The UN Security Council Resolution 2359 highlights a need for increased regional cooperation and a regional response to the threats of terrorism and of transnational illicit trafficking. It also welcomes the deployment of the G5 Sahel joint force, which will complement MINUSMA's mandate in Mali. UNODC will continue to work closely with these two key partners to promote peace in the Sahel. Read more

UNODC supports the establishment of National Epidemiology Network in Liberia

In West Africa unavailability of reliable data on trends of drug use is a major setback to drug demand reduction efforts. To address the gap in epidemiological data on the demand and consumption of drugs, UNODC organized the first National meeting of Epidemiology Network on drug use and a National workshop on collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on drug use in Liberia (27-28 July) and Côte d'Ivoire (in August). Read more

UNODC and partners build forensics capacities in Nigeria

Drug traffickers have forged links with criminal networks and use false documents to conceal their traces and identities. To combat organized crime related to drug trafficking, it is necessary to develop forensic capacities in West Africa because the criminal networks benefit from the low level of forensic resources and control. UNODC organized a training workshop on document analysis from 26 to 28 July 2017 in Lagos. Read more

Lake Chad Basin: integrating gender dimensions to fight terrorism

According to UN Women, "the great changes we are undergoing must primarily be understood in the context of the needs and concerns of women in specific situations of conflict. Women's participation is key to sustainable peace". UNODC and the High Commission for Human Rights organized a workshop on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism in Yaoundé, on 19-21 July 2017. Read more

End of training cycle for Nigerien lawyers on the assistance and defense in terrorism cases

From 17 to 19 July 2017, the third and last training workshop for Nigerien lawyers on the assistance and defense in terrorism cases took place in Niamey. This workshop takes part of the implementation of a capacity building project for the Pôle judiciaire spécialisé in Niamey, mainly regarding access to justice. This project was undertaken in a context marked by a resurgence of terrorist acts by Boko Haram. Read more

UNODC visits Niamey Prison on Nelson Mandela Day

The UNODC justice team chose to mark Nelson Mandela Day with a visit to Niamey prison. It was the opportunity for UNODC to encourage the efforts made by the prison staff towards the respect and good treatment of detainees despite the current prison overcrowding in Niger. Besides, UNODC recalled that several activities took place in Niger since the beginning of the year aiming at improving the legislative assistance of detainees. Read more

The Mandela Rules in the spotlight at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace of Dakar

On 18th July, the international community marks Nelson Mandela Day, paying tribute to the former South African President that fought Apartheid and spent many years in prison. Every year, this day is an opportunity to promote better conditions of detention and to raise awareness on the plight of inmates. This year, UNODC decided to present the Nelson Mandela Rules to 80 students in Law at the university in Dakar. Read more

Supreme courts fight against terrorism in the Sahel

Faced with the continuous rise of terrorism in the Sahel, UNODC provides judiciary assistance to the region's States in order to help them better prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of terrorism. In this context, UNODC has organized a regional workshop on the role of supreme courts in the fight against terrorism. Building upon two previous regional meetings, the workshop took place in Nouakchott from 10 to 12 July. Read more

ECOWAS-EU-UNODC Steering Committee: a stronger commitment

Abuja, 10th July 2017- The Project "Support to ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, related organized Crime and drug abuse in West Africa" held its third Steering Committee Coordination meeting on the 10th of July in the premises of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja. The Steering Committee Coordination is held twice a year between partners (ECOWAS, EU, UNODC). Read more

Mali seizes drugs and arrests traffickers and drug kingpins

According to the World Drug Report of 2017, West Africa's part in global drug trafficking has become a growing concern. In Mali, law enforcement officers have made several seizures during the month of June 2017, whether by overland or aerial routes. Capacity-building of law enforcement officials, in their fight against drug trafficking is a central component of UNODC's mandate in West and Central Africa. Read more

