UNODC Brussels Liaison Office - Latest News

30 July 2023 

World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2023

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on 30 July 2023 in Belgium and around the world with a resounding call to "reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind". UNODC, European, and Belgian partners joined forces to mark World Day and raise awareness through the Blue Heart Campaignmore

20-21 June 2023 

United against Corruption in Sport: Promoting a fairer playing field in South Asia, as part of EU-funded project

The workshop delivered under an EU-funded project aimed to provide over 40 officials from six South Asian countries with the requisite skillset to tackle corruption in sports, with a specific focus on competition manipulation and sporting events. more
10 June 2023
UN Brussels Task Force on Youth joins thousands of young people at the European Youth Event to advocate for meaningful youth participation in democratic life and decision-making
 
On 9-10 June, the UN Brussels Task Force on Youth, participated in the European Youth Event held and organized by the European Parliament in Strasbourg. more
1 June 2023
UNODC Promotes Effective Regional and International Cooperation Mechanisms to Investigate and Prosecute Radiological and Nuclear Crimes

It is no secret that terrorists and other criminals are actively seeking nuclear and other radioactive material for malicious purposes, and the nature of this threat is transnational. more

15-16 May 2023 

Safeguarding sport from corruption in the ASEAN: UNODC delivers second workshop as part of EU-funded project

More than 60 representatives from anti-corruption entities, criminal justice authorities, governments, sports organizations, and private sector from the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participated in the two-day workshop on “Safeguarding sport from corruption: Focus on the ASEAN” organized by UNODC. more

22 March 2023
UNODC Enhances Capacities of Member States in South-Eastern Europe to Investigate, Prosecute and Adjudicate Nuclear and Radiological Crimes
To further support Member States’ efforts in strengthening the capacities of their criminal justice systems, UNODC held a regional workshop on the effective implementation of ICSANT for South-Eastern European countries on 21-22 March 2023 in Vienna and in the context of an EU-funded programme. more
8 March 2023
EU and UNODC deepen cooperation in the fight against corruption and organised crime
In a context of increasingly inter-connected challenges to global peace and security and continued impacts of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) met this week to discuss shared priorities in the fight against organised crime, terrorism, and corruption as well as drug issues. more
6 March 2023
UNODC, INTERPOL and the European Commission organize discussion on the scale, scope, and impact of trafficking in cultural property for practitioners
UNODC, INTERPOL, and the European Commission came together to co-organise a seminar on “False Trades: Uncovering the scale and scope of trafficking in cultural property”. Trafficking in cultural property, together with the destruction of cultural heritage, has been recognized as a threat to international peace and security by the UN Security Council, along with it being an impediment to the enjoyment of cultural heritage as a human right guaranteed by international law, and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. more
30 January 2023
Preventing violent extremism in prisons programme: Achievements Report 2018-2022
UNODC has published the final achievements report for the 'Supporting the management of violent extremist prisoners and the prevention of radicalisation to violence in prison' programme. The European Union and United Nations joint initiative supported Kazakhstan, Tunisia and Uganda to build the capacity of prisons to address the challenges posed by terrorism and violent extremism; to bring together and share expertise and good practices; and to ensure that essential resources, processes and relationships are in place to allow prison services to move from strength to strength. more
7 February 2022
UNODC Executive Director launches Strategic Vision for Latin America and the Caribbean for 2022-2025
 
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly, launched today the Strategic Vision for Latin America and the Caribbean for 2022-2025 in Bogota, together with the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, and Ministerial level representatives from the region. more
9 January 2023
Improving Port Security in the Indian Ocean, East and Southern Africa: an overview of 2022
Launched in 2020, the Port Security and Safety of Navigation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean programme has officially wrapped up its third year. The programme is funded by the European Union for over 28 million euros, coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). more
13 December 2022
ICSANT at 15: High-level event commemorates anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force, UNODC, the Government of Canada, and the EU co-hosted a high-level event to discuss progress made since then, celebrate the Convention’s successes, and chart the future of promoting ICSANT and strengthening the global nuclear security architecture. more
30 November 2022
World AIDS Day: Virtual high-level event "Closing inequality gaps for people who inject drugs: Promoting community-led responses for rights-based and people-centered health services”

