United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Fortaleza, Brazil, 26 April 2023 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil participated in the "COPOLAD III International Seminar: Drugs, Vulnerabilities and Urban Territories", which aimed to present strategies on drug policies and sustainable development. The event was organized by the National Secretariat for Drug Policy and Asset Management (SENAD/MJSP) and the European Union in partnership with COPOLAD.

Held in Ceará, from 24 to 26 April, the meeting brought together government managers and experts from 23 countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, as well as representatives of civil society, academia and international organizations. The meeting aimed to develop proposals to improve the results and impacts of drug policies related to sustainable development in communities, focusing on policies to reduce poverty and inequality and improving urban space, the environment and public safety. 

Representing UNODC were the global coordinator for alternative development/sustainable livelihoods, Thierry Rostan and the project officer for the crime and violence prevention programme of Pernambuco, Rafael Sales, who formed the panel for the session on "Territorialisation, Development and Vulnerable Communities", together with the Braziliannational secretary on drugs, Marta Machado. 

The session aimed to analyse, debate and clarify the territorialisation of sustainable development strategies in vulnerable drug-related communities. 

For Thierry Rostan, who presented UNODC approach on Alternative Development/Sustainable Livelihoods, "the community must be part of the solution. It is important to work on socio-economic reintegration to reduce crime in areas affected by lack of opportunities," he said.