Sri Lanka: UNODC strengthens multi-stakeholder approaches to counter organized crime threats
Under the aegis of the ongoing Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) preliminary study in Sri Lanka supported by the Joint UN Program fund, UNODC organized a workshop in Colombo with the aim of understanding and identifying key sources of information related to reported crimes and to provide a platform for participants to discuss and share their insights on criminal activities. The workshop was attended by about 90 officials from the Department of Prisons. In his inaugural address, the Attorney General of Sri Lanka emphasised the importance of addressing prison overcrowding and rehabilitation needs of the prisoners and called for greater focus on deradicalization programs as a means of combatting crimes efficiently and effectively. The Chairman of the Legal Aid Commission and the Commissioner General of Prisons highlighted the contribution of prison officials in addressing issues of inmates during incarceration and significance of understanding the substantive and procedural law related to the rights of prisoners. The TOC study seeks to outline the trends and scale of transnational organized crimes (like drug trafficking, wildlife crimes etc) impacting Sri Lanka, and to identify key challenges and opportunities in enhancing law enforcement and criminal justice responses.
(Supported by
Joint UN Program Fund)
India: Engaging youth on peace and SDGs amid COVID-19, UNODC’s ‘Lockdown Learners’ culminates after two years of impact
UNODC’s Lockdown Learners series culminated in April 2022, after two impactful years of engaging Indian youth and educators confined by COVID-19 with activity-based learning on peace, crime prevention, SDGs and integrity. Launched in April 2020, the series bridged gender and socio-economic divides with free-of-cost interactive dialogues on themes such as cybercrime, misinformation, gender-based violence, discrimination, and corruption, among others. In April, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia’s Communications Officer Mr. Samarth Pathak received an award for ‘Outstanding Educational Leadership’ in recognition of the Lockdown Learners series at the Jagran Josh Educational Awards 2022 convened by the Dainik Jagran—one of India’s largest media conglomerates. The award was presented by the Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism in the presence of government interlocutors, academia and civil society groups. Through the initiative, young people from public and private schools—including the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (under the aegis of the Ministry of Education—have been raising awareness, forming action networks and spearheading interventions to mitigate COVID-19 and using their skills to promote peace, integrity and SDGs. An impact report of the Lockdown Learners series, highlighting key achievements and good practices, was also disseminated among stakeholders and educators. Building on the success of the series, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia will be launching new initiatives enabling and empowering young people to drive social impact.
Bangladesh: UNODC trains prison staff on crisis management during COVID-19
Individuals confined in prison settings, where physical distancing is often not an option, have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to this challenge, prison staff from select prisons in Bangladesh were trained on crisis management during COVID-19 and its psychosocial impact, in a series of eight capacity building exercises between January-April 2022. The final training was held on 04-06 April, in collaboration with the Prisons Directorate, Government of Bangladesh. Participants welcomed the initiative, acknowledging the need for a comprehensive programme to help prison population effectively manage the pandemic. During the discussion, they advocated for a mechanism to enable the appointment of psychologists and correctional officers in prisons especially to address mental and psychological issues.
(Supported by
US Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs)
South Asia: UNODC convenes bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Nepal to foster cooperation against smuggling of migrants
Combatting human trafficking and migrant smuggling along the Bangladesh and Nepal border is of national, regional, and global concern. Under the aegis of the GLO.ACT-Bangladesh project, a Bangladesh-Nepal bilateral meeting was convened at the margins of a transregional conference organized by UNODC on “Fostering international cooperation against the smuggling of migrants” in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The meeting aimed to foster dynamic conversations, understand common interests, and support the States’ to develop productive lines of communication to exchange good practices and work together on issues related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Participants identified various ways and tools to enhance cooperation on exchange of information, mutual legal assistance and joint investigation initiative in order to respond to smuggling of migrants.
(Supported by the
European Union)
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:
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF
Joint UN Program Fund
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
