United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)

The threat posed by transnational organized crime is greater than ever. Here's how the UN can develop a global strategy to elevate the issue within the UN system and international policymaking: https://lnkd.in/egyjxeCF

World Children’s Day is an opportunity to advocate for and promote children's rights today in order to build a better world for tomorrow. 2015 saw the adoption of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (#YPS), which recognized the important and positive contribution of youth to the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security. ? However, the promise and commitments of this YPS have yet to be fully met. ? At UNU-CPR, research is underway for our upcoming Thematic Review on the YPS agenda. As part of this research, Imane Karimou and Luisa Kern visited Guinea, where they explored how UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported projects in the country are supporting youth engagement and action on YPS. ? Follow the Thematic Review’s progress here:?https://lnkd.in/e3nTTXwB Fonds pour la Consolidation de la Paix - PBF Guinée?UNFPA West and Central Africa?United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)?UNFPA WCARO | West and Central Africa UNICEF

AI agents have been used in both useful and harmful ways on social media for nearly a decade. Today, however, they are much more convincing, versatile and easy to create. In decision-making processes, they run the risk of manipulating discussion. Head of Anticipatory Action and Innovation at UNU-CPR, Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, outlines some of the key uses and ethical concerns for each type of AI agent in a blog for Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs: https://lnkd.in/eE7cntSk

UNU-CPR Director David Passarelli and Head of Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace Erica Gaston had the privilege of meeting with H. E. Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly at its 79th Session. The discussion centred on "Assembly for Peace", a handbook that aims to enhance the UN General Assembly's engagement in peace and security efforts, produced by UNU-CPR for the Office of the President of the General Assembly, United Nations. Amid rising geopolitical tensions and increased paralysis in the Security Council, the General Assembly’s role in peace and security has gained renewed attention. The Handbook offers a review of the Assembly's past practice, case studies of some of the most important examples of General Assembly action, and recommendations on how Member States could foster deeper interaction with the Security Council in the future. Access "Assembly for Peace" here: https://lnkd.in/e_6mEsfg The discussion also addressed the revitalization agenda of the General Assembly and ongoing debates on reforming the international financial architecture.

"Entirely fabricated yet hyper-realistic, this content undermines trust in media and the authenticity of information, particularly in politics and social discourse." A UNU-CPR blog considers the risks of AI manipulating decision-making, and proposes accountability mechanisms and tools for creating effective governance frameworks: https://lnkd.in/eJ92mnR2

Organized crime and trafficking in Mali's gold sector poses unique challenges, often viewed through a securitized lens that overlooks its role in local economies. A new UNU-CPR blog explores how nuanced strategies, grounded in governance, development and local perspectives, can lead to more effective and sustainable multilateral responses: https://lnkd.in/eFWVJSD8

Peace operations face growing challenges from transnational criminal networks, often lacking the capacity or mandate to address them effectively. Recent reform proposals suggest pathways for improvement. A UNU-CPR blog highlights three key strategies: specialized missions, alignment with local initiatives and leveraging multilateral tools like sanctions: https://lnkd.in/egyjxeCF

Global stakeholders are wrestling with unlocking the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) while avoiding the risks. Meanwhile, the process of decision-making itself is also rapidly transforming. In a new UNU-CPR blog, Nidhi Polekar explains that thoughtful governance is needed to ensure that technology serves as a supportive tool for human judgment rather than a disruptive force: https://lnkd.in/eJ92mnR2

On the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime, Imane Karimou considers integrating local perspectives into multilateral strategies to combat transnational organized crime, with a focus on Mali's gold mining sector: https://lnkd.in/eFWVJSD8 While artisanal mining supports the livelihoods of over two million people, it simultaneously drives corruption, human trafficking and violence, deepening socio-economic vulnerabilities. And although community-led initiatives have emerged to fill governance gaps, they cannot replace the necessity for coordinated state and international action. #StopOrganizedCrime

Organized crime has surged in the past two decades, thriving across sectors and undermining peace processes in conflict-affected States. These networks act as "spoilers," destabilizing governments, weakening state capacities and driving violence. #StopOrganizedCrime Dr. Erica Gaston, Head of Conflict Prevention at UNU-CPR, explores multilateral responses to transnational crime, drawing insights from case studies in Mali and the Central African Republic and a global policy analysis: https://lnkd.in/e6VJKxay UNODC