South Asia: Regional experts examine emerging trends in drug trafficking; call for cooperation on capacity-building, information exchange and interdictions
UNODC convened a South Asia Regional Expert Group Meeting on strengthening policy and programmatic responses to the drug problem. Senior officials from BIMSTEC, law enforcement agencies, narcotics control, police and health from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka actively participated in the deliberations. Mr. Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of India’s National Commission for Protection of Child Rights opened the meeting and highlighted UNODC’s role in developing a comprehensive response to the drugs challenge, especially in the context of young people.
Bangladesh: Frontline officers trained on effective usage of field-testing kits to counter the threat of illicit drugs
The UNODC Global Synthetic Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends (SMART) Programme donated 66 field drugs and precursors testing kits to the Bangladesh authorities. To supplement this, UNODC conducted a two-day training in Dhaka on the effective usage of field drug testing kits for 20 forensic officials and frontline officers from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Police and Customs. Through the training, frontline officers combating the illicit drugs threat in Bangladesh were equipped to rapidly identify illicit drugs and their precursor chemicals.
(Supported by the
US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
India: UNODC extends support to youth-focused anti-drug awareness campaigns led by Indian lawmaker
Recognizing the need to address the drug problem, the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has embarked on a national awareness program—the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Drug Free India Campaign). In support of this nationwide initiative, UNODC partnered and participated in a series of anti-drugs campaigns in New Delhi led by Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament and Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India. Aimed at raising public awareness on drug use prevention and treatment, the campaigns brought together young people, educators, women self-help groups, community representatives and civil society.
India: UNODC empowers young people as ‘integrity champions’ to strengthen peace, justice and SDGs
Showcasing the Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education (GRACE) Initiative and educational interventions and resources and tools on crime prevention, integrity and ethics, UNODC partnered and participated in a two-day Regional Conclave on Justice Education in Asia, organized by India's New Law College, Pune and supported by the Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE). The conclave brought together educators and students from law schools in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal and Pakistan.
In an interactive discussion held in partnership with the Janki Devi Memorial College (JDMC), University of Delhi, UNODC also engaged about 60 female undergraduate students from different academic disciplines on the Global Goals, integrity and crime prevention, and why their actions matter.
Sri Lanka: UNODC brings together community groups, government officials, criminal justice practitioners to promote fundamental rights
A series of interventions were conducted in September 2022 in Sri Lanka, aimed at strengthening stakeholder awareness and capacities to strengthen the justice and fundamental rights framework. A capacity-building program for senior police officers was hosted to address issues related to violation of rights. Two workshops were convened in Kilinochchi and Jaffna for 70 state officials and 30 civil society representatives on the application of fundamental rights and referral mechanisms available for violation of rights in Sri Lanka.
(Supported by the
UN Secretary General's Peace Building Fund)
Nepal: UNODC promotes targeted interventions to address HIV/AIDS and drug use among vulnerable groups in prison settings
Under the joint Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) mechanism, UNODC conducted awareness programs on testing services, harm reduction, HIV prevention and social reintegration for women who use drugs at the Surkhet and Kailali Prisons in Nepal. The programs were organised in close collaboration with Ministry of Health and Population, Department of Prison Management and the Prison Foundation. During the sessions, prison officials highlighted overcrowding and health-related issues among prisoners as key areas of concern.
Bangladesh: National Consultation calls for concerted multi-stakeholder efforts to counter challenges posed by synthetic drugs
UNODC —under the aegis of the global SMART (Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends) Programme—convened a two-day national consultation on Synthetic Drugs in Dhaka, in partnership with the Department of Narcotics Control, Government of Bangladesh. The consultation aimed at addressing challenges posed by synthetic drugs manufacturing, trafficking and use in Bangladesh, with focus on global and regional trends, forensic challenges and precursor control, among others. The consultation was attended by 36 senior officials from law enforcement agencies, drug treatment experts, forensic scientists and representatives from the civil society organisations in Bangladesh.
(Supported by the
US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
Bangladesh: UNODC promotes non-custodial measures with capacity building for judges and prosecutors
UNODC experts conducted an in-person two-day training on non-custodial measures for judges, public prosecutors and high officials from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, in Cox's Bazar. Attended by over 25 participants, the training aimed to support the Government of Bangladesh in addressing access to justice and overcrowding issues in prisons.
US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
UAE: UNODC convenes first Bilateral Meeting between Bangladesh and Malaysia to Counter Human Trafficking
UNODC’s GLO.ACT-Bangladesh and Regional Office for South East Asia and the Pacific, facilitated a bilateral meeting between criminal justice authorities from Bangladesh and Malaysia in Dubai on 12-14 September 2022. The meeting aimed at strengthening channels of communication, information exchange and promoting judicial cooperation in combatting trafficking in persons (TIP) between the two countries.
Turkiye: UNODC facilitates bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Libya to strengthen cooperation to counter Human Trafficking
UNODC’s GLO.ACT-Bangladesh and Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa facilitated the first bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Libya to counter trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Istanbul, Turkiye. The meeting provided participants with the opportunity to engage in concrete and case based operational networking based on a strengthened common understanding of the international legal framework of cooperation.
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 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
Joint UN Program Fund
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF/UNAIDS
UN Secretary General's Peace Building 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
