India: Distributing COVID-19 essential supplies among vulnerable groups
In January, UNODC procured and distributed a total of 12000 reusable masks, 21000 soap bars, 5000 bottles of sanitizers, 2000 sanitary pads, 10000 pairs of gloves and 1100 PPE kits among its target population of drug users, population in prisons, closed settings (women shelter homes) and associated service providers, across 8 states of the country (Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and West Bengal). Support was also provided to the India Vision Foundation in distributing essential supplies in 2 prisons of Haryana (India). Over 2000 face masks and soaps were distributed among inmates, and 30 PPE Kits handed over to staff at the Gurugram and Faridabad Prisons.
(Supported by UBRAF Mechanism)
Sri Lanka: Enhancing judicial responses to counter terrorism and radicalization
On 22 January, UNODC organized the first in a series of training courses for Attorney General’s Department officials on enhancing the capacity, skills and knowledge of prosecutors to counter terrorism and prevent radicalization in Sri Lanka. The event was opened by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, the Attorney General and the Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka. Substantive sessions focused on prosecution in terrorism-related trials, the adverse effect of stereotypes and implicit bias in counter-terrorism.
(Supported by European Union)
Bangladesh: Strengthening multi-stakeholder responses to counter smuggling of migrants UNODC joined hands with IOM Bangladesh under the framework of GLO.ACT to organise a capacity building training on ‘Identification, Screening and Referral of Vulnerable Migrants’ from 24-25 January in Dhaka. Representatives from key ministries, law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations attended the workshop. The training provided an overview of international frameworks and guidelines, besides processes, methodologies and tools to effectively respond to the needs of vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.
UNODC’s ‘Lockdown Learners’ continued to gain acclaim for its innovation and impact in January in India, engaging youth and educators on peace, SDGs and crime prevention. Bridging gender and socio-economic divides, the series is being actively conducted with select schools of the government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (Ministry of Education), catering to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The series aims at expanding the scope of engagement with educators and students on the global flagship Education for Justice Initiative (E4J)--in line with India’s New Education Policy 2020--through interactive dialogues, activity-based learning, open exchange of ideas, creation of action networks and capacity building of educators. The series also provides knowledge support and mentorship to student-driven initiatives. Since April 2020, the series has directly engaged over 4,300 students through more than 220 interactive dialogues held across 15 states/Union Territories across India. In addition, educational resources developed under E4J have been shared with over 17,000 educators and students across India, besides 636 government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Bangladesh: Countering crime through tertiary-level education
UNODC, under the framework of GLO.ACT, organized an expert workshop on teaching classroom modules developed by the Education for Justice Initiative (E4J) on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. The workshop brought together over 45 academics from Bangladesh to discuss, reflect upon and practice various aspects relevant to teaching the E4J modules on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants.
Bangladesh: Engaging young people on crime prevention Fostering youth engagement on the rule of law is key to counter organised crime. In this vein, UNODC convened interactive dialogues with criminology students from the University of Dhaka and Daffodil University in January, focusing on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Bangladesh. The discussions provided students with an overview of GLO.ACT efforts and the Education for Justice Initiative.
Maldives: Promoting the Nelson Mandela Rules for effective prison management and countering violent extremism
With support of the European Union, UNODC is providing technical assistance to the Government of the Maldives on Prison Management and Counter-Terrorism. The aim is to enhance the capacity of Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) to promote rule-of-law based approaches to counter terrorism, and effectively manage high-risk prisoners and prisoners requiring special management. In January, UNODC developed a Manual for the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) in Maldives, with reference to international standards and norms. In addition, prison officers were extensively trained on countering and preventing violent extremism in prisons, prisoner rehabilitation, dynamic security and the Nelson Mandela Rules. Through officers trained under the ongoing project, MCS has rolled out trainings on the Nelson Mandela Rules in prisons across the country. So far, over 183 prison officers have been trained in the Maldives. The European Union and UNODC produced a video compilation highlighting the technical support provided to Maldives through targeted interventions in prisons.
