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.
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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:
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.
Record Civil Society Participation at UNTOC COP12: Amplifying Civil Society Voices in the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime
The twelfth session of UNTOC COP was held in Vienna, from 14 to 18 October 2024. It convened 1400 participants from government, international organizations, and civil society to discuss priorities to advance the fight against transnational organized crime. Among the participants, over 500 Non-Governmental Stakeholders attended as observers and contributed through statements and side events. Read more here.
Uniting Forces against Transnational Organized Crime
The Side Event Uniting Forces against Transnational Organized Crime which took place in the margins of COP UNTOC highlighted the work of UNODC engaging non-governmental stakeholders in the implementation of UNTOC and its review process, focussing on the Voluntary Pilot Initiatives. The event gathered speakers from the governments of Mexico, Pakistan, Kenya, and Angola as well as civil society representatives from Pakistan, Kenya, and Angola sharing their experience in the process. Read more here.
This is the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in short EBRD