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internationally became self-consciously transnational. This commonly involvedbuilding their operations around globally integrated supplier networks… Thegoal was to eliminate considerations of nationality in an effort to maximize theeconomies of centralized global procurement. 191.2.2 Organised crime syndicatesThere is an alternative private sector that is deeply implicated in CSEC, and which, ifeliminated, would lead to a dramatic decrease in the abuse of children. This is the world oforganised crime. According to law enforcement, sexual exploitation of women and childrenis one of the fastest growing organised criminal activities around the globe, and followsin frequency only the trade in narcotics and weapons. Organised criminal syndicates areestimated to earn billions of dollars annually through, for example, trafficking in humanbeings, management of brothels and production of pornography. Children are at particularrisk of exploitation because these cartels are highly skilled in manipulation and deception.Lured through false promises of jobs, children and their parents are often tricked into, andtrapped by, exploitative conditions.Although the specific details of organised crime are manifested differently in variouscountries or regions, it is clear that the rights of all children are consistently being threatenedby this “alternative” private sector. It is very difficult to speculate as to ways in which crimegroups can become participants in efforts to undermine CSEC. Because of the illegal andillicit nature of their activities, it is not plausible to consider lobbying such organisationsto solicit socially responsible business. Furthermore, because CSEC is often central, ratherthan incidental, to their core activities and the profits from such exploitation are high, anyintervention is unlikely unless it comes with real threats of punishment. Moral or ethicalappeals would not force accountability, nor would consumer pressure, as is often the case inthe “legitimate” private sector. However, other industries can become actively involved inundermining organised crime as it pertains to CSEC. For example, security guards, hotelemployees, transportation services (i.e., airlines, bus companies, shipping firms, etc.) canplay very important roles in identifying suspicious situations. Recognising that efforts todirectly confront organised crime groups about their questionable activities would be doneat great personal risk, these industries might be better suited to monitor and then reporttheir findings to authorities.The reporting of exploitation will only be successful if there are effective responses to thetips made by concerned corporate citizens. It is imperative that the international legaland judicial communities endorse tighter controls, greater accountability and harsherpenalties for organised criminal activity. In light of this, a number of recent UN initiatives10|Private Sector Accountability in Combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children