In preparation of the flagship Bangladesh National Study on Trafficking in Persons, UNODC has been extensively engaging with key stakeholders to strengthen data collection mechanisms and understand challenges and areas of concern. In this context, UNODC--under the GLO.ACT framework--organized an Expert Workshop with investigating officers from the Bangladesh Police, in collaboration with IOM and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh. The discussions focused on identification of trafficking flows, development and structure of data collection mechanisms and the formulation of next steps.
On 06 March, a workshop on the national study was conducted with over 25 judges and prosecutors in Dhaka. Participants discussed the deliverables of the research project in the backdrop of the government’s renewed attention on trafficking in persons. Judges and prosecutors exchanged insights on the 2020 Global Trafficking in Persons Report and offered recommendations as to how legal frameworks can be used to create a preventive mechanism that is apt and effective. On 08 March, the second meeting of the Advisory Committee for Bangladesh National Study on Trafficking in Persons, was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs with the participation of 12 relevant ministries. In the discussions, the progress of the study was highlighted, and the committee members shared their recommendations on the next steps.
(Supported by European Union and GLO.ACT Bangladesh)
In March, a capacity building workshop was held for the first batch of 21 Bhutanese judiciary officials, following the launch of the training manual by Her Royal Highness, Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, the founder and President of the Bhutan National Legal Institute. The training was developed with an objective of enhancing the capability and skills of judges to effectively detect trafficking cases and implement anti-trafficking legislation. The second training is scheduled for 7-8 April for judiciary officials from eastern Bhutan. UNODC, in collaboration with the Department of Law and Order under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, also conducted an awareness campaign at the College of Natural Resources on 01 March, reaching over 145 students and 13 teaching staff.
Giving a major impetus to efforts against Trafficking in Persons, the Royal Government of Bhutan adopted the landmark Bhutan Penal Code (Amendment Act) 2021 in March. The amendment, which has come into force w.e.f. 17 February, strengthens national capacity to effectively prevent and counter trafficking in persons, and protect and assist victims in line with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. This development comes in the wake of rigorous and strategic advocacy efforts conducted by UNODC over the last several years with support of the US Department of State.
UNODC convened the regional virtual launch of the INCB Annual Report 2020 on 25 March. The launch was attended by representatives of government agencies, law enforcement and foreign missions of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Top officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (India), Department of Narcotics Control (Bangladesh), National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (Sri Lanka), Maldives Customs Service (Maldives) and the National Drug Dependence and Treatment Centre, AIIMS (India) also shared their insights at the launch. Experts called for multi-stakeholder efforts to counter illicit trafficking and address drug use among vulnerable groups. The INCB Vice President presented key findings of the INCB Reports.
UNODC's South Asia Representative Mr. Sergey Kapinos reflected on emerging use of new routes and methods used by traffickers, as well as illicit trafficking via the darknet and mail. Participants urged all governments to provide support to help tackle illicit drug trafficking and offer evidence-based services for drug use disorders and related diseases.
Bangladesh: Promoting Family Skills among Rohingya Families in Cox’s Bazaar
UNODC completed the third and last week of trainings for Rohingya families under the second cycle of the ‘Strong Families’ programme at Camp-19 in Cox’s Bazaar. Over 50 Rohingya families participated in this cycle. With this, two pre-piloting cycles of 'Strong Families' programme have been completed with 100 Rohingya families. This programme will be scaled up to reach more Rohingya families in 2021. The trainings focus on improving family functioning, bonding and communication, in addition to prevention of risky behaviours.