Mali and Niger strengthen intelligence analysis through the G5 Sahel

In the framework of its partnership with the G5 Sahel, and particularly with its Security Cooperation Platform, UNODC delivered two national training workshops in Niamey and Bamako, from 19 to 30 June 2017. These sessions focused on intelligence gathering and analysis, a fundamental aspect of countries' efforts to fight terrorism and transnational organized crime. Read more

Ghana: Countering fisheries crime in the trade supply chain

19-22 June 2017 the UNODC delivred a training course in Ghana on fisheries crime to enhance the operational skills of law enforcement officers fight fisheries crime. By bringing the CCP Port Control Units, customs, police, as well as the private sector together, cooperation between these agencies is strengthened, fostering a comprehensive approach to fight this type of crime. Read more

UNODC produces concrete results in the Sahel region

The Sahel Programme Progress Report of 2017 was launched on 15 June 2017 in the UNODC Headquarters, in Vienna. The Report showcases the outstanding results achieved by the governments of the Sahel region, with the support of UNODC, in their fight against trafficking, transnational organized crime, terrorism, and trafficking in persons and of migrants. Read more

UNODC trains national UNVs on delivering legal aid services in Niger

UNODC is currently carrying out a project to enhance the capacities of Nigerien judicial authorities to fight terrorism while respecting human rights. A key component of this project is to increase the access of persons accused of terrorism, currently detained and awaiting trial, to legal aid services. In this context, 10 national young UN Volunteers were recruited and trained, in Niamey from the 7 to 9 June 2017 on delivering legal aid. Read more

Efforts towards a better coordination on maritime crime

In recent years, the Gulf of Guinea has become the epicenter of maritime crime in Africa. UNODC organized a training for thirty practitioners from African countries, namely Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Gabon, focusing on the State action at sea and the adequate penal responses and aiming at improving coordination between the countries affected by maritime crime. Read more

UNODC strengthens the fight against organized crime and terrorism

May 2017 was of utmost importance for the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) in West Africa. Indeed, the Niamey Joint Aairport Interdiction Task Force seized 3kg of methamphetamine on a passenger thanks to the training delivered by UNODC. In addition, a new Joint Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) was set up in Ouagadougou and thus, joined the growing network of JAITFS around the world. Read more

Niger makes cybercrime a security priority

Transnational organized crime networks (including drug traffickers) and terrorists are exploiting the Internet in recruiting, radicalizing, spreading hate messages and even organizing terrorist actions. UNODC organized a national training workshop on cybercrime, which was held from the 15 to the 19 of May 2017 in Niamey, and that was attended by 33 law enforcement and judicial officers. Read more

UNODC trains lawyers on the rights of the defense in Niger

From 9 to 11 May 2017, UNODC experts delivered a training to 25 Nigerien lawyers on the rights of the defense in order to prepare the trials of detainees suspected of terrorism. This training session was crucial and was also the opportunity to train the lawyers on different matters, including the treatment of children associated with terrorist and violent extremist groups. Read more

UNODC parterns up with the Netherlands and Cabo Verde to fight organized crime

Over the last decade, the importance of West Africa as a smuggling route for cocaine from South America to Europe has kept increasing sharply. In order to fight against drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime, Cabo Verde and the Netherlands signed a Partnership Declaration under UNODC's auspices, on 9 June 2017, in the capital city of Praia. Read more

Mali combats drug trafficking in prisons

Illicit drug use is a growing concern in Malian prisons, where insufficient security measures allow detainees to traffic and consume illegal substances. UNODC has organized a workshop on the identification of both illicit and legal drugs in prisons in Segou. This training took place on 8-12 May 2017 and was attended by 40 Malian prison officers, enabling them to use UNODC drug and precursors test kits. Read more

UNODC organizes a training for Malian law enforcement officers on financial crime

A workshop was organized by UNODC between the 24 and the 28 April in Bamako about economic and financial crime. This training workshop forms part of the support programme of UNODC for the operationnalization and implementation of the G5 Sahel Security Cooperation Platform, submitted in January 2017. The training session is intended to be replicated in the remaining four G5 member states over the next months. Read more