Amazon Underworld’s participation as an observer at the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) Conference of the Parties is strategically important because it creates a bridge between evidence from the ground in the Amazon and international policymaking on organized crime.
Organized crime in the Amazon is not limited by national borders. Criminal networks operate across countries, exploiting gaps in governance, environmental regulation, and law enforcement. Activities such as illegal gold mining, mineral trafficking, drug trafficking, and illicit economies are increasingly interconnected, with serious consequences for Indigenous peoples, local communities, ecosystems, and territorial governance.
Our role as observers goes beyond sharing research findings. We seek to transform evidence into advocacy, advocacy into political engagement, and political engagement into concrete policy commitments.
Our advocacy work focuses on four interconnected priorities:
1. Influencing international policy agendas: Bringing evidence from the Amazon into UNTOC discussions, particularly regarding environmental crimes, illegal mining, mineral trafficking, and the connections between criminal economies and transnational organized crime. We aim to ensure that these issues are adequately reflected in international priorities and emerging legal frameworks.
2. Engaging directly with governments: Through bilateral meetings and diplomatic dialogue, we seek to understand national positions, identify opportunities for convergence, and encourage States to support stronger international cooperation, including discussions on a potential additional protocol on crimes that affect the environment.
3. Building coalitions and strategic partnerships: Connecting governments, civil society organizations, Indigenous representatives, and international institutions to strengthen collective advocacy efforts and develop coordinated positions that can influence negotiations and future implementation.
4. Connecting international commitments to territorial realities: Using our investigations and engagement with affected communities to advocate for policies that respond to the actual dynamics of organized crime in the Amazon, while promoting human rights, environmental protection, and meaningful community participation.
Our objective is not simply to participate in international discussions, but to influence how governments understand, prioritize, and respond to organized crime in the Amazon.