UNODC Engagement with Civil Society on Drugs and Crime

UNODC recognizes the need to promote strong partnerships with civil society organizations in dealing with the complex issues of drug abuse and crime which undermine the fabric of society. The active involvement of civil society, which includes NGOs, community groups, labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations is essential to help UNODC carry out its global mandates.

Through GLOU68, UNODC Civil Society Team (CST) is the main entry point for non-governmental stakeholders and serves as a bridge between these stakeholders and UