For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA/276
6 July 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY

Launch of the World Wildlife Crime Report 2020

When :       Friday, 10 July 2020 at 11 a.m. Vienna/Brussels time(CEST)

Where :      High-Level Virtual Event

Online link (no registration required): https://bit.ly/3g1tdWG

In person attendance for Media representatives present in Vienna possible: Vienna International Centre, Room C0225A, C-Building, 2nd floor

Speakers:

• Ghada Waly,Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• Carla Montesi, Director for Planet and Prosperity at the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission
• Astrid Schomaker, Director for Global Sustainable Development at the Directorate for the Environment of the European Commission
• Ivonne Higuero,Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Angela Me, Chief, Research and Trend Analysis Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• Q&A moderated by Jorge Rios,Chief, Sustainable Livelihoods Unit and Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Participants will also be able to watch the premiere of a three-minute documentary on addressing wildlife crime in Africa.

Registration:

To receive an advance copy of the World Wildlife Crime Report 2020 under embargo, and for interview requests, please fill in this form: https://bit.ly/31B5d97

Registration for in person attendance is open until 12:00 CEST on Thursday 9 July 2020.

COVID-19 Measures:

All journalists, including those accredited to the UN in Vienna, who plan to attend in person, need to register for the press briefing by 12:00 CEST on Thursday 9 July 2020 by writing to press.vienna[at]un.org.

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Overview:

The World Wildlife Crime Report 2020 presents the latest assessment of global trends in wildlife crime. In several cases, these trends have been dramatic. The report includes discussions on illicit rosewood, ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, live reptiles, big cats and European eel.

Trafficking of wild fauna and flora has grown in importance in the public consciousness and has risen up the political agenda as it became clear that wildlife crime has negative implications for climate change, preservation of biodiversity, security and public health. In response to this crisis, controls have been tightened in a number of wildlife markets since the first iteration of the Report in 2016.

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For further information, please contact:

Brian Hansford
Chief, UNODC Advocacy Section
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3225
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org