Building Back from COVID-19:
Strengthening Security, Peace, Justice and Health
Bangladesh/India: UNODC organizes consultations to counter wildlife crime and strengthen prosecutions
Wildlife crime threatens species, ecosystems, livelihoods, security and public health. Countering this transnational organised crime requires a coordinated multi-stakeholder response. On 12-13 August, UNODC organised a National Consultation with key government agencies and lawyers in India on preventing and combatting wildlife crime, with a focus on legislative and prosecution aspects. Over 40 officials from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Forest, Customs Department, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and lawyers participated in the discussions. On 25-26 August, a National Consultation was organised in Bangladesh in the same format, in partnership with the Bangladesh Forest Department. The consultation focused on legislative and prosecution aspects of countering wildlife crime, and was attended by over 25 lawyers, and officials from the Forest Department, Financial Intelligence Unit, Border Guard and other law enforcement agencies from Bangladesh. Both consultations involved intensive group work, case studies and concluded with the officials highlighting the key challenges in the countries and prioritised needs going forward. These events were part of a series of national consultations planned in/for South Asia.
(Supported by US Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement)
Maldives: UNODC, Maldives Correctional Service launch the Prisoner classification and risks assessment tool and manual for countering violent extremism in prisons
Responding to violent extremism and radicalization in prisons, UNODC, in partnership with the Maldives Correctional Service, launched the Prisoner Classification and Risks Assessment Tool for Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) and the Manual for Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons. These resources aim to strengthen the institutional capacity and framework to manage VEPs. The launch ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to the Maldives and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Minister of State for Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Prisons. The Risks Assessment Tool enables officers to better understand the risk profile of individual prisoners, which may range from ideological beliefs, substance abuse, poverty, family relationships or mental health issue, among others. Once these risks are identified, officers can effectively provide the right level of supervision, support programmes and rehabilitation.
(Supported by the European Union)
Maldives: UNODC trains national stakeholders on protecting children in conflict with law
On 15-16 August, UNODC, in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Government of the Maldives, hosted a workshop on risk assessment for children in conflict with the law. The workshop focused on the Juvenile Justice Act of the Maldives and aimed at supporting Maldivian officials to conduct and implement risk assessment tools for children in conflict with the law. Building on this, a Training of Trainers on juvenile justice was conducted on 16-19 August, aimed at enhancing the capacity of key national stakeholders in the Maldives.
(Under the aegis of UNODC's
Global Programme to End
Violence Against Children)
Nepal: UNODC trains customs officials on
air cargo control and security
UNODC—under the framework of the global Container Control Programme-- conducted a three-day online refresher training for customs officers of the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) in Kathmandu. The objective of the consultation was to educate the participants on the various types of air cargo, risk indicators, open-source information, air cargo safety and air chemicals. Participants comprised officials from the Department of Customs, Bhairahawa Customs office and the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs office in Nepal.
In August, UNODC organised a series of three two-day trainings on countering Trafficking in Persons , in collaboration with the Department of Law and Order, Government of Bhutan. The trainings focused on the practical application of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to protect and assist victims and strengthen cooperation and coordination between different stakeholders. Officials from law enforcement, local government, civil society, Ministries of Labour and Human Resources and Foreign Affairs and judiciary from the Haa Dzongkhag, Paro Dzongkhag and Thimphu Dzongkhag participated in the discussions. Special awareness programs on countering Trafficking in Persons were also conducted for 277 students from the Gongzim Ugyen Dorji Central School at Haa, and for 161 students from the Paro College of Education, Paro.
(Supported by US Department of State)
India: UNODC powers youth action on peace and SDGs through ‘Lockdown Learners’ series
As nations build back from COVID-19, enabling youth to create a safer, peaceful and inclusive world is an imperative. In August, UNODC continued to engage and mobilise youth and educators in India on peace, SDGs and crime prevention through the ‘Lockdown Learners’ series (in support of the global Education for Justice Initiative). Bridging gender and socio-economic divides, activity-based interactive dialogues were conducted with students from 8 Indian states/Union Territories on issues covering discrimination, peacebuilding, SDGs awareness, misinformation and cybercrime. Knowledge support and mentorship were also provided to online youth collectives in developing community outreach and advocacy tools on vaccines, COVID-19 precautions and awareness on essential helplines and information. Marking the Youth Day on 12 August, UNODC joined hands with Indian NGO Saksham Bharati to sensitise over 150 young people from diverse backgrounds on crime prevention, peace and ways to strengthen the rule of law. Addressing the interactive workshop, UNODC’s South Asia Representative Mr. Sergey Kapinos urged participants to take charge and co-create solutions on crime prevention amid COVID-19. On 19 August, knowledge support was provided to a Model UN convened by India’s renowned The Lawrence School Sanawar. Over 500 delegates participated in the MUN, reflecting on issues pertaining to justice and human rights using the special developed UNODC E4J MUN Guide.
(Under the aegis of UNODC's Global
Education for Justice Initiative)
India: UNODC engages educators with good practices on
SDGs and peace
UNODC provided knowledge support on strengthening ethics, crime prevention and social change through education to RiseUp4SDGs, an international educators’ collective. Joining educators and youth from 58 countries at a virtual event on SDG 16, UNODC experts jointly shared ways to strengthen peace and SDGs with Education for Justice and showcased the impact of the Lockdown Learners series. The dialogue emphasised good practices that can be adapted and replicated in the classrooms, the role of action networks in social change, and the need to effectively engage young people to build a peaceful, just and inclusive world post COVID-19.
(In partnership with
RiseUp4SDGs)
UNODC Global Strategy (2021-2025)
UNODC’s mission is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism. Our new Global Strategy (2021-2025) will equip UNODC to deliver effectively, efficiently and with accountability, elevating our support to Member States to build just, inclusive and resilient societies that leave no one behind. Our interventions will pay special attention to human rights, protection of children, gender equality, empowerment of women and youth.
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
British High Commission, Sri Lanka
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Sweden
Qatar
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF
UNHCR
Government Partners:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Call for Partnerships:
Impacting Lives with Innovation
Building Back Better from COVID-19: Leaving No One BehindIn 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
