Bhutan: UNODC Regional Representative and Prime Minister of Bhutan discuss mutual cooperation and programming to promote health, empower youth and uphold the rule of law
UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira held extensive discussions with the Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering, the Foreign Minister of Bhutan, Dr. Tandi Dorji and key stakeholders from the government and UN agencies in Bhutan to strengthen cooperation vis-a-vis UNODC mandates on drugs, health, youth empowerment and the rule of law.
India: UNODC consultation strengthens regional resolve and responses to counter wildlife crime in South Asia
Wildlife crime poses significant threats to species, ecosystems, livelihoods, security, and public health. Effectively countering this form of transnational organized crime necessitates a well-coordinated, multi-stakeholder response. UNODC Global Programme on Crimes Impacting the Environment (GPCAE) convened over 25 criminal justice and law enforcement officials from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for a South Asia-focused regional consultation on combating wildlife crime. Participants exchanged insights, good practices and learned experiences for adaptation and application within the region, based on emerging trends and patterns. Discussions were also centered around the obstacles that impede efficient investigations, resulting in robust legal actions and convictions.
(Supported by the
US Bureau of International Narcotics
and Law Enforcement Affairs)
Sri Lanka: UNODC empowers officials to transform public service and justice for a stronger civic space
Championing human rights and facilitating access to justice are integral foundations for constructing an equitable and inclusive society. Empowering individuals to seek remedies for injustices, ensuring accountability for wrongdoers, and safeguarding their rights fosters trust in the legal system, ultimately promoting social cohesion and reinforcing the rule of law. In this context, a series of UNODC workshops in Sri Lanka empowered public officials to enhance public service delivery and enabled judicial officers to expedite justice access, fostering a more responsive and citizen-centric governance system.
Bangladesh: UNODC builds law enforcement capacities on community policing to counter violent extremism
Violent extremism and terrorism remain key global threats, imperiling public safety, security, stability, and human rights. Effective responses to these challenges demand a mul-tifaceted approach. Community policing can act as a linchpin in these efforts, by actively engaging with community members, nurturing trust, and building a cooperative environment conducive to information exchange. In this direction, UNODC, in collaboration the Bangladesh Police, enhanced knowledge and applied skills of over 25 senior officers--focusing on the evolving threats of terrorism and violent extremism, international good practices on strengthening trust in all dimensions of policing and optimising communication to promote transparency.
Sri Lanka: UNODC advances Maritime Security by improving Maritime Domain Awareness
A series of comprehensive training programs in Sri Lanka equipped officials with essential skills in maritime domain awareness and the use of advanced technologies, laying the groundwork for improved security and coordination among maritime law enforcement agencies. These meticulously designed courses delved into the principles and practices of maritime domain awareness, covering vital aspects like monitoring, tracking, and analyzing maritime traffic. The courses also provided valuable insights into the effective utilization of various cutting-edge technologies, including RADAR, AIS, satellite imagery, and airborne assets.
Bangladesh: UNODC strengthens multi-stakeholder responses to counter Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants with capacity building and knowledge sharing
The 2022 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) found that people of all genders and age groups especially women are at risk of cross-border trafficking. The First National Study on Trafficking in Persons in Bangladesh recommended implementing crime prevention measures to identify risk factors of TIP and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) which includes cross-border response. For this, it is also imperative to strengthen multi-stakeholder responses centred on awareness, knowledge sharing and capacity building. In this context, two UNODC workshops in Bangladesh highlighted the need for robust border management and capacity building of law enforcement and government officials, along with sensitization of young people--contributing to more effective and informed multi-stakeholder responses to TIP and SOM.
Maldives: UNODC strengthens officials’ capacities to prevent and respond to IED threats
Officials from key institutions within the Maldives' public administration were trained on inter-agency cooperation and collaboration, effective use of international databases and evolving responses to counter IED in terrorism-related offenses. Discussions focused on technical aspects of inter-agency coordination and collaboration and the financial disruption of terrorism and related IED networks. The legal aspects and criminal justice responses linked to the applicable normative framework in preventing and countering IEDs were also examined in depth.
Observing the United Nations Day, UNODC put up a special stall at a knowledge fair organized by UN in Bangladesh, showcasing important programmatic work and achievements contributing to the SDGs. The fair put a spotlight on the long-standing partnership between the Government of Bangladesh and the UN. Honorable Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury graced the event, attended by representatives from foreign missions, government and civil society.
Showcasing trends and innovative approaches at the Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters organised by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, UNODC reinforced the commitment to bolster law enforcement responses against drugs and organized crime. UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira, Drug Law Enforcement Expert Mr. Jayant Misra and Programme Officer Ms. Jenna Dawson Faber delivered technical presentations.
UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira and INCB Technical Officer Ms. Sheila Kamdar participated in Milipol India, held in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. This India-France platform aimed at strengthening Indo-Pacific cooperation on innovative internal security solutions.
UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira presented good practices and insights from South Asia on the importance of crime and criminal justice statistics in public policies, at the 3rd Regional Advisory Group meeting of the UNODC-KOSTAT Center of Excellence for Statistics on Crime and Criminal Justice in Asia and the Pacific.
Join the UNODC Network in South Asia
Our Partners
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
Canada
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
UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund
Government Partners:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Call for Partnerships:
Impacting Lives with Innovation
Advancing Crime Prevention, Justice and Health in South AsiaUNODC 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
