UNICRI is constantly expanding its activities in the field of post-graduate education, offering a wide range of on-campus and decentralised training to provide for a variety of professional needs. UNICRI’s work draws on an extensive network with high level universities and research institutions around the world.
Along with a series of post-graduate short-courses on topics which fall within the scope of UNICRI’s mandate on crime prevention and criminal justice.
UNICRI provides sustainable and tailored capacity-building support to Member States, partners, and communities, with the objective of strengthening institutions and civil society. Rooted in an evidence-based and interdisciplinary approach, these efforts enhance national and local capacities in the areas of crime prevention, justice, and security.
Drawing on a broad network of experts and strategic partners, the Institute delivers both rapid-response training to address urgent needs and longer-term support to build resilience and lasting competence. This dual approach enables flexible, context-specific interventions that are responsive to evolving priorities and threats.
UNICRI offers a wide portfolio of educational and capacity-building programmes for criminal justice practitioners, law enforcement officials, policymakers, and post-graduate students. These include:
– tailored and specialised training courses;
– simulation-based exercises and Training of Trainers (TTT);
– workshops at national, regional, and international levels;
– Master’s programmes, hybrid learning opportunities, and e-learning modules.
Over the years, UNICRI has strengthened its training capabilities by developing national and regional curricula, modular content, and manuals for both trainers and trainees. Pilot courses have targeted law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and social workers, covering both foundational and advanced topics relevant to their professional roles.
UNICRI’s thematic areas reflect the complexity of today’s security landscape and the need for specialised, forward-looking responses. Its capacity-building activities address:
UNICRI’s models are participatory, practice-oriented, and adapted to local realities. Training initiatives are co-designed with stakeholders, grounded in real-world scenarios, and aimed at delivering scalable, impact-driven solutions.
Working in close collaboration with Member States, UN entities, nationa, regional and international organisations, civil society, academia, and the private sector, UNICRI fosters integrated, multi-stakeholder ecosystems. These partnerships promote shared ownership, strengthen institutional coordination, and improve cross-border cooperation, while reducing duplication and optimising the cost-effectiveness of interventions.
As a trusted provider of technical assistance, training, and policy guidance, UNICRI contributes to the development of effective, evidence-based strategies that support justice, enhance institutional resilience, and advance peace, security, and development.
UNICRI is currently expanding areas of cooperation in the Global South to encompass a range of training and educational activities at the post-graduate and professional level with the purpose of strengthening the capacity of the criminal justice system and the rule of law. UNICRI’s training expertise and ability to design courses, elaborate manuals and provide instruction, serve as means of reinforcing the legal field in developing countries.
2009-2010 marked the beginning of UNICRI assistance to the Lao PDR where UNICRI established a strong cooperation with the national Government in the field of capacity building and training for judicial personnel.
UNICRI is part of the UNDAF Action Plan 2012-2015 in the country and has also cooperated in the design of the Legal Sector Master Plan in line with the “One UN” approach.
Integrated knowledge management through research and the dissemination of relevant information on crime prevention and criminal justice is one of UNICRI’s core objectives. This objective is reliant upon specialized training and education activities. UNICRI’s vision for the Training and Advanced Education programme is based on the need for coordinated information sharing. The availability and selection of necessary and sufficient data and its methodological transfer must be guaranteed through networking with academic institutions, international organizations and research centres, as well as individual experts.
In carrying out these objectives, UNICRI offers a series of post-graduate classes and short courses on topics that fall within the scope of its mandate. In 2013-14, UNICRI is offering its eighth annual LL.M. programme in International Crime and Justice in collaboration with the Department of Law of the University of Turin, and is attended by 46 post-graduate students from 29 countries.
In order to increase competency and share expertise, UNICRI, acting upon the request of member states, designs and implements a variety of specialized training courses for executives and judicial personnel aimed at building and reinforcing their potential. UNICRI works in partnership with different countries on a wide range of training and education activities with the purpose to enhance legal awareness and promote greater understanding of fundamental rights, crime prevention and criminal justice. In this regard, the Institute has developed a global network for the exchange of information on training and advanced education in crime prevention and criminal justice at the international level. New Masters degree programmes and short courses which fall within the scope of UNICRI’s specific expertise in crime prevention and criminal justice are continually being developed, whilst educational institutions around the world are being given increased support in their application of UNICRI’s advanced training methodologies.
