UNODC Engagement with Civil Society on Drugs and Crime

UNODC recognizes the need to promote strong partnerships with civil society organizations in dealing with the complex issues of drug abuse and crime which undermine the fabric of society. The active involvement of civil society, which includes NGOs, community groups, labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations is essential to help UNODC carry out its global mandates.

Through GLOU68, UNODC Civil Society Unit (CSU) is the main entry point for non-governmental stakeholders and serves as a bridge between these stakeholders and UNODC substantive offices, field offices and the Member States. Located within the Office of the Director for the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs of UNODC, the CSU carries out the following main functions:

Supporting the participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in intergovernmental meetings, in line with relevant UNODC mandates and rules of procedure for the respective intergovernmental bodies.
Building capacity of non-governmental stakeholders to help them improve their knowledge of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols Thereto, and related International Drug Policy Instruments. It does so together with relevant substantive offices.
Maintaining a database of non-governmental stakeholders.

The CSU carries out these functions in close collaboration with relevant UNODC substantive offices, including Crime and Economic Branch, Organized Crime Branch, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies, and relevant Field Offices. The CSU also partners with umbrella organizations such as the UNCAC Coalition, Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, and the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

A guide for NGO participation in the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) is available here.

Highlights

Youth as agents of positive change to support crime prevention efforts against organized crime

In October 2024, UNODC hosted a Youth Consultation ahead of COP12 UNTOC, bringing together 48 youth representatives from around the globe to share their insights on combating transnational organized crime. This webstory, written by two participants, showcases their experiences and contributions during the consultation and the conference. Read more here.

Voices of Civil Society: International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) - 15 November 2024

The 1^st International Day against TOC is a pivotal moment to spotlight the collective efforts of governments, international organizations, and non-governmental stakeholders in tackling this pressing global challenge. UNODC CSU has partnered with non-governmental stakeholders to showcase their critical contributions through a series of engaging short videos. Watch the videos here.

The International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2024 is fast approaching!

On 9 December the world will celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) 2024. To mark the occasion, we are calling on civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and citizens around the world to stand #UnitedAgainstCorruption. Read more on what can your NGO do and what are the campaign assets available here.

All CSU stories

News

Strengthening Integrity in the Western Balkans

The event "Private Sector Integrity in the Western Balkans," held from 30 September to 1 October in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, brought together more than 50 stakeholders. At the core of the event was the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), along with partners’ commitments to reducing corruption in the Western Balkans by enhancing business integrity. Read more.

Strengthening public-private partnerships on cybercrime
A newly published report, “Public-private partnerships on cybercrime: Regional perspectives on best practices, challenges, and opportunities from the Americas, Africa, and Asia,” assesses the strengths and needs of cyber-related partnerships within regional stakeholder engagement networks and expert groups. Read about the launch event and the report here.

Exploring the World Drug Report 2024: Webinar for Civil Society
Global drug trends are constantly evolving, with new substances emerging each year. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report, an essential annual publication, provides member states and other stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs) with the latest and most comprehensive insights into these trends, patterns of drug use, and emerging substances Read more.