“Care in Crises”: UNODC promotes public awareness on drug use and illicit trafficking to mark the World Drug Day
The focus of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2022 was “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises”. Ensuring access to controlled medicines, guaranteeing evidence-based care, treatment and services, and preventing negative coping behaviours through support were among the calls to action highlighted both on the day and in UNODC’s World Drug Report 2022.
Bhutan: UNODC trains UN Peacekeepers and promotes youth awareness to counter Trafficking in Persons
A series of three awareness programs on countering trafficking in persons (TIP) were conducted for over 1,511 students and educators from three high schools in Tsirang dzongkhag, in collaboration with the Department of Law and Order, Government of Bhutan. Aimed at engaging youth, the discussions focused on explaining issues pertaining to TIP with examples and good practices in protecting and assisting victims. In addition, UNODC also convened a training on exploitation and TIP, aimed at building capacities of the UN peacekeeping force of Bhutan, stationed at Paro Dzongkhag. Nearly 178 peacekeeping personnel participated in the training.
Maldives: UNODC holds tailored workshops on children in conflict with the law
Since 2020, UNODC, through its Global Programme to End Violence Against Children (END-VAC), has been supporting the ongoing efforts of the Government of Maldives in the area of juvenile justice reform. UNODC and the Government of Maldives have worked together to identify priority areas of intervention that would further support practitioners in their efforts to apply child-sensitive approaches to juvenile justice in Maldives. A series of consultations have been held with national counterparts to better understand issues encountered by practitioners in the implementation of alternatives to judicial proceedings.
India: UNODC participates in National Consultation on Indian Judicial System
UNODC participated and provided inputs in a national consultation on 'Vision 2047: Developing a Speedy, Affordable and Technology-Enabled Citizen-Centric Doorstep Justice Delivery System,' convened by the Department of Justice, Government of India in New Delhi. Attended by experts from UN agencies, leading think tanks and legal fraternity in New Delhi. Participants discussed the use of technology and artificial intelligence, international good practices and standards, the need for capacity building and infrastructure upgrade of courts, and greater community engagement, among other themes.
Bangladesh: UNODC builds capacities of criminal justice practitioners in countering Trafficking in Persons
Under the aegis of the GLO.ACT-Bangladesh project, UNODC, in partnership with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Bangladesh, organized capacity building workshops for 18 prosecutors from across Bangladesh and 18 lawyers from civil society organizations on countering Trafficking in Persons (TIP). The workshops familiarized participants with the essential international legal instruments, frameworks, and case laws related to TIP. It also served as a knowledge-sharing platform where prosecutors had vibrant and engaging discussions on handling TIP cases. Experts guided the prosecutors on developing legal arguments for case preparation and trial. The Bangladesh Secretary of Law and Justice Division, and the Solicitor of Law and Justice Division joined the inauguration ceremony and discussed with the participants ways to address challenges of prosecuting human trafficking cases.
Sri Lanka: UNODC strengthens multi-stakeholder approaches to counter organized crime threats
Under the aegis of the ongoing Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) preliminary Study in Sri Lanka, supported by the Joint UN Program Fund, UNODC organized the second Discussion Forum for over 75 senior level officials from the Department of Prisons. The aim of the event was to strengthen understanding and identifying key information sources related to prosecuting, sentencing, seizures and reporting such crimes as trafficking in drugs, small arms and wildlife.
Bangladesh: UNODC engages parliamentarians on migration and development
UNODC, under the aegis of GLO.ACT-Bangladesh, engaged with the Parliamentarians Caucus on Migration and Development and its secretariat WARBE Development Foundation in Dhaka. The aim of the meeting was to assess the scope of collaboration and developing a concrete plan as a follow-up to the national consultation on Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) to be held in October 2022. The participants appreciated the results of work of GLO.ACT-Bangladesh and provided their insights on garnering policy discussion on SOM.
Bangladesh: UNODC engages university students with educational modules
UNODC, under the aegis of GLO.ACT-Bangladesh, jointly organized a workshop on engaging university students with educational resources on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), in partnership with the Daffodil International University (DIU). Building on an expert meeting held with faculty members from 25 universities in Bangladesh in August 2020, this workshop was part of the series of interventions made by GLO.ACT-Bangladesh in partnership with the network of academics.
Maldives: UNODC promotes non-custodial measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons
A national stakeholder’s consultation on the implementation of non-custodial measures was held in the Maldives in partnership with the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS). The consultation was attended by officials from MCS, Department of Judicial Administration, Maldives Police, Attorney General’s Office and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
(Supported by
US Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs)
Maldives: Specialised National Workshop and Legislative Consultation focuses on Handling Electronic Evidence
UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch organized a specialized national workshop and legislative consultation on handling electronic evidence. The event took place as part of the project “Strengthening the Capacity of Central Authorities and Counter-Terrorism Prosecutors and Investigators in Obtaining Terrorism-Related Electronic Evidence”, implemented with the support of the US Government under the UNODC Global Initiative on Handling Electronic Evidence Across Borders.
US Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs)
World Drug Report 2022
Consisting of five separate booklets, the World Drug Report 2022 provides an in-depth analysis of global drug markets and examines the nexus between drugs and the environment within the bigger picture of the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change and environmental sustainability. The World Drug Report 2022 is aimed not only at fostering greater international cooperation to counter the impact of the world drug problem on health, governance and security, but also, with its special insights, at assisting Member States in anticipating and addressing threats from drug markets and mitigating their consequences.
Cannabis legalization in parts of the world appears to have accelerated daily use and related health impacts, according to the report. It also details record rises in the manufacturing of cocaine, the expansion of synthetic drugs to new markets, and continued gaps in the availability of drug treatments, especially for women.
According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than with the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders. Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of this number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both.
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/UNAIDS
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 BehindUNODC Regional Office for South Asia has developed a wide range of projects and initiatives on the following thematic areas:
-Building law enforcement capacities against drugs and organised crime
-Addressing drug use and HIV/AIDS -Enhancing multi-stakeholder responses to counter Trafficking in Persons -Engaging young people and educators on crime prevention, integrity, Global Goals and peace with educational interventions
-Promoting family skills to reduce risky behaviours among young people -Countering corruption -Addressing Gender-based Violence
-Strengthening responses to prevent and counter wildlife crime
-Countering cybercrime and promoting online safety
We seek activesupport 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
