The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during its 2025 Management Segment, adopted resolution E/2025/L.7, under agenda item 21 on United Nations Research and Training Institutes.
The resolution, presented by the Vice-President of the Council, H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa of Nepal, and supported by the Permanent Mission of Italy, recognized UNICRI’s longstanding contribution to the United Nations system in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice, and the rule of law. It highlights the Institute’s alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the vision of the Pact for the Future, particularly through its evidence-based and data-driven approaches.
Established in 1968 following ECOSOC resolution 1086 B (XXXIX), UNICRI has for nearly six decades conducted applied research, training, and technical cooperation to support Member States in responding to evolving threats - ranging from organized crime, terrorism, and violent extremism to the risks emerging from digital spaces and the use and misuse of new technologies.
In the resolution, ECOSOC:
• Encourages UNICRI to continue integrating evidence-based and data-driven methods into its research, training, and policy development activities;
• Acknowledges the Institute’s work under its Strategic Programme Framework 2023–2026, and encourages preparations for its next cycle (2027–2030), ensuring responsiveness to global trends and Member State needs;
• Expresses appreciation to the Republic of Italy for hosting UNICRI and facilitating its mission;
• Encourages all UN entities to make full use of UNICRI’s expertise and services;
• Appeals to Member States to provide voluntary contributions in support of UNICRI’s mandate, noting the extrabudgetary nature of its funding.
The Acting Director of UNICRI, Leif Villadsen, conveyed his gratitude on behalf of UNICRI on the adoption of the resolution, expressing that “We are grateful for the continued trust placed in UNICRI by the Economic and Social Council, its Member States, including Italy – our Host Country. This resolution reaffirms the importance of our work in addressing the increasingly complex nature of crime and security threats.
During his Oral Briefing to the Member States, he highlighted that “UNICRI is research and training institute, but we are more than that which we are labelled. We are a bridge between knowledge and action. We are a hub of evidence-based programming. Because at UNICRI, we do not just study problems: we try to find ways to solve them, and we strive to test those ideas and learn from them. Our strength lies in combining rigorous policy-oriented research with practical technical assistance and capacity building. This unique and integrated approach defines our role within the UN system.”