Issue 104 | February 1, 2018
A quick and easy update of the latest UNODC and international drugs and crime news. Can't read this newsletter? View it online
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UNODC News
UNODC and OSCE sign new 2018-2019 joint action plan
A plan for joint action by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe for the period 2018-2019 was signed by UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. The OSCE-UNODC Joint Action Plan 2018-2019 reflects the two organizations' contributions to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and allows for more streamlined technical collaboration in twelve subject areas.
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Bogotá Government, UNODC sign pact to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling
At a recent public event, the Government of Bogotá and UNODC signed a pact, reiterating commitment to the prevention of trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. The event was organized by the Office of the Mayor of Bogotá, in collaboration with UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Colombia and under the framework of the Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants.
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UNODC's bold new steps on the road to prisoner rehabilitation
Discussions around branding, marketing and points of sale are not often associated with the United Nations family, but they were a large part of the latest expert group meeting convened in Vienna this past week to explore UNODC's options for supporting a global scheme of prison products, made by prisoners in the context of rehabilitation programmes. UNODC's work on prisoner rehabilitation has been consolidating the ways in which prison-based rehabilitation schemes can be developed and harmonized at an international level.
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UNODC, China Hold Cross-Regional Seminar on Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems
Legal aid is key to a fair and humane criminal justice system that protects the most vulnerable in society and earns the trust of citizens. It ensures respect for the fundamental rights of suspects, accused persons and prisoners, while helping prevent corruption, court congestion and prison overcrowding. In this regard, UNODC and the Ministry for Justice of China organized an international seminar on 'Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems - Holistic Services & Equity in Access & Quality Assurance' in Guangzhou, China.
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UNODC launches Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist Groups
UNODC launched the Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System, the first United Nations publication on the topic. The event was attended by representatives of 48 countries. "The world has been forced to face the reality that terrorists and violent extremist groups target children for their purposes," said John Brandolino, UNODC's Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs, speaking at the launch event.
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Joint COCAIR VI Operation with UNODC intercepts 900 kg of cocaine
Airport law enforcement services in some thirty countries across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Middle East, intercepted 900 kg of cocaine during Operation COCAIR VI in December. The Operation is part of the Project AIRCOP, jointly implemented by UNODC, World Customs Organization and the International Police Organization . Cocaine topped the list in terms of numbers of seizures and quantities intercepted.
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UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Thai Princess Visits Women's Prison To Promote Reforms
UN Office on Drugs and Crime Goodwill Ambassador on the Rule of Law for Southeast Asia, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, UNODC Regional Representative Jeremy Douglas, Executive Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice, Kittipong Kittiyarak, senior diplomats, and regional prison managers visited a women's prison in the northern Thailand today, meeting inmates, reviewing facilities and discussing criminal justice reforms.
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UNODC and Ukraine sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen port control, facilitate trade
To strengthen cooperation under the Container Control Programme, UNODC and the Government of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing on the establishment of two port control units. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Jean-Luc Lemahieu, UNODC's Director for the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, emphasized the importance of security and trade facilitation for Ukraine in strengthening the economy.
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UNODC advances efforts to measure organized crime
A comprehensive understanding of the nature and extent of organized crime is lacking in almost every region of the world. With a view to addressing this challenge, UNODC initiated the development of a framework for measuring and assessing organized crime in the Western Balkans. Measuring progress at the regional and national levels has proved to be a difficult one given the lack of comparable data analysis on the dynamics of organised crime.
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West and Central Asia: UNODC holds inter-regional workshop to counter illicit use of money or value transfer services
Money or value transfer services represent, at times, the only financial means to transfer cash or monetary instruments, particularly in West and Central Asia. While these services are considered legal, of concern is the abuse by criminals, including money laundering, terrorism financing, and drug trafficking. With a view to preventing and combating the abuse of MVTS, UNODC recently organized an inter-regional training in Beijing, China.
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Achieving Gender Equality and Female Empowerment: A Collaborative Vision of Sustainable Development Goal 5
Tackling gender inequality is our shared responsibility, and is fundamental to reaching a more just, peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world for all, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed said as she opened the 2018 Vienna UN Conference. In a statement read out by the conference coordinator, Ms. Mohammed welcomed the focus at this year's gathering on SDG 5, achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
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E4J advances value-based and skills education for primary students in Mexico
The concept of teaching values and skills is at the heart of UNODC's work in building a culture of lawfulness from an early age. By working with young minds, the Education for Justice initiative is busy promoting this ideal at the primary level, reaching out to children between the ages of 6 and 12 through a series of fun, yet informative, educational tools. With this in mind, December saw two important events in Mexico City.
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South Asia: UNODC, World Customs Organization hold training to fight fisheries crime
The fisheries sector is a global industry, which is vital for human prosperity. Fish and fish products are amongst the most-traded food commodities, with fish trade representing a significant source of foreign currency earnings for many States. Though, illegal activities continue to take place along the entire fisheries value chain, with crimes ranging from large-scale overfishing to a wide variety of other criminal offences on- and offshore.
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