UNODC brings together youth in Brasilia to discuss violence, crime and drug use
May 29, 2017

UNODC brings together youth in Brasilia to discuss violence, crime and drug use

In mid-May, UNODC organized  its first Youth Dialogue event in Brasilia as part of the Office's ongoing work in using sports as a tool to counter youth crime through the development of vital life skills. Bringing together over 20 adolescents aged 11 to 17 from Olympic Centers that serve under-privileged communities, the group discussed how sports influence their lives and how UNODC can ultimately use this as a vehicle to build resilience  of at-risk youth and prevent them from engaging in violence, crime and drug use.

The Youth Dialogue gave participants the opportunity to share opinions and personal experiences on these issues, as well as how sport offers them a way to lead healthier and safer lives.

Evaluating impact: experts gather in Vienna to discuss UNODC’s ‘Line Up Live Up’ life skills training curriculum
May 26, 2017

Evaluating impact: experts gather in Vienna to discuss UNODC's 'Line Up Live Up' life skills training curriculum

Experts on crime and drug-use prevention, sports and development, as well as evaluation and monitoring, gathered in Vienna in May to review the results of UNODC's sports-based life skills training curriculum currently being developed under the Doha Declaration Global Programme. With the gathering of key people from within this area, the meeting allowed for an in-depth exchange of views on the development of the impact evaluation tools and to discuss opportunities for linking the life skills training to other support services for youth in marginalized communities.

Football exhibition at 2017 UN Crime Commission showcases life skills development through sports
May 23, 2017

Football exhibition at 2017 UN Crime Commission showcases life skills development through sports

Under the Doha Declaration Global Programme, UNODC promotes sport as a critical tool to prevent youth crime. Through a life skills training programme, the initiative - Line Up Live Up - works with at-risk youth to build resilience to violence, crime and drug use. At this year's Crime Commission, UNODC demonstrated some of the life skills exercises on a specially constructed pitch in the UN Plaza - a location not generally known as the setting for a football match! Working with partners including the FIFA Grassroots Programme, the NGO Grassroot Soccer South Africa, and the First Vienna Football Club youth team, attendees were shown the exact exercises employed to help youth aged 13-17 gain the necessary skills and mind-set to be able to resist anti-social behaviours.

At Crime Commission, Doha Declaration Global Programme highlights tangible ways in which SDGs are being achieved
May 22, 2017

At Crime Commission, Doha Declaration Global Programme highlights tangible ways in which SDGs are being achieved

On the side-lines of this week's Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) a series of events were held to highlight the Doha Declaration Global Programme and provide attendees with a look at the areas undertaken by UNODC since the initiation of this ambitious work last year. On the first day of the Commission, a side event on the implementation of the Global Programme was held, illustrating progress made in the four areas of sports against youth crime; prisoner rehabilitation; judicial integrity; and the Education for Justice (E4J) initiative. This followed the opening of a youth football exhibition earlier in the day in the UN plaza showcasing UNODC's life skills training which is presently being piloted in Brazil ahead of a global rollout.

Promoting a culture of lawfulness through strengthening judicial integrity in Africa
May 19, 2017

Promoting a culture of lawfulness through strengthening judicial integrity in Africa

This month marked a period of promising engagement with Judicial Associations from over ten African countries and mutual agreement around the priority needs of Mozambique to strengthen its judicial integrity framework.

As part of ongoing work under the Doha Declaration Global Programme, UNODC attended the annual meeting of the Africa group of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) in Maputo where the theme of judicial independence was discussed, as well met key Mozambican judicial figures to discuss strengthening the country's integrity framework.