OSCE side event explores gender-sensitive approaches to preventing women’s involvement in organized crime

On 26 September 2026, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department hosted a side event on the margins of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, bringing together 30 participants to discuss women’s involvement in organized crime and inclusive approaches to prevention, exit and witness protection. The event was organized in co-operation with the Permanent Missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the OSCE, UN and other international organizations in Vienna, France and Sweden.

Traditionally, organized crime has been viewed as a predominantly male phenomenon, with women often recognized primarily as victims. However, OSCE research highlights a more complex reality. The OSCE assessment Understanding the role of women in organized crime draws on data from 14 participating States across North America, Europe and Asia and shows that women and girls are active participants in organized crime groups, involved across criminal markets and at different levels of the criminal hierarchy.

Participants of the side event discussed how women and girls are recruited into organized crime, including through social media, and the roles they play within criminal networks. The discussion also highlighted how persistent gender stereotypes can leave women’s involvement less visible to criminal justice practitioners and result in women falling beneath the radar of prevention, exit and witness protection initiatives. 

The event also provided an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and good practices from across the OSCE area and discuss ways to strengthen regional dialogue and co-operation on preventing the recruitment and exploitation of women and girls by organized crime groups.

“If we want to be effective in our response to organized crime, we can’t afford to have blind spots. By increasing our knowledge on women’s participation, both our work to prevent and investigate will be sharper”, said Anders Fällgren, Director of the Division for Internal Security at the Ministry of Justice in Sweden.

“Today’s side event is crucial to raise awareness on an often-overlooked dimension of organized crime: the active involvement and role of women. It provides a powerful platform to address this knowledge gap and to exchange lessons learned and good practices for women’s inclusion in organized crime prevention and exit initiatives”, stated Danka Savic, Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations during her opening remarks.

“It is key to recognize women’s agency in organized crime groups. Only by acknowledging their involvement, can we identify, support and include them in prevention, exit and witness protection initiatives”, said Alena Kupchyna, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats in her closing remarks.