India: UNODC Inter-Divisional Delegation holds talks with key policymakers, stakeholders and partners in India to boost cooperation

New Delhi, India/27-31 March 2023:  A senior inter-divisional delegation from the UNODC Headquarters in Vienna, Austria visited India for comprehensive discussions with key Indian officials, policymakers, stakeholders and partners to strengthen national and regional cooperation in South Asia.

The delegation held discussions with the Honourable Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, and discussed the mandate areas of UNODC. This provided helpful insights into the development of a framework for India-UNODC cooperation in the region. The delegation also met with the UN India Resident Coordinator, Mr. Shombi Sharp, to discuss ways to enhance the One UN approach in India.

During their visit, the delegation held a Roundtable dialogue with policymakers, educators, and young people from 10 states and Union Territories of India to discuss the prioritization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), peace, the rule of law, and integrity in education.

The discussions were aimed at sharing good practices and planned interventions on meaningfully empowering young people towards promoting a culture of peace, health, responsible behaviours and lawfulness--in line with the Global Goals and India’s National Education Policy 2020. Participants also emphasized the positive impact of UNODC’s work with educational institutions through the Education for Justice Initiative, the global GRACE program, and the Lockdown Learners series. 

The delegation's visit to India is significant as India is a key partner of UNODC in the South Asia region. The discussions held during the visit will pave the way for further collaboration between India and UNODC in the areas of security, justice, health, and peace.

The discussions held during the visit will help develop a framework for cooperation and contribute to the development of a new UNODC Regional Programme for South Asia (2023-2027).

This activity contributed to SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 15 and SDG 16: https://sdg-tracker.org/