To mark World AIDS Day 2022, the EU, UNAIDS, UNODC and Aidsfonds, jointly organised a virtual high-level event. more

28 November 2022
EU-supported PLEAD project embraces green justice initiatives in Kenya
The first installations of solar panels supported by UNODC and the European Union to “green” the Judiciary of Kenya have been completed at Tononoka Children’s Law Courts and Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa. more 
25-26 October 2022
Safeguarding sport from corruption in the Pacific region: UNODC delivers first workshop as part of EU-funded project in Asia and the Pacific 

UNODC’s Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Crime this week convened a workshop on the manipulation of sports competitions and sports events for the Pacific region. more

6 October 2022
UNODC and the European Union hold first-ever Anti Corruption Dialogue 

On 6 October, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) co-organised the first-ever EU-UNODC Anti-Corruption Dialogue in Brussels. more

4 October 2022
ICAT-EU meeting: Swift response to conflicts critical to preventing human trafficking 

The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) met with the European Union Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Diane Schmitt, to exchange on policy matters and strengthen cooperation to counter conflict-related human trafficking. more

30 July 2022
UNODC, the EU and Belgium shine the light on human trafficking and the role of technology
 

Under UNODC’s theme “Use and Abuse of Technology” and supported by Belgium’s new campaign for the Blue Heart “Shine the Light on Human Trafficking”, UNODC partners from Belgium and the EU held awareness-raising events and activities in cities across the country. more

21 June 2022
UNODC, EU and partners support Kenya’s progress on alternative justice systems
 

Almost two years after the launch of Kenya’s Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) Policy, hundreds of stakeholders who helped shape the so-called “policy of the people” are gathering to review progress with its implementation. more

15-16 June 2022
UNODC Promotes the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism in Albania
 

As part of its efforts to address some of these challenges, UNODC conducted a country visit to Albania to promote adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT. The visit took place under project “Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism” funded by the European Union. more

8 June 2022
EU and UNODC exchange on strategic cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean
 
The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a Strategic Dialogue on LAC aimed at discussing ongoing and potential collaboration in the LAC region in the context of the implementation of their strategies and programmes and the 2030 Agenda.  more
26 April 2022
UNODC participates in the DG NEAR consultations on 2022 Enlargement package
 
UNODC joined consultations of the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) on the 2022 Enlargement package, which sets out the way forward and takes stock of the situation in the candidate countries and potential candidates for entry into the European Union (EU). more
30 December 2021

UNODC presented the Final Report on the Destruction of Drugs Seized in Bolivia in the 2021 administration

Within the framework of the Results Presentation of the Fight against Drug Trafficking, organized by the Ministry of Government, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presented the Final Report on the Destruction of Drugs Seized in Bolivia in 2021. This activity is developed with funding from the European Union in Bolivia and in coordination with national counterparts. more
2 March 2022
Virtual Dialogue on Wildlife Trafficking
 
On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, the UNODC and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) invite you to join a virtual dialogue on 3rd March 2022 that will present lessons learned and discuss challenges and opportunities for a renewed EU Action Plan to tackle wildlife trafficking, including how the EU can support the fight against wildlife trafficking in the field in partner countries. more
22 February 2022

EU and UNODC senior officials underscore continued importance of international cooperation to tackle organised crime and drug challenges

On 15 February 2022, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held their 16th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) to exchange on common priorities for the challenges posed by drugs and crime to peace and security, human rights and development around the globe. more

2 February 2022
UNODC steps up effort to protect child victims and witnesses in terrorism-related proceedings in Nigeria
 
In the past years, multiple armed groups, including Boko Haram and its splinter faction ISWAP, have used children as strategic pawns for their terror tactics in Nigeria. Boko Haram has abducted, recruited, and exploited thousands of children since the group began attacks around the Lake Chad Basin in 2009. more
9 December 2021

OACPS and UNODC join forces to tackle corruption on International Anti-Corruption Day 2021

