About UNODC ROMENA
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was established to implement the UN’s drug and crime programmes in an integrated manner, addressing the interrelated issues of drug control, crime prevention and international terrorism in the context of sustainable development and human security.
WHO WE ARE
The UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) was established in 1997 in Cairo, Egypt with the vision of supporting the Member States in the region to be safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. ROMENA has programme offices in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen with more than 130 personnel.
WHAT WE DO
UNODC’s work in the region is based on five normative areas of activity:
- Strengthening Member States’ capacities to confront threats from transnational organized crime,
- Tackling corruption and its negative impact on societies,
- Strengthening crime prevention and building effective criminal justice systems.
- Supporting Member States in implementing a balanced, comprehensive, and evidence-based approach to the world drug problem that addresses both supply and demand, and
- Countering terrorism.
The “
Regional Programme to Prevent and Combat Crime, Terrorism and Health Threats and Strengthen Criminal Justice Systems in Line with International Human Rights Standards (2016-2021)” acts as the umbrella to our action within the region. Within the Regional Programme there are five priority Subprogrammes:
- Combating Organized Crime
- Countering Terrorism
- Combating Corruption and Financial Crimes
- Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
- Prevention of Drug Use, Treatment and Care of Drug Use Disorders and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care
WHO WE SERVE
People are at the core of our work and the heart of all impact.
Every day, UNODC ROMENA works with Government institutions and practitioners, including criminal justice policymakers and practitioners, prison officials, health and social workers as well as CSOs to better service and support victims and survivors of crimes, human trafficking, violence, and terrorism as well as people in prisons, youth in conflict with the law, people who use drugs and live with HIV, people with drug use disorders, focusing on youth and women empowerment. Our ambition is to support countries and communities in the region to reach sustainable solutions to the threats of drugs and crime, corruption, and terrorism embedded in sustainable development, peace and security.
Read UNODC ROMENA's stories on such work here.
The UNODC Strategy 2021 – 2025 guides ROMENA’s work in the region to deliver effectively, efficiently and with accountability, elevating our support to the Member States to build just, inclusive and resilient societies that leave no one behind.
Further guidance to UNODC ROMENA's work in North Africa is through the
UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030 to provide more safety to Africa’s people, government and institutions from drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and illicit financial flows. Our Vision 2030 seeks to strengthen crime prevention, enhance justice, address organized crime, ensure a balanced response to drugs, improve the rule of law and bolster resilience.