Special focus is given to education and training in developing countries at graduate, post-graduate and professional levels in order to strengthen criminal justice systems and the rule of law. Furthermore, given its unique operational approach together with the substantive methodological and organizational skills of UNICRI’s staff, the Institute possesses the standing capacity to design and implement high-level training courses (in-house and on-site, face-to-face and e-learning) and create training manuals in the area of crime prevention, criminal justice, international criminal law and human rights. Tailor-made specialized training programmes for judicial personnel continue to be delivered in-house or on the field upon the request of member states.
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UNICRI acquires goods and services on the basis of a formal contract award procedure that follows a competitive procurement process.
The major categories of goods procured comprise:
The major categories of services procured include:
Contracts are awarded on the basis of the best value for money in terms of life cycle total costs, including responsiveness to specifications, technical acceptability and compliance with delivery schedules, local servicing capability and availability of spare parts.
The United Nations is looking for competent and motivated persons with a strong belief in its purpose and mandates, who are willing to dedicate themselves to a rewarding international career in different locations around the world. The United Nations provides an opportunity to serve in a dynamic, multicultural environment in a variety of jobs in the support of global causes.
United Nations staff uphold the principles and core values of the Organization, including integrity, professionalism, efficiency and respect for diversity. The United Nations welcomes applications from nationals of all Member States and strongly encourages women to apply. Applicants with disabilities are considered by the United Nations for employment under all types of contracts in full compliance with the United Nations Charter. The United Nations offers a variety of ways to join its workforce.
There are job advertisements and offers that falsely state that they are from the United Nations. Please be aware that the United Nations does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
In order to continue to improve the effectiveness of UNICRI’s projects, further galvanize the involvement of civil societies, advance the technical cooperation between partners, and promote the awareness of issues that UNICRI tackles, UNICRI is constantly seeking to improve itself through the establishment of new platforms for cooperation. An ever-expanding network of associations, including partners, donors, and employees, helps UNICRI further accomplish its objectives.
UNICRI also seeks qualified, energetic personnel in a wide range of fields to join us in our efforts to prevent crime and improve justice, whether those persons be involved in a staff, fellowship, consultant, or internship role.
Headquarters Viale Maestri del Lavoro, 10 | ||||
Liaison Office in Rome Piazza San Marco, 50 | ||||
Liaison Office in New York U-0301 | 801 1st Ave. 3rd fl. | ||||
Office in Geneva Office D-1, Palais des Nations | ||||
Centre for AI and Robotics, The Hague Alexanderveld 5 | ||||
Liaison Office in Brussels UN House | ||||
Media Contact Marina Mazzini | ||||
The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) was established in 1968 pursuant to Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 1086 B (XXXIX) of 1965, which urged an expansion of the United Nations activities in crime prevention and criminal justice. The Institute is an autonomous institution of the United Nations, and is presently ruled by the Statute adopted by ECOSOC with Resolution No.1989/56 of 24 May 1989. UNICRI operates within the framework of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network.
The Institute carries out action-oriented research and training and implements technical cooperation programmes. It aims to assist governments and the international community at large in tackling criminal threats to social peace, development and political stability and in fostering the development of just and efficient criminal justice systems.
UNICRI supports the formulation and implementation of improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, the promotion of national self-reliance, and the development of institutional capabilities. The Institute works to advance the understanding of crime-related problems, supporting the respect for international instruments and standards. It facilitates the exchange and dissemination of information, cooperation in international law enforcement and judicial assistance.
UNICRI structures its activities to meet the identified needs of member States. Its programme activities arise from priorities identified by the UN Annual Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Commission. The Institute's current priorities include, amongst others, activities related to organized crime, judicial reform, international criminal law, juvenile justice, security and counter-terrorism, major event security, urban security, corruption, victim protection, domestic violence, counterfeiting, cybercrime, crimes against the environment, and gender issues in drug abuse.
The Institute is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of eminent experts from different countries.
