Marking a milestone, the new UNODC Regional Programme for South Asia (2024-2028) was launched by senior South Asian government representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Participating officials reiterated their support to UNODC’s efforts, highlighting the importance of unified action and cooperation in addressing shared challenges. The framework outlines the scope and strategic focus of UNODC’s programmatic action and cooperation in South Asia with five sub-programmes: Addressing and Countering the World Drug Problem; Preventing and Countering Organised Crime; Preventing and Countering Corruption and Economic Crime; Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Under UNODC's RiseUp4Peace initiative, an innovative students-led SDG16 festival was held in collaboration with the Kamla Nehru Public School Phagwara, drawing over 4000 young people and educators from 10 towns and villages in Punjab. Through creative projects, students championed peace and justice, creating powerful narratives and taking pledges to promote social change. With a spotlight on themes related to cyber safety, anti-corruption, access to justice, mental health and gender equality, students learnt about SDG16 themes, engaged with UNODC and co-created group projects--street plays, artwork, music, videos, informative briefs, talk shows and discussions. Over 100 educators from across the state also developed a landmark Punjab Educators’ Declaration, outlining concrete steps to mainstream SDG16 education in schools.
In collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, a high-level provincial consultation was held in Pokhara with key stakeholders, to identify legal and policy challenges with regard to access to justice for victims of sexual violence, polygamy, trafficking in persons, drugs and crime. The consultation was attended by senior judges, police officials and prosecutors, who collectively formulated a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at revitalizing the criminal justice landscape. Emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches, stakeholders called for modern investigative techniques to bolster prosecution efforts and ensure the swift delivery of justice.
Knowledge sharing initiatives are essential for enhancing public health, ensuring justice, and maintaining security. 35 officials from various agencies reviewed the Harm Reduction Programme, developing an action plan to improve program implementation. Additionally, 32 police officials received training to better counter drug-related crimes and support harm reduction efforts. These capacity-building efforts are crucial for fostering a supportive environment where law enforcement can work in tandem with health professionals and community organizations to address drug abuse effectively.
A vibrant Arts4SDG16 workshop held in partnership with The Lawrence School Sanawar empowered students from eight Indian schools to address social challenges. Through painting, sculpture, music, and dance, they used arts to raise awareness on issues like discrimination, cybercrime, and gender-based violence and developed a joint declaration pledging to RiseUp4Peace. The workshop enabled young people to learn about social challenges related to SDG16, explore the power of art in bridging divides and challenging injustices, and co-create artwork for awareness and advocacy.
An online training session for Maldives’ National Integrity Committee was organized with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on key pillars of oversight for misconduct of law enforcement agencies. The training was delivered by officials from Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Secretariat. Through the training, participants engaged deeply with concepts related to the review and prioritization mechanisms essential for effective oversight of law enforcement agencies.
Empowered teachers not only cultivate critical thinking but also advocate for peace and justice. UNODC's RiseUp4Peace initiative is an effort in this direction, bridging theory with practice, equipping educators with knowledge and skills to promote inclusivity, address students' vulnerabilities, and integrating SDG16 education. This month, UNODC youth champions Aarushi Gambhir and Alviya Haider led dialogues with diverse stakeholders on promoting disability inclusion in the classrooms, enabling learning environments where every student feels valued and can thrive.
UNODC's Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) has embarked on a mission to bolster Sri Lanka's maritime domain awareness capabilities. These initiatives aim to equip Sri Lanka's maritime agencies with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively address maritime threats and enhance overall maritime security.
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
Canada
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Joint UN Program Fund
Norway
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
