Organized crime is undermining democracy, human rights and public safety, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security, and the rule of law itself. The rules-based order that has prevailed for decades is now being increasingly undermined by those who don’t play by the rules – including state-embedded actors. Criminal groups, who are increasingly transnational and enabled by corruption at various levels, are some of the biggest profiteers. Simultaneously, international resilience mechanisms face institutional strain, with judicial systems, civil society, international cooperation frameworks, and democratic accountability mechanisms under unprecedented pressure. In this context, evidence-based diagnostic tools become critical for policymakers navigating the interplay between organized crime’s expansion and institutional weaknesses, as well as serving as key mechanisms for protecting human rights and vulnerable communities.

The Shattuck Center for Human Rights together with the Department of Public Policy invites the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime to present their 2025 Global Organized Crime Index, released  last November. The conversation will gather policy experts and government representatives to discuss the findings of the Index’s third iteration, and what it means for how policymakers can better respond to the complex and evolving challenges posed by organized crime. This includes a core focus on strengthening institutional resilience, advancing human rights protections, maintaining democratic governance and empowering civil society, including in contexts where state capacity to respond to organized crime may be compromised through corruption or institutional weakness.

This event is part of the Policy Talks series at CEU’s Department of Public Policy. The meeting is open to all and features a panel discussion followed by an interactive Q&A and wine reception.

Check the details at the CEU website.