India: Interactive anti-trafficking trainings for officers of the Railway Protection Force and Coast Guard
Two specialised interactive trainings were conducted for 60 officials of India’s Railway Protection Force on 11-12 January and 60 officials of the Indian Coast Guard on 18-19 January. The trainings focused on drug laws, intelligence gathering and investigations, besides key findings from UNODC’s Global Drug Synthetic Drugs Assessment (2020), Regional Assessment and Early Warning Advisory of LSS. The Railway Protection Force is a central police organization for the protection of railway assets in India, while the Indian Coast Guard is an elite frontline multi role maritime agency of India.
(Supported by Government of India)
India: Countering cybercrime through youth engagement
Over 120 youth on ‘Digital Way of Life and New Risks’ in an online dialogue convened in collaboration with Save the Children and Telangana Police on 07 January. UNODC’s role in mitigation was emphasised in the discussions. Participants were also sensitised about the latest trends in cyber-enabled trafficking in persons.
Bangladesh: Engaging young people on crime prevention On 20 January, UNODC South Asia Representative and experts briefed OECD Ambassadors of Bangladesh on the drugs and crime situation in the region and the need for comprehensive action. The briefing was aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on issues related to security, peace and health.
Bangladesh: Strengthening family skills among Rohingya communities to address drugs and crime in Cox’s Bazaar
Since 18 January, UNODC has been conducting intensive trainings as part of the 'Strong Family Skills' programme with displaced Rohingya families in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. The focus is on prevention of drug use, violence and crime in the challenged settings. Over 50 Rohingya families--200 participants in all--are part of the trainings. The selected families also comprise children aged 8-15 years. Overall, these programmes will strengthen the capacities of families and caregivers to prevent negative social outcomes in children; and in particular, these programmes will contribute to assess parents’ parenting skills, parental confidence, children’s behavior, reduction in risky behaviors, improvement of mental health for caregivers and children etc. The formal inauguration ceremony of the ‘Strong Families’ programme took place in the presence of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.
Highlights of 2020: Responding to COVID-19
Through this special video, we present Highlights of 2020, showcasing the most impactful and innovative interventions spearheaded by UNODC South Asia—in response to COVID-19.
Join the UNODC Network in South Asia
Our Partners
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Sweden
Qatar
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF
UNHCR
Government Partners:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
BE A PARTNER: MAKE AN IMPACT
In response to COVID-19, and its impact on vulnerable groups and emerging risks to security and peace, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia has developed a wide range of projects and initiatives on the following thematic areas:
-- Addressing Gender-based Violence
-- Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses
-- Countering Corruption
-- Youth Engagement through Education
-- Promoting Family Skills
-- Addressing the Needs of Drug Users, those with HIV/AIDS and Hep-C and those in prison settings
-- Strengthening Responses to COVID-19 in Prisons
-- Countering Cybercrime and Promoting Online Safety
-- Responding to the Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors, Refugees, Migrants and the Homeless
Activesupport from partners is requested to enable the implementation of these programs and to scale-up efforts to promote security, justice and health among vulnerable groups in South Asia. Our partnerships aim at building national and regional alliances on our mandates, which are closely linked to national, regional and global priorities as well as the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Let's join hands to enable and aid large-scale and impactful initiatives that help people lead safer and healthier lives . Your support can make all the difference!
To know more, please contact:
Mr. Samarth Pathak
Communications Officer
UNODC Regional Office for South Asia
Email: samarth.pathak@un.org Cellphone: +91-9811347927
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assists Member States in their efforts to combat illicit drugs and international crime. Over the past two decades, the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia(ROSA) has been working with governments and civil society in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, providing specialized assistance to address challenges pertaining to drugs, organised crime, security, justice and health. The commitment to Sustainable Development Goals, human rights and the rule of law is at the core of our mandate.
