Tackling human trafficking in West Africa: UNODC and the story of Anna and Precious

A few years ago, Anna, now aged 24, and her friend Precious, now 19, were brought from Nigeria to Okah, in northern Côte d'Ivoire, under the pretence of attractive jobs. With difficult living conditions back home, the choice of moving for a better life, earning some money and studying further was a seemingly easy one. The opportunity, however, was not as innocent as it seemed and Anna and Precious soon found themselves being trafficked. Read More

UNODC strengthens international cooperation in the Sahel

A strategy meeting took place on 19 and 20 January in Dakar, Senegal, to assess and evaluate the considerable progress achieved by UNODC through the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, and set a precise direction for its future. Stakeholders approved the extension of the Sahel Programme until 2017 and further integration of Maghreb countries into activities in the region. Read More (Version française)

Consensus achieved on a draft anti-corruption bill in Niger with UNODC support

Anti-corruption officials in Niger achieved consensus on proposals related to draft anti-corruption legislation that is poised to be adopted by the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly in 2015. This result was achieved at a workshop organized by the HALCIA and UNODC held in Niamey, Niger, from 15 to 17 December 2014. Read More (Version française)

Students, civil society and government together to celebrate 9 December

The International Day against Corruption was celebrated at the University of Dakar, Senegal, through a regional forum organized by UNODC in partnership with CERAG, the OFNAC and the Faculty of law and Political Science. The theme of the Forum was: "Sanctioning acts of corruption in Africa: Current situation and challenges"  Read More (Version française)

Enhancing effective criminal justice systems in West Africa

Judicial authorities play a crucial role in ensuring that criminals are brought to justice but have to integrate new legal concepts and procedural mechanisms into legal practice. In a move to enhance expertise with magistrates in areas relevant to countering drugs, crime and terrorism, UNODC initiated a partnership with Centres for Judiciary Training from West Africa.  Read More (Version française)

Sahel countries agree on priorities to protect and assist victims and witnesses

UNODC organized a regional meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 2 to 4 December 2014, which provided an overview of the legal and practical challenges faced by Sahel countries in protecting and assisting victims and witnesses of crime. The meeting brought together 39 participants from all over the region. Read More  (Version française)

Drug Use and Trafficking in Senegal: Strengthening Monitoring and Rehabilitation

The "Centre de Prise en charge Intégrée des Addictions de Dakar" (CEPIAD) was recently inaugurated in the framework of the UNODC contribution to support drug dependence treatment service development and evidence-based service delivery. This integrated center delivers the first methadone maintenance programme in West Africa. Read More (Version française)

Launch of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa "ARIN-WA"

To answer to various forms of illicit trafficking, embezzlement of public funds and corruption, UNODC's Global Programme against Money Laundering (GPML) organized a high-level meeting from 24 to 27 November 2014 in Accra, Ghana, which officially established the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARIN-WA). Read More  (Version française)

Investigative journalism in the Sahel: a critical role in tackling corruption and organized crime

A regional workshop on investigating and reporting corruption on organized crime in the Sahel was held in Saly, Senegal, from 24 to 27 November 2014. The four-day workshop allowed renowned journalists from 14 countries in West Africa to exchange on the disastrous effects of corruption and drug trafficking and the centrality of investigative journalism in the process of helping to bring those responsible to justice.  Read More  (Version française)

UNODC facilitates marking and registration of small arms and light weapons in Niger  

In close collaboration with its regional partners, UNODC and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs have donated three machines for marking small arms and light weapons to the National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Arms of the Republic of Niger, and organized a training workshop on the marking and registration of light weapons and small arms. Read More  (Version française)

Legal aid key in strengthening rule of law in the Sahel region

On 2-4 September 2014, officials from countries in the Sahel region - Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal - as well as from Algeria and Morocco, met at Bamako, Mali, to agree on the steps needed to improve the access to legal aid in their criminal justice systems. The workshop was implemented as part of UNODC's Sahel Programme, developed in response to a surge in organized crime in the region. Read More (Version française)

UNODC spreads its message against human trafficking all over the world

On 30 July, UNODC marked the first World Day against Trafficking in Persons with activities across the globe to raise awareness about this heinous crime. These activities highlighted the plight of victims of human trafficking, aided by a UNODC social media campaign entitled #igivehope. Read More

Action against drugs and crime supports Mali's peace and development efforts: UNODC Chief Yury Fedotov   

UNODC Executive Director praised the efforts of the Malian government and the excellent cooperation between UNODC and DPKO in Mali and West Africa. Mr. Yury Fedotov said that "UNODC and DPKO have forged a close collaboration that capitalizes on each organizations' mandates and experience, but also views peacekeeping and fighting drugs and organized crime as interconnected issues calling for joint responses."  Read More (Version française)

Drugs and crime threat mobilizes international support for West Africa Coast Initiative

Donor representatives and high-level officials, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov have gathered in New York to renew their support for the West African region through the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI). Drugs, crime and terrorism represent some of the greatest threats to security and development in the West African region. Read more (Version française)

Drug consumption and trafficking in West Africa: Local impact and international implications

Drug consumption and the impact of trafficking on governance, security and development in West Africa was highlighted this week at an event organized by the West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD) and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), held on the side-lines of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) which took place in Vienna, Austria on 21 March 2014.  Read more (Version française)

UNODC chief briefs Security Council on drug and crime vulnerability in West Africa, Sahel

The importance of confronting illicit drugs in West Africa and the Sahel was underlined yesterday  at a Security Council briefing on this significant issue. Organized by France, the current President of the Security Council, the event saw UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov, among others, deliver key statements on drug trafficking in West Africa and Sahel. Read more  (Version française)

Improving Justice in Liberia

As part of a fellowship programme for law students who want to become public defenders, UNODC partnered with the Washington and Lee University School of Law in the United States and the Public Defense Office in Monrovia, Liberia. The programme aims to strengthen the national criminal justice system by introducing well-prepared lawyers into the profession.  Read more  (Version française)

Sahel region countries agree to cooperate in response to illicit trafficking, organized crime and terrorism

Representatives from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and Niger met last week in Burkina Faso to agree on areas of cooperation to address the interconnected problems of drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism that have plagued the region for the last decade. The delegates agreed on a number of measures as part of a UNODC response strategy for the Sahel. Read more  (Version française)