IWPG Calls for Stronger Women-Led Action Against Transnational Organized Crime at UNTOC COP13 in Vienna

Vienna, Austria-Mediaindonesianews.com: The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) has called for stronger global cooperation to prevent transnational organized crime by empowering women and strengthening peace education at the community level.

The call was made during the 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP13), held at the Vienna International Center (VIC), Austria, from October 19–23, 2026.

Led by President Jeon Nayeong, IWPG participated in the international conference by delivering an official civil society statement during the plenary session and co-hosting a side event with the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations in Vienna.

During the plenary session on international cooperation on October 22, Lara Schmitt, Branch Manager of IWPG Frankfurt, emphasized that combating transnational crime requires more than judicial cooperation and law enforcement. She called for a victim-centered approach that prioritizes protection, recovery, and the restoration of victims’ rights and dignity, alongside sustained investment in prevention and community empowerment.

Schmitt also highlighted IWPG’s Peace Lecturer Training and Education (PLTE) program, which has involved 3,376 participants from 67 countries worldwide.

She stressed that strengthening the role of local women as peacebuilding agents can help communities address vulnerabilities that allow organized crime to take root.

On October 23, IWPG and the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic co-hosted an official side event titled “Peace as Prevention: Women, Fragile Regions, and Transnational Organized Crime.”

The discussion focused on the need to connect the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1325, with the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

Participants emphasized that women's participation, community-based peace education, and local leadership should be recognized as integral components of international crime prevention strategies.

Delivering the keynote address, Evelina Henriksson, Branch Manager of IWPG Vienna, said that preventing transnational crime must begin before criminal activities occur, through peace education and women's empowerment in local communities.

She also presented key outcomes from the 2026 Global Women's Peace Forum, held in July with approximately 1,000 participants from 46 countries.

Citing peace educator training initiatives at universities in Mexico and solidarity programs supporting vulnerable communities in Brazil, Henriksson highlighted the contribution women can make to preventing human trafficking and the expansion of criminal networks.

She emphasized that women should not be viewed merely as victims but recognized as active participants in identifying and preventing the root causes of organized crime.

Nurzhan Shaildabekova, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic and co-host of the event, highlighted the importance of grassroots women's leadership in reaching families and communities facing crises.

She shared examples from Kyrgyzstan, including women's peace committees operating in approximately 20 regions and campaigns aimed at preventing human trafficking.

Shaildabekova stressed that state-led law enforcement alone is insufficient to prevent organized crime, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and women-led peace education.

The event also featured Jana Merunková, Director of Czech nonprofit organization Your Chance (yourchance o.p.s.), who presented a case study on financial literacy education for vulnerable women. The initiative demonstrated how improving financial knowledge can help reduce women's exposure to criminal exploitation.

An IWPG representative described the participation as an important opportunity to bring greater international attention to women's contributions to transnational crime prevention through both the main UNTOC conference and its accompanying side event.

The organization also outlined plans to strengthen cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic, the UNODC Civil Society Unit (CSU), and civil society organizations worldwide.

IWPG intends to continue advocating for women's participation in international policy discussions through major global forums, including the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) in New York, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and the African Union's International Conference on Education for Women and Girls (PANCOGEd).

Through these initiatives, IWPG aims to promote stronger institutional cooperation between women's peace and security initiatives and international efforts to combat organized crime.

About IWPG

The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG) is an international non-governmental organization registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC).

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, IWPG promotes women-led peacebuilding and peace education through its network of 104 branches and approximately 900 partner organizations worldwide.***