UN crime control authorities report global crime wave. From April 16-24, 2009, in Vienna, The United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) will convene its 18th session; multiple topics are planned, but the theme running through the topics is discussion of the current international crime situation labled "a global crime wave" by Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) .
In his openning remarks, Costa said "crime has gone global," representing proliferation of organized crime. Costa warned that "Organized crime poses a threat to the security of cities, states, and even entire regions." One news report from the meeting quoted Costa as saying "the drug cartels spread violence in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, while the collusion between insurgents and criminal groups threatens the stability of West Asia. There were also such criminal activities as the smuggling of weapons, plundering of resources, kidnapping as well as human trafficking in many parts of the world." Gang violence in some cities remains a problem. These traditional crimes are increasing, however new technology crimes such as cyber-crime and economic fraud are threatening many nations. Costa predicted that the economic crisis would deteriorate this current situation into a global crime wave.
The meeting agenda for appears at this link. http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/V09/806/34/PDF/V0980634.pdf?OpenElement
