, influence and territorial control.This publication examines the complex and context-dependent relationship between food insecurity and violent extremism, drawing on recent international research and UNICRI's work on preventing and countering v

A Decade of Innovation for Security Emerging technologies are transforming the global security landscape at an unprecedented pace. The same innovations that strengthen societies and drive economic growth are increasingly exploited by organized crime, terrorists and other malicious actors to expand illicit activities, evade detection and target critical infrastructures. At the same time, these technologies offer powerful new opportunities to prevent, detect and respond to evolving threats.Against this backdrop, UNICRI launched SIRIO (Security Improvements through Research, Technology and Innova

Advances in digital technologies have improved communication and the sharing of information have become an important component of security and peacebuilding efforts. At the same time, they have enabled new forms of gender-based violence and disinformation that disproportionately affect women in public and professional roles. Despite the growing international attention to digital violence, defamation, and disinformation campaigns that contribute to reducing women's civic and operational space, online violence specifically targeting women working in peace operations, peacebuilding, and security

The unprecedented speed of digital transformation is reshaping not only the way societies communicate, work, and access information, but also the way crime evolves, operates, and impacts individuals, institutions, and States. In a global context marked by growing geopolitical tensions, social fragmentation, and accelerating technological change, the opportunities created by innovation increasingly coexist with new vulnerabilities that are often difficult to identify, govern, and contain. As highlighted in the opening editorial by UNICRI Acting Director Leif Villadsen, the challenge of our time

How can governments respond effectively to minerals crime when criminal networks operate across borders, supply chains, and financial systems?As global demand for gold and critical minerals continues to grow, illegal extraction and trafficking are increasingly linked to organized crime, illicit financial flows, corruption, environmental harm, and broader governance vulnerabilities. These dynamics are becoming particularly significant in the Andean–Amazon region, where mineral supply chains intersect with fragile ecosystems, transnational trade routes, and complex governance challenges. UNICRI’

Across several regions of Africa, the relationship between terrorism and illicit economies interacts with broader patterns of insecurity. In environments marked by fragile institutions, porous borders and expansive informal markets, violent extremist groups and criminal actors operate within overlapping spaces where the boundaries between legality and illegality are often blurred. These conditions create environments in which illicit economic systems can be exploited by violent extremist groups.Dangerous Liaisons: Assessing the nexus between terrorism and criminal activities in Africa (French

Evidence, practice and global lessons from UNICRI’s Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons projectDigital technologies are increasingly influencing the future of correctional systems worldwide. When applied responsibly, they can support rehabilitation, promote social reintegration and help prison administrations respond to evolving technological and societal realities.The report “Shaping the Future of Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons: Evidence, Practice and Global Lessons from UNICRI’s Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons Project” presents the outcomes and lessons learned from a series of evidence-in

This briefing paper by UNICRI, the Nature Crime Alliance and the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition sheds light on the key challenges facing investigative journalists reporting on environmental crime worldwide — and outlines practical recommendations to strengthen the field.Titled Empowering Investigative Journalism on Environmental Crime: Insights from a Global Training, the report draws on discussions and survey findings from a specialised training workshop held from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The workshop brought together more than 110 journalists and