The European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations (HEUNI) is the European regional institute in the United Nations Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention programme network. HEUNI functions under the auspices of the Finnish Ministry of Justice as an independent research and policy-making institute.

HEUNI aims at a fair and just world by advancing humane and rational criminal justice policies and systems in the European region, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

HEUNI is a bold front-runner in creating and sharing uncompromised knowledge on the prevention of crime within the framework of criminal justice. We engage policymakers, practitioners and researchers in frank discussions to tackle current problems. We develop innovative and action-oriented solutions to advance the rights of those affected by crime.

HEUNI has a new strategy for the years 2024-2027. The strategy updates, revises and strengthens HEUNI’s operations to suit the demands of the 21st century. While the strategy identifies several core areas of work, it also aims to strengthen HEUNI’s operations and working methods in order to produce increasingly cutting-edge results.

Areas of focus

  1. 2.

    Criminal justice processes

    Access to justice Criminal justice Victim assistance Victims of crime
  2. 3.

    Human trafficking and forms of exploitation

    Human trafficking Labour exploitation Police
  3. 4.

    Social sustainability in supply chains

    Corruption Economic crime Labour exploitation SDG
  4. 5.

    Gender-based and other forms of violence

    Access to justice Exploitation of adolescents and children Gender-based violence Victim assistance Victims of crime

Current projects

More projects

Recent publications

Published in 2025

NEVER EASY — Checklist for individuals assessing forced marriage situations (multiple languages)

Authors
Anniina Jokinen, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen
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Published in 2025

Report series №106b: ""Tämä ei ole helppoa"— Tuen tehostaminen pakkoavioliiton uhreille". EASY-projektin parhaiden käytäntöjen opas

Authors
Anniina Jokinen, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen, Jessiina Rantanen
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Published in 2024

Report series №109: "From rights on paper to rights in action"— Exploited migrant workers' access to remedy in the Baltic Sea Region

Authors
Saara Haapasaari, Tina Davis, Anni Lietonen, Natalia Ollus, Anniina Jokinen, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen, Mia Risberg
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Published in 2024

Report series №108b: "Pitkä polku"— Työkalupakki pakkoavioliittojen uhrien tukemiseen

Authors
Anniina Jokinen, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen
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Published in 2024

Report series №108: "Long journey"— Toolkit for Supporting Victims of Forced Marriage

Authors
Anniina Jokinen, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen
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Published in 2024

Report series № 105: Ihmiskaupparikosten esitutkinta uhrinäkökulmasta - Järjestöjen näkemyksiä ihmiskaupan uhrien auttamiseen ja sen haasteisiin esitutkinnassa

Authors
Natalia Ollus, Julia Korkman, Anna-Greta Pekkarinen, Anniina Jokinen
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Latest news

21.05.2025 | News item | Access to justice | Criminal justice | Victims of crime

Uitnodiging tot deelname aan onderzoek: Enhancing Videorecorded Interviews and Virtual Hearings in Europe (E-ViVi)

Uitnodiging tot deelname aan onderzoek

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05.05.2025 | Event | News item | Exploitation of adolescents and children | Access to justice | UN | SDG | Criminal justice

CCPCJ 34 Side event “Responding to youth criminality linked to transnational organized crime in the Nordic and Baltic regions”

There is a growing concern across the Nordic and Baltic regions regarding youth criminality linked to organized crime, both national and transnational. Young people are increasingly being recruited...

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07.04.2025 | Policy recommendation | News item | Victims of crime | Victim assistance | Access to justice | Labour exploitation | Human trafficking

HEUNI expert contributed to the Council of Europe Report

HEUNI’s Senior Programme Officer Anniina Jokinen has developed a background paper for the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on the role of local and regional authorities...

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04.04.2025 | Event | News item | Exploitation of adolescents and children | Victims of crime | Victim assistance | Access to justice

TRAINING: Disclosures and Forensic Interviews in the Context of Online Child Sexual Abuse

About the training: modern digital technology has created new opportunities for perpetrators to sexually exploit children, leading to a significant rise in online child sexual abuse crimes...

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14.11.2024 | Blog | News item | SDG | Human trafficking | Labour exploitation | Police | Economic crime

Blogpost by Natalia Ollus: Forced labour and labour exploitation often looks like normal work

The Helsinki Police Department's Human Trafficking Investigation Unit recently reported on a case involving individuals recruited from the Philippines who were deceived to pay fees for non-existent...

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