Mexico City (Mexico), 14 February 2022 – UNODC has shown the chequered flag to crime at the Formula E World Championship in Mexico City. Under the tag line "Prevention is possible", around 4,000 fans of the electric car FIA Formula E race participated in interactive and dynamic activities around crime prevention at the UNODC booth.
One of the highlights among the younger audience was the video game “Chuka”, which helps children to recognize violence and react assertively. Visitors of the E car race from the older generation were introduced to the “Back to the Community” project, showing how UNODC Mexico works with the prison system in Mexico City.
“Back to the Community” strengthens the labour programme in prisons by providing persons deprived of their liberty with the necessary tools and abilities to help them with a more successful social reintegration process. At the same time, the project also tackles prejudices experienced by this group and expand their support networks.
Some of the beneficiaries of the programme, which is also supported by Formula E driver Lucas Di Grassi, together with their families, visited the UNODC booth and enjoyed the pre-race events. A beneficiary of the project mentioned that “We are receiving training, so when we get out of ‘this place’, we can have a job and we can contribute to our communities.” “We are receiving new opportunities,” she said.
“I thank for and acknowledge the support of our partners in the Mexico City and Italian governments and the private sector -ENEL and Formula E,” said Kristian Hölge, Representative of UNODC in Mexico.
“We are here because our partners know that social problems cannot be solved alone, we need the sum of all forces,” Mr. Hölge said.
Visitors of the E-Prix also learned about the Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking and the Strong Families Programme, that improves parenting skills, child well-being and the mental health of families.
Mr. Hölge also highlighted the opportunity that at the UNODC booth “Visitors were able to learn more about our projects on crime prevention through sports, music and games.”
***
UNODC’s presence at the FIA Formula E Grand-Prix is an example of the potential of public-private partnerships to achieve peace and security.
Prevention is Possible (web story in Spanish)
