Vienna (Austria), 21 December 2020 — UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly met with leaders of the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) and the UNCAC Coalition. Together, they discussed civil society participation in meetings and processes related to UNODC’s mandate.
The three umbrella organizations represent over 600 non-governmental bodies worldwide, acting as the main conduit for engagement between civil society and UNODC.
While addressing the participants of the virtual meeting, Ms. Waly expressed her appreciation for the ongoing partnership with the three networks. She further recognized the importance of civil society actors in the implementation of UNODC’s new strategy and furthering UNODC’s mandate within an increasingly complex environment.
Anna Alvazzi del Frate, Chair of the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Mathias Huter, Managing Director of the UNCAC Coalition; and Jamie Bridge, Chair of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC); acknowledged the efforts made by UNODC and the Secretariat to facilitate the participation of civil society in intergovernmental meetings, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.
Ms. Waly welcomed further consultations and input to UNODC’s strategic engagement with civil society in 2021. The Executive Director also committed to holding an ongoing and constructive dialogue with the three organizations during UNODC’s upcoming inter-governmental meetings.
For their part, the representatives for the civil society umbrella networks confirmed their willingness to contribute practical ideas throughout their participation in UNODC’s key 2021 events, such as the UN Crime Congress (March 2021), the 64th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND, April 2021), the 30th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ, May 2021), as well as additional intergovernmental meetings to be scheduled throughout the upcoming year.
UNODC continues to make every effort to guarantee the active participation of civil society in relevant intergovernmental meetings, notwithstanding the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Organization recognizes that mutual cooperation is the key to the successful fulfillment of its mandate, and values the vital role that civil society organizations play in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