(Supported by UNODC Family Skills Programme)
Sri Lanka: Promoting Non-Custodial Measures through Capacity Building and Research
To assist Member States in fostering criminal justice reform, UNODC focuses on promoting the practical application of the Nelson Mandela Rules, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures, as well as the implementation of the relevant targets of Agenda 2030. In this context, UNODC has spearheaded a range of targeted interventions to promote alternatives to imprisonment and building capacities of governments on effective prison management and security. On 23 March, UNODC organized a forum with support of Germany to share insights from a gaps and needs assessment of alternatives to imprisonment in Sri Lanka. Over 20 senior level officials from the Ministry of Justice, Department of Prisons, Sri Lanka Police, Community-Based Corrections Department, academia and lawyers of the private bar attended the dialogue. Under the same project, on 26-27 March, a training was organized on ‘Promoting Alternatives to Imprisonment’ for 25 officials of the Community-Based Corrections Department. The topics covered during the training provided improved capacities to participants to implement Community Based Corrections Act while contributing to promote non-custodial measures in Sri Lanka.
On 25-26 March, a training programme was organised in Galle on effective management and dynamic security in prisons for 31 Assistant Superintendents and Chief Jailers of the Department of Prisons in Sri Lanka. This training was delivered to support counter-terrorism measures in Sri Lanka. Discussions were focused on enhancing the capacity of the Department of Prisons to manage high-risk prisoners and improve dynamic security in maximum security prisons.
(Supported by European Union and Government of Germany )
In support of the global Education for Justice Initiative (E4J), UNODC’s ‘Lockdown Learners’ series continued to gain traction, with enthusiastic participation of Indian students and educators in activity-based interactive dialogues on peace, SDGs and crime prevention. Bridging gender and socio-economic divides, the series is being actively conducted with select schools of the government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (Ministry of Education), catering to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In March, UNODC South Asia's E4J Focal Point was nominated for an Educators’ Award established by one of India’s largest media networks, the Dainik Jagran, for the impactful work carried out under the ‘Lockdown Learners’ series (in support of E4J) during COVID-19. The nomination, extended by an independent jury of eminent educators and policymakers in India, was in the category of ‘Grassroots Service during the pandemic.’ Special mention was made of the proactive efforts undertaken to reach the vulnerable and low income group communities through Whatsapp and audio recordings.
Since April 2020, the series has directly engaged over 6,000 students (approx. 60% female) through more than 270 interactive dialogues held across 15 states/Union Territories across India. In addition, educational resources developed under E4J have been shared with over 18,000 educators and students across India, besides 636 government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The series aims at expanding the scope of engagement with educators and students on E4J, in line with India’s New Education Policy 2020, through interactive dialogues, activity-based learning, open exchange of ideas and creation of action networks.
UNODC's South Asia Representative Mr. Sergey Kapinos presented the concluding remarks at the Regional Expert Group meeting for ‘Fostering Cooperation between the Public and Private Sector to Counter Trafficking in Persons in Asia-Pacific,’ convened on 25 March. UNODC also supported the participation of key leaders from governments, private sector, civil society and media in the panel discussions.
In order to promote regional information sharing, UNODC South Asia’s Criminal Justice Expert shared good practices from Maldives of the Risk Needs Assessment undertaken in South Asia, at a hybrid consultation convened by UNODC Central Asia on 16 March. The discussion focused on developing a Risk Needs Assessment Tool for Central Asia. This event was hosted by UNODC’s Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan.
On 08 March, UNODC South Asia's Communications Officer co-moderated a virtual ancillary event of the UN Kyoto Crime Congress, featuring educators and policymakers from India and Middle East. The dialogue focused on good practices and innovations in education to strengthen crime prevention and SDGs. UNODC South Asia's work on E4J and the Lockdown Learners series was duly showcased in the discussions, with specific highlights on the impact of the programme on students and educators.
UNODC's Education for Justice Initiative (E4J) received the 2020 UN Secretary-General’s Award for Innovation on 16 March. Efforts in South Asia have been an integral part of the innovative work being done by E4J, such as the Lockdown Learners series, Model UNs, promotion of classroom tools and convening educators-focused dialogues in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. These efforts have directly impacted lives, engaging students and educators on peace, justice, global citizenship and SDGs.
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
Qatar
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF
UNHCR
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
