UNODC Discusses Strategies to Combat Identitiy Crime

To kick off the first session of the first day, delegates from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were quick to pinpoint possible factors which contribute to identity crime in their respective countries, as well as raise possible solutions to combat the issue. The session commenced with the voting followed by the General Speakers List. The countries rolled into the solutions immediately with the United States of America (USA) introducing the idea of education.

The USA claimed that through education there is a lesser chance of successful attacks and theft. Germany added on to talk about organising talks for people of all ages, hence training Germans about disclosing information. Last but not least, Sweden concluded and supported Germany by stating that- since more people were targeted more companies should provide talks.

Then in an odd turn of events, Fiji went on to sympathise with the perpetrators of identity-related crimes, saying that the only reason they commit such crimes is because of the fact that they are too financially unstable to thrive for themselves, hence resorting to stealing from people.

The delegate of Singapore persisted with the idea of education and lo and behold the delegate's gamble paid off fruitfully. Germany and the USA supported Singapore’s point of training employees about cybersecurity. The country tried to push for a UN handbook publication but the delegate’s ideas were declined by Australia.

There were a number of alternative solutions proposed by the council in an unmoderated caucus raised by Australia, one of which being the provision of monthly bursaries to the common people so that it will deter them from committing crimes as they are already financially stable. Unfortunately for Fiji who proposed this solution, Thailand and Russia were quick to shoot it down, claiming that it would not be viable for lesser developed countries in the council to carry out. The focus of the discussion then shifted to public funding, with Australia suggesting that law enforcement in council member states be enhanced to stamp out corrupt politicians who line their pockets with the people’s money, all while keeping Fiji’s earlier claim that criminals commit such crimes because they have no other alternative in mind.

As of the first session some key solutions discussed include education and the implication of tech related solutions such as the implementation of document verification system and global identity cards. The debate was wrapped up leaving the points on technology on a cliffhanger.