Launch of the United Nations Manual of Guidance for Countering Kidnapping and Extortion

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched an updated version of United Nations Manual of Guidance for Countering Kidnapping and Extortion as part of the Kidnap for Ransom Project (KFR). 

In recent years, Member States representatives and counter-terrorism officials have expressed the need to strengthen capacities of countries, especially fragile and conflict-affected States, to enable their criminal justice systems, intelligence services and law enforcement institutions to effectively address kidnapping and extortion by using the latest technologies and techniques. 

The manual seeks to provide Member States with good practices, tactics and strategies identified by experienced practitioners in the field of investigation of kidnapping from around the world.  It is designed to be of assistance to policymakers, senior law enforcement officials and practitioners involved in the prevention and investigation of kidnapping and extortion offences. 

At the launch, Raffi Gregorian, the Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT said that “developing countries’ capacity to investigate kidnap cases, to make well-formulated decisions and gather evidence in support of ethical and professional investigative activity is essential for counter-terrorism efforts. As the nature and severity of crime changes, so must the skills of those that have to deal with it.”

The Kidnap for Ransom Project was launched in February 2021, led by UNOCT in partnership with UNODC, with funding and expertise provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Office of Police of Switzerland. The goal of the project is to enhance the capacities and capabilities of Member States to prevent, investigate and counter kidnap for ransom (including maritime kidnapping for ransom) through legal, institutional and operational technical assistance.

The event was hosted by the UNOCT Office in Rabat, Morocco.