India: Promoting targeted interventions to address HIV/AIDS and drug use among vulnerable groups
In an effort to facilitate identification and planning of possible need-based activities under the joint Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF), UNODC’s HIV/AIDS Programme Officer visited the state of Gujarat to meet key government officials, police and other stakeholders. The discussions were aimed at planning and facilitating targeted interventions to address the needs of prisoners, residents of women’s shelter homes and people who use drugs. A visit to an Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centre was also undertaken to understand the level of service uptake and the associated bottlenecks. Meetings were held with senior officials at the Women and Child Department, Government of Gujarat (India), the Gujarat State AIDS Control Society and civil society representatives.
(Supported by UBRAF Mechanism)
Bangladesh: Fostering expert consultations on data collection for the Bangladesh National Study on Trafficking in Persons
Reliable data is key to establish an effective strategy to counter Trafficking in Persons (TIP). In this context, UNODC, convened an expert group workshop on data collection for the ongoing ‘Bangladesh National Study on Trafficking in Persons’. Attended by 25 participants from law enforcement, government departments and judiciary, the workshop was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Bangladesh. The discussions focused on identification of trafficking flows, development of data collection mechanisms for the preparation of the National Study, and the formulation of next steps. This involved in-depth discussions of the previously circulated questionnaire to polish indicators and review data availability. This national study is an important stepping stone to strengthen policy responses on addressing TIP.
(Supported by European Union and GLO.ACT Bangladesh)
India: Strengthening capacity building of law enforcement agencies to counter drug trafficking and related crimes
Exposed to the Golden Triangle, the northern and north-eastern states of India are vulnerable to drug trafficking and organized crime. In this context, knowledge-sharing and capacity building of law enforcement officials remain a need of the hour. On 15-16 February, UNODC convened a two-day capacity building Initiative for over 90 senior and operation-level drug law enforcement officers posted in 8 states of North-East India. Inaugurated by the Governor of Manipur state, Dr. Najma Heptulla, the virtual workshop was conducted by UNODC experts and senior officials of the Government of India. Another online training was organised for over 57 drug law enforcement officials from India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state on 22-23 February. The training was opened by the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya, who in his inaugural speech lauded the activities of UNODC and suggested a long-term engagement with the drug trafficking and related issues in the State. The discussions focused on drug Laws, intelligence gathering, collection of evidence, prosecution, and international cooperation. UNODC’s Drug Law Enforcement Expert shared insights on global drug trafficking patterns, regional trends and Early Warning Advisory.
(Supported by Government of India)
Maldives: Providing technical support to operationalize the first Special Management Unit of the Maldives Correctional Service
In February, UNODC shared with the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Imran Abdulla, a draft copy of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Special Management Unit of the Maldives Correctional Service. The SOP was developed in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules, UNODC Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and other international human rights standards and norms. The Special Management Unit was opened on 03 February in a ceremony held at Maafushi Prison. The new unit is a 50-cell unit targeted for Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs). This is the first SMU in the Maldives, and UNODC has delivered extensive specialized training for prison officers in this context on Avoiding Manipulation by Violent Extremist Prisoners, Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism in Prisons, Dynamic Security and the Nelson Mandela Rules. The SMU will facilitate the separation of VEPs from prisoners with underlying vulnerabilities who may be susceptible to recruitment and radicalization, supporting to prevent the spread of radicalization in prison settings.
In support of the global Education for Justice (E4J) Initiative, UNODC’s ‘Lockdown Learners’ series continues to engage youth and educators in India on peace, SDGs and crime prevention. Bridging gender and socio-economic divides, the series is being actively conducted with select schools of the government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (Ministry of Education), catering to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In February 2021, over 24 interactions were conducted with over 900 students of 5 Indian states. The series aims at expanding the scope of engagement with educators and students on E4J, in line with India’s New Education Policy 2020, through interactive dialogues, activity-based learning, open exchange of ideas and creation of action networks. Capacity building and network building among educators on teaching issues pertaining to peace and the rule of law is also being undertaken. UNODC is also providing knowledge support and mentorship to a range of student-driven initiatives aimed at addressing gender issues, cybercrime, peacebuilding, misinformation, discrimination and digital divides. Since April 2020, the series has directly engaged over 5,100 students (approx. 60% female) through more than 250 interactive dialogues held across 15 states/Union Territories across India. In addition, educational resources developed under E4J have been shared with over 18,000 educators and students across India, besides 636 government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Sweden
Qatar
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF
UNHCR
Government Partners:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
BE A PARTNER: MAKE AN IMPACT
In response to COVID-19, and its impact on vulnerable groups and emerging risks to security and peace, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia has developed a wide range of projects and initiatives on the following thematic areas:
-- Addressing Gender-based Violence
-- Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses
-- Countering Corruption
-- Youth Engagement through Education
-- Promoting Family Skills
-- Addressing the Needs of Drug Users, those with HIV/AIDS and Hep-C and those in prison settings
-- Strengthening Responses to COVID-19 in Prisons
-- Countering Cybercrime and Promoting Online Safety
-- Responding to the Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors, Refugees, Migrants and the Homeless
Activesupport from partners is requested to enable the implementation of these programs and to scale-up efforts to promote security, justice and health among vulnerable groups in South Asia. Our partnerships aim at building national and regional alliances on our mandates, which are closely linked to national, regional and global priorities as well as the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Let's join hands to enable and aid large-scale and impactful initiatives that help people lead safer and healthier lives . Your support can make all the difference!
To know more, please contact:
Mr. Samarth Pathak
Communications Officer
UNODC Regional Office for South Asia
Email: samarth.pathak@un.org Cellphone: +91-9811347927
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assists Member States in their efforts to combat illicit drugs and international crime. Over the past two decades, the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia(ROSA) has been working with governments and civil society in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, providing specialized assistance to address challenges pertaining to drugs, organised crime, security, justice and health. The commitment to Sustainable Development Goals, human rights and the rule of law is at the core of our mandate.
Contact Us
C-97 (Ground Floor), Defence Colony, New Delhi-110024, India
Email: samarth.pathak@un.org
