Launch of UNODC global awareness campaign and video on the $870 billion organized crime business
Dear NGO representatives
I am writing to inform you about a new UNODC global awareness-raising campaign and video that UNODC has launched today (Monday, 16 July 2012). The campaign reveals the staggering size and scope of transnational organized crime, a business generating $ 870 billion annually. That amount is equivalent to around 1.5 per cent of global GDP, or 6 times the budget for official development assistance, or 7 per cent of the world’s exports.
Organized crime spares no part of the world and preys on the vulnerable through force and deception. Human trafficking victims alone number 2.4 million, for example, and each year 1.5 million people are victims of identity theft.
The English-language video is available at: http://youtu.be/nV2cYC9IfNc
All additional UN languages and German can be viewed on the public campaign webpage at: www.unodc.org/toc.
This dedicated multilingual campaign website contains a series of factsheets on the financial and social aspects of the different types of organized crime. Other issues will be added in the lead up to the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime which will be held in Vienna from 15-19 October 2012.
I would be most grateful if you would assist us in raising awareness about Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) through a few simple but important actions:
1. View the video yourself at http://youtu.be/nV2cYC9IfNc
2. Share the video and webpage www.unodc.org/toc with colleagues and friends via e-mail.
3. Share through social media such as Facebook and Twitter and use #TOC when tweeting about the campaign.
4. Feature the video and the campaign on your website and write your own stories about TOC.
5. Send us your suggestions on where we could broadcast the video to raise awareness to the general public.
Any support you can provide in promoting the campaign and video would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Alun Jones
Chief of Communication and Advocacy
Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
