United Nations Treaty of 2000 distinguishes concepts based on objectives and ideologies
O Department of State of the United States this Thursday (May 28, 2026), which will classify the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and the CV (Comando Vermelho) as “terrorist” organizations. The president (PT) had already against classification, arguing that the groups do not meet the requirements to be considered in this way.
According to the (United Nations), the concepts of Terrorist groups and criminal organizations are different. Untoc (United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime), a 2000 document and the main international treaty to combat the operation of criminal organizations across borders, differentiates the 2 based on their objectives and ideologies. Read the one from Untoc (PDF – 399 KB).
According to the document, the objective of obtaining material or financial benefit is the central element that defines organized crime. Terrorism, on the other hand, has exclusively political or ideological motivations.
According to Untoc, a criminal organization must present 4 characteristics:
- structured group of three or more people;
- existence for a period of time, not being formed for an isolated act;
- actions aimed at committing serious crimes;
- direct or indirect focus on obtaining profit or material benefit.
This means that groups whose actions are driven by ideology, religion or social objectives, without the pursuit of enrichment, are not classified as criminal groups under the terms of the treaty.
However, the document notes that the distinction is becoming more difficult. Terrorist groups that use criminal methods – such as drug trafficking or extortion – to finance their causes enter Untoc’s radar from the moment they seek material resources to support their structure.
The importance of the distinction between groups lies in the way extradition laws and mutual cooperation between countries are applied.
