Mainstreaming education on SDG 16 is crucial in addressing vulnerabilities faced by young people—including threats from drugs and crime, risky behaviours, violence and mental health, among others. RiseUp4Peace, a new educational initiative in this direction driven by UNODC, the Kamla Nehru Public School Phagwara (KNPS) and educator partners, was unveiled in February. RiseUp4Peace will build a vibrant community of practice to strengthen education on peace, integrity, and the rule of law—key aspects of SDG16—by building educator capacities, engaging young people, promoting cross-learning and co-creating educational interventions. Joining the virtual launch with a resounding call to action, over 200 educators, policymakers, and young people from India and beyond welcomed the initiative, calling it a ‘need of the hour.’ Over 661 educator leaders and 11,570 students from 182 educational institutions across 35 countries have joined the RiseUp4Peace coalition of partners so far. Join the initiative here: t.ly/lh9T7
Through a series of workshops, over 40 judges and 20 public prosecutors from the seven Divisions of Bangladesh--including the most trafficking prone districts of the country--were sensitised on appropriate procedures and guidelines in dealing with human trafficking cases. The workshops also featured the roll-out of a Bench Book--titled ‘Effective criminal justice responses to human trafficking cases using victim-centered approaches’—produced under a comprehensive counter trafficking program in Bangladesh, funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the GLO.ACT-Bangladesh project, funded by the European Union. Discussions were focused on ways to improve the quality of prosecution and trial process, contributing to the effective protection of victim’s rights and adjudication of those who are responsible for organized crime and illicit profit.
UNODC, along with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), Government of India and the Departments of Social Justice in Assam and Manipur, conducted a three-day training for 39 government representatives, social workers, teachers, psychologists, and community leaders from Assam and Manipur. The training equipped participants with knowledge and skills to effectively empower families and protect young people from the dangers of drugs and crime. Through interactive workshops and discussions, participants delved into the dynamics of family structures, the impact of positive and negative parenting styles, and the ways in which families can act as both protective shields and risk factors.
UNODC experts engaged with 17 representatives from civil administration, the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, District and Immigration police, Border Guard Bangladesh, and civil society organizations during a mission to Jashore and Cox’s Bazar. The focus was on providing vital technical support to the Ministry of Home Affairs to develop a comprehensive Brief Assessment on Responding to Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Bangladesh's Border and Sea regions. The discussions were comprehensive, focusing on the organizational scope and initiatives, prevalent trends and routes, and the profiles of victims and perpetrators.
UNODC, in collaboration with the Institute of Correctional Administration (ICA) Chandigarh, trained 30 police and prison officers from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh on strategies to address the intersecting challenges of HIV and drug use. The Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Punjab, Dr. Balbir Singh inaugurated the training, emphasizing that HIV and drugs are not merely legal or health problems but also social challenges that require a holistic approach. The training enhanced awareness and dispelled misconceptions surrounding HIV and drug use. Experts from esteemed organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNODC, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), and Alliance India shared their insights on various topics.
UNODC enhanced knowledge and applied skills of over 25 senior officers from Bangladesh Police including counter-terrorism officers from districts, ATU, range police and metropolitan police--with a three-day training on countering violent extremism and building trust and legitimacy. The training covered two modules, focused on building police legitimacy and trust and providing a nuanced understanding of the evolving threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism. Law enforcement practitioners were sensitised on the evolving threats of terrorism and violent extremism and the best possible means to deal with those threats. Experts shared international good practices to strengthen trust in all dimensions of policing through fostering an ethical climate, promoting procedurally just policing and optimising communication to promote transparency and trust.
Maldives: UNODC hosts multi-agency training on countering terrorism at sea
UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme conducted a multi-agency training on Countering Terrorism at Sea within the framework of the project titled “Support to Addressing the Risk of Terrorism and to Increasing Security in the Maldives”, funded by the European Union. The training was held in Male, Maldives, from 12 to 14 February 2024 and was attended by 14 participants from Maldives National Defence Force-Coast Guard, Maldives Police Service, and Prosecutor General's Office. With the training, participants received comprehensive knowledge of various international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention) and its 2005 Protocol, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) processes are crucial for obtaining electronic evidence in an era marked by the rapid growth of digital transborder crime and the borderless nature of the Internet. However, the effectiveness of MLA can be hindered by these very factors, leading to situations where States receiving requests struggle to respond adequately. To tackle these challenges, UNODC organized a cross-regional legislative round table with representatives from eight South Asian and South-East Asian countries to discuss UNODC tools, publications, and products supporting MLA for electronic evidence. Practical case exercises equipped participants with skills, while discussions on legislative frameworks, case examples, and challenges fostered cross-regional cooperation. In-depth presentations from key stakeholders, including the United States Department of Justice, and service providers Kodex and Meta, provided valuable perspectives for success in electronic evidence requests.
In Nepal, customs officers and Tribhuvan International Airport police were equipped to tackle suspicious consignments effectively, through an Air Cargo Training held with support of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
In Vienna, a strategic dialogue was held with the Ambassador of Nepal in Austria and senior officials from the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of organised crime and drug trafficking.
In India, postgraduate students of communication from the Jamia Millia Islamia University were sensitised on the use of advocacy and communications to amplify social awareness and action on SDGs, crime prevention and lawfulness.
Officials from Nepal Customs, Police, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board were trained under a week-long workshop on countering illegal trade in goods.
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Our Partners
Our activities in South Asia are possible
due to the generous support of:
Canada
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Joint UN Program Fund
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States of America
UBRAF/UNAIDS
UN Secretary General's Peace Building Fund
UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund
Government Partners:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Call for Partnerships:
Impacting Lives with Innovation
Advancing Crime Prevention, Justice and Health in South AsiaUNODC Regional Office for South Asia has developed a wide range of projects and initiatives on the following thematic areas:
-Building law enforcement capacities against drugs and organised crime
-Addressing drug use and HIV/AIDS -Enhancing multi-stakeholder responses to counter Trafficking in Persons -Engaging young people and educators on crime prevention, integrity, Global Goals and peace with educational interventions
-Promoting family skills to reduce risky behaviours among young people -Countering corruption -Addressing Gender-based Violence
-Strengthening responses to prevent and counter wildlife crime
-Countering cybercrime and promoting online safety
We seek activesupport 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.
Contact Us
C-97 (Ground Floor), Defence Colony, New Delhi-110024, India
Email: samarth.pathak@un.org