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2021, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) join forces to raise awareness of the strategic importance of tackling corruption; and to draw attention to the adverse impact of corruption on sustainable development, peace, security and human rights, nationally, regionally and internationally.  more
7 December 2021

EU and UNODC hold Strategic Dialogue on Africa

The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have organised an EU-UNODC Strategic Dialogue on Africa on 2 December 2021. The online event, co-chaired by EEAS Managing Director for Africa, Rita Laranjinha, and UNODC Director for Operations, Miwa Kato, gathered EU and UNODC representatives from Headquarters and across the African continent.  more
8 December 2021

UNODC and EU support the Strengthening of the National Asset Forfeiture System in Angola 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Attorney General’s office in Angola launched PRO.REACT (Support the Strengthening of a National Asset Forfeiture System in Angola), a new project funded by European Union. more
30 November 2021

Tackling wildlife and timber trafficking in Africa with UNODC Global Wildlife and Forest Crime Programme

On November 30th, UNODC Global Wildlife and Forest Crime Programme, in partnership with European Commission (DG INTPA) and African Union Commission organized the briefing on the current challenges of biodiversity loss in Pan-Africa, approaches to address wildlife and timber trafficking by supporting criminal justice system strengthening and how these approaches currently fit within the EU biodiversity agenda.  more
13 July 2021

Launch of the Libya project under the regional programme “Dismantling human trafficking and migrant criminal networks in North Africa”

Funded by the European Union, through the EU Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), and implemented by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), it aims at strengthening the capacities of Libyan authorities to prevent all forms of organized crime, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The programme is fully in line with the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which puts forward the need to promote tailor-made and mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries. more
18 October 2021

UNODC and partners mark EU Anti-Trafficking Day with events highlighting the need for cooperation to fight human trafficking 

Every year around the 18 October, events are hosted across the European Union to inform, exchange and debate. This is also a chance to move forward important commitments and policies on this subject. This year, the European Commission unveiled their Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025, which served as the backdrop for the events that took place in various formats between 13 and 18 October 2021. more
23 August 2021

With the support of the European Union, UNODC donated a firearms marking equipment to the Ministry of Defense.

Thanks to the financial support of the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) delivered a Micro Percussion Machine for Firearms Marking with the aim of identifying and locating, without difficulties, each of the firearms that enter and circulate in Bolivia and strengthen the efforts of national authorities to optimize the control of illicit trafficking of firearms. more
6 October 2021

UNODC Launches New Website on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)

With a view to raising awareness on the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as well as an understanding of its requirements and main provisions, UNODC developed a website entirely dedicated to ICSANT, which is intended to serve as a repository of all relevant information and existing resources on this international legal instrument. more
30 July 2021

UNODC strengthens Belgian and EU partnerships in support of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

On the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its partners across Belgium and at the European Union came together to underscore the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking. more
7-9 June 2021

UNODC Executive Director met with the European Commission and the Belgian government

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly paid her first visit to Belgium. During a three-day visit, she met with the European Commission and the Belgian government to discuss UNODC's cooperation and support in the fight against the interconnected problems and threats of drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism. more
12 July 2021

Launch in Iraq of the new STRIVE action

The Government of Iraq, together with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), launched the STRIVE Juvenile project in Iraq with the aim to develop and implement comprehensive national responses to prevent and counter-terrorism and violent extremism affecting children and juveniles. more
30 June 2021

Enhancing Port Security in Comoros

Although Comoros does not present high levels of drug consumption, the islands are a significant trans-shipment point for heroin and other narcotics moving between Africa and Asia.Since 2020, UNODC, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Interpol have been working together on the European Union funded Port Security and Safety of Navigation project in nine countries in the Indian Ocean, including Comoros. more

16 June 2021
UNODC and partners call for repositioning in urgent battle against wildlife crime
 
A grave concern across the globe, wildlife trafficking continues to represent a major form of organized crime. Fueling not only a danger of extinction for several species – a factor exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation – but also the criminal networks behind this, trafficking is an existential threat everywhere. more