UNODC grants initiative helps Brazilian NGOs use sport to help youth stay away from crime
May 13, 2018

UNODC grants initiative helps Brazilian NGOs use sport to help youth stay away from crime

As part of its global efforts to promote sports in preventing youth crime, UNODC offers support, through grants, to local initiatives undertaken by select non-governmental organizations. One of these was recently launched in Rio de Janeiro's neighbourhood of Cidade de Deus  , where gang violence has been a major problem leading young people into crime, violence and drug use.  Instituto Companheiros das Américas (ICA), a Brazilian NGO, is rolling out a programme that connects sports to employability and entrepreneurial skills training for at-risk youth. The initiative aims to equip young people with the skills necessary to enter the labour market, or to re-enter the formal education system, thus strengthening their resilience to crime and violence while simultaneously supporting the community as a whole.

Strengthening global integrity and ethics: UNODC finalizes series of new university modules under the Education for Justice initiative
May 11, 2018

Strengthening global integrity and ethics: UNODC finalizes series of new university modules under the Education for Justice initiative

Some 30 academics from across the globe recently gathered at the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) to finalize and sign-off on a new series of UNODC university modules, which will be launched as an online tool next month. The 14 modules, which are designed to be used by lecturers in any part of the world, aim to boost teaching around integrity and ethics. The gathering at the end of April was the second expert meeting dedicated to the modules, following an initial one also held at the ELPO in November 2017. The modules ultimately seek to enhance students' ethical awareness and commitment to acting with integrity, and equip them with the necessary skills to apply and spread these norms in life, work and society. 

UNODC and Dominican Republic set to work together to build youth resilience to violence and crime through sports
May 4, 2018

UNODC and Dominican Republic set to work together to build youth resilience to violence and crime through sport

UNODC and the Dominican Republic have joined forces to promote sport as a tool for social development, with life skills training that helps youth build resilience to violence, crime and drug use.

UNODC's evidence-based life skills training, Line Up, Live Up - an initiative of the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration - offers a sports-based training curriculum of 10 sessions, transferring the accumulated expertise of the United Nations and other partners in working to prevent violence, crime and drug use, all in a sports settings. Through Line Up, Live Up trainers, working in various communities' schools and sports facilities, can help young people develop valuable life skills.

With a focus on reducing prisoner re-offending, new vocational and work-based rehabilitation projects launched in Tajikistan
May 3, 2018

With a focus on reducing prisoner re-offending, new vocational and work-based rehabilitation projects launched in Tajikistan

As part of UNODC's efforts to provide technical assistance and advisory services in the field of prison reform, last month saw the signing of a new agreement with the Government of Tajikistan to support the development of metalwork and woodworking programmes in Dushanbe and Khujand. The initiatives, which were identified with the country's prison service, are expected to enhance prisoners' earning capacity as well as their ability to reintegrate into society upon release.

The modernization of the two prison-based production facilities will permit male inmates to enrol for vocational courses and obtain certificates qualifying them to be employed in metalworking and furniture manufacturing.

Smuggling of migrants: a complex human and legal issue to be taught at university with new UNODC modules
April 30, 2018

Smuggling of migrants: a complex human and legal issue to be taught at university with new UNODC modules

In recent years, mainstream media has experienced a surge of coverage on large migration and refugee flows, ranging from reports on the risks migrants and refugees face throughout their journeys to reach safety, to the actual abuse and exploitation that some of them experience in transit and destination countries. The issue tends to provoke vivid discussions in political circles, social networks and other media platforms, but while awareness has arisen and opinions abound on the subject, there is little solid understanding of the different crimes experienced by migrants and refugees throughout their journeys.