UN World Wildlife Crime Report

News: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) has released the World Wildlife Crime Report 2020.

Facts:

  • The first World Wildlife Crime Report was released in 2016 which represented the first ever report of this nature.
  • Aim: To present wildlife crime situations with a focus on illicit trafficking of specific protected species of wild fauna and flora and provide a broad assessment of the nature and extent of the problem at the global level.

Key Takeaways:

  • Illegal Tiger Products Trade: India and Thailand are the two main countries which are the suppliers of the illegal tiger products in the world.

Additional Facts:

  • UNODC: It was established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
    • Aim: To assist Member States in addressing the issues of drugs, crime and terrorism.
    • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
  • International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime(ICCWC): It is a collaborative effort of the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
    • Aim: To strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support at national, regional and international level to combat wildlife and forest crime.