Historic first resolution on wildlife trafficking adopted by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

As an International Champion of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, the Jane Goodall Institute Global welcomes a historic resolution on illicit trafficking in wildlife.

The resolution, adopted during the 31st Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, invites Member States to “provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with their views on possible responses, including the potential of an additional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC), to address any gaps that may exist in the current international legal framework to prevent and combat  illicit trafficking in wildlife.”

The Commission is the primary policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The Commission also acts as the governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which has led global research efforts on wildlife crime with its ground-breaking World Wildlife Crime Reports published in 2016 and 2020.

This is the first time that a United Nations resolution has specifically mentioned a potential new global agreement on tackling illicit wildlife trafficking. This is important because there is currently a gap in international criminal law when it comes to wildlife trafficking.

The UNTOC was adopted in 2000 to promote cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime more effectively. It is supplemented by three protocols against Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Migrants and Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms respectively.

Since its inception in 2020, the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime has sought to garner support for a fourth protocol. This protocol would position wildlife trafficking within the scope of international criminal law and provide a framework for state obligations. This would include adopting legislation criminalizing the intentional illicit trafficking of specimens of wild fauna and flora (in any whole or part, whether living or deceased), increasing coordination and exchanging intelligence regarding known organised groups and techniques of concealment, sharing forensic samples, strengthening border and authenticity controls, as well as implementing demand reduction strategies.

Representative to the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, Zara Bending, welcomed the resolution with the following statement:

“The Jane Goodall Institute Global joined the Global Initiative in 2020 and we remain steadfast in our position that an additional Protocol to UNTOC is the most appropriate and high-impact means to disrupt this multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise. This is an historic moment in the fight to end wildlife trafficking and we extend congratulations and thanks to our colleagues at EWC and everyone within our Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots networks who engaged Member States from around the world in the lead up to the 31st Session.”

The resolution was submitted by Angola, Kenya, and Peru; and was co-sponsored by Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the United States of America.

JGI Global’s IWT expert Zara Bending with Perri Reynolds, alum of the Centre for Environmental Law Roots & Shoots Illegal Wildlife Trade (ForeverWild) Group.

Read more about the resolution in this press release from EWC.

Celebrate International Women’s Day: Meet Zara Bending

This week we’re celebrating just a few of the thousands of incredible woman who make up the Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) family – and beyond!

After yesterday’s starter with Roots & Shoots Tasmania Coordinator, Vineeta, today we introduce you to policy powerhouse Zara Bending.

Fighter for wildlife, award-winning lecturer, passionate animal activist, prolific published writer and volunteer Board Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia. Zara wears many complimentary, and connected, hats.

Born in Western Sydney, Zara is the dedicated, deeply knowledgeable lead of the Jane Institute’s global Forever Wild campaign – fighting wildlife trafficking worldwide of all species. An award-winning lecturer and associate at the Centre for Environmental Law at Macquarie University, Zara’s biggest passion is protecting wildlife. A recognised expert on illegal wildlife trade, Zara serves in criminal proceedings, parliamentary inquiries, campaigning and activism – to stop our fellow earthlings be commodified, hunted to extinction and abused.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? And why do you think it’s still important?

International Women’s Day is an opportunity for women and our allies to acknowledge all we have achieved towards gender equality, despite near insurmountable odds and just how far we still need to push. For me it comes down to celebrating three R’s: resilience, resistance and representation.

How did you get involved with JGIA?

I joined the JGIA Board in 2015 and now also work with JGI-Global as an expert on illegal wildlife trade. What stood out for me was how strongly inclusion featured in the position advert. Once joining, one of the first things I worked on was formalising our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy with then CEO Nancy Moloney.

What qualities and attributes of Jane keep you motivated?

Jane is many things to many people, but for me it’s her work ethic, compassion for all life on Earth, intellect (I still get butterflies when I see her track changes on a document!) and ability to move people to action that keeps me on-task.

Help create hope for endangered wildlife. Donate today >>

For you, what are the most vital issues facing women – and our entire planet – today?

So many of the ills facing our planet could be solved if we promote women’s autonomy and self-determination: reproductive health and rights, equal access to education and employment, freedom from gender-based violence – including forced marriage. Women are disproportionately impacted by climate change, economic downturn and all the existential crises bearing down on our species.

What advice would you give 10-year-old you with hindsight?

If you want to be successful in anything, failing is part of the process (or, ‘first attempt’ as we say in learning). Be brave, learn from your mistakes, be kind to others and yourself, and when you fail, just try to fail forwards, not backwards.

What is your key message to other women with similar goals?

Our planet, and all the various forms of life with whom we share it, requires more from us to survive – let alone thrive. When 50% of our species are arbitrarily and systemically disenfranchised, we deny everyone the chance at a future with less suffering and greater prosperity. The fight for gender equality is a fight for our collective future. So, anytime the world taunts you to “fight like a girl”, take the invitation and show them. #ChooseToChallenge.

Empower more incredible leaders like Zara: join our donor community >>

Further Reading:


Wildlife Crime: Malawi joins Angola, Costa Rica and Gabon in calling for a new agreement

By Zara Bending, Board Director, JGIA​​​​​​

The President of the Republic of Malawi, H. E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has issued a statement joining Angola, Costa Rica and Gabon in calling for an additional Protocol under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) on preventing and combating illicit wildlife trafficking:

“Malawi is determined to sustain its global reputation as a bastion and haven of flora and fauna diversity, as well as its impressive track record of tackling the illicit trade of ivory, for which it has been recognised internationally.”

“We can no longer stand by as we witness the destruction of our nation’s natural heritage. I therefore proudly support the call to action of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, President Carlos Alvarado Quesada and President Joao Lourenco and urge other countries to do the same.”

In response to the President’s statement, John Scanlon AO, Chair of The Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (EWC), commended Malawi’s extraordinary environmental leadership, describing the Southern African country “as a global leader in wildlife conservation and in tackling illicit wildlife trafficking”.

“The EWC Initiative offers its full support to Malawi in advancing its calls for an additional protocol.”

“Malawi continues to demonstrate strong leadership in combating wildlife trafficking. As a founding steering group member of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, the ICCF Group commends President Chakwera’s endorsement of a new international agreement” added Susan Herman Lylis, Executive Vice President of the ICCF Group.

The Jane Goodall Institute Global (JGIG) is a proud International Champion of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime. JGIG representative to the Initiative, Zara Bending, underscored the following upon Malawi’s announcement:

“We and our fellow EWC International Champions know that wildlife crime is a global problem requiring global collaboration to prevent and combat its reach. That collaboration, however, needs to be coordinated within an appropriate legal framework that is fit-for-purpose. We ardently support a Protocol to UNTOC as the best path forward. If adopted, the Protocol would be the fourth to UNTOC – the others concerning human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illegal manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.”

Despite numerous calls, transnational, organised wildlife crime is not treated as a priority in most nations – with biodiverse-rich source countries being the most seriously impacted. Angola, Costa Rica and Gabon and Malawi have invited other States to align with them in sending an unequivocal message of the devastating scale, nature and consequences of wildlife crime to communities, ecosystems and wildlife, and of the need to scale up global cooperative efforts to combat and prevent them.

To find out more about a proposed UNTOC Protocol, available in several languages, head to endwildlifecrime.org) and be sure to listen to Jane’s Hopecast episode with EWC Chair, John Scanlon.

Image cre:

Top: A pile of tusks awaiting destruction in Kenya. The tusks – from about 8,000 elephants – would be worth more than $105 million on the black market. Conservationists worry that there is a a real threat of elephants becoming extinct in the next 50 years because of poaching bankrolled by the illegal trade in ivory. Photo: Paul Hilton

Middle: Zara Bending leads JGIG’s End Wildlife Crime campaign. She is an award-winning lecturer and internationally published researcher specialising in criminal, environmental and medical law.

Jane Goodall Institute Australia asks Scott Morrison: Stop wildlife trafficking

A global problem demands a global response: 24 chapters of the Jane Goodall Institute are uniting to end wildlife trafficking – by Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) Board Director, Zara Bending

As part of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI)’s global ForeverWild campaign, chapters around the world are writing to their Heads of State and other influential decision-makers to garner support for a world-first, global agreement on wildlife crime. JGI Global is an International Champion of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime which supports the specific call to address the illicit trafficking of wildlife in a Fourth Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC).

Read JGIA’s letter to prime minister Scott Morrison here >>

The proposed Protocol would position wildlife trafficking within the scope of international criminal law and provide a framework for member state obligations. This would include adopting legislation, criminalising the intentional illicit trafficking of specimens of wild fauna and flora (in any whole or part, whether living or deceased), increasing coordination and exchanging intelligence regarding known organized groups and techniques of concealment, sharing forensic samples, strengthening border and authenticity controls, as well as implementing strategies to reduce demand. If adopted, the Protocol would be the fourth to UNTOC – the others concerning human trafficking, migrant smuggling, plus illegal manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.

Thankfully, there is increasing international momentum towards this reform that promises transformative change. In April this year, the European Union communicated its support on page 16 of its Strategy to Tackle Organised Crime 2021-2025. In May, President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica and President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon united in their calls to ‘end the scourge of wildlife trafficking’ through a joint statement advocating for the Fourth Protocol. Their Excellencies were joined in September by President João Lourenço of Angola. More broadly, in July, the UN General Assembly adopted a comprehensive Resolution on Tackling Illicit Wildlife Trafficking by consensus – the fifth in its series of resolutions on the issue following 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. This latest resolution specifically “invites parties to the UNTOC to more effectively use the Convention to address illicit trafficking in wildlife, and to continue discussions on other possible international tools to combat wildlife trafficking.”

Wildlife crime not only challenges the rule of law but undermines human and ecosystem health, national security, economic prosperity, and livelihoods. The World Bank values the impacts of illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade at USD 1-2 trillion annually, including loss of financial, natural, social, and political capital. Wildlife trafficking inflicts unspeakable cruelty on millions of animals each year and contributes substantially to the crisis of biodiversity loss, which continues to accelerate the pace of climate change globally.

Wildlife trafficking also increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimating some 1.7 million undiscovered viruses thought to exist in wild animals, of which approximately half could spill over to humans. As a network of chapters working together and inspired by the work of Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, we understand that the greatest crises facing our planet are interconnected: no one country can fight wildlife crime alone.

To find out more about the proposed protocol, available in several languages, read on at End Wildlife Crime (endwildlifecrime.org) and be sure to listen to Jane’s Hopecast episode with EWC Chair, John Scanlon on the JGIA blog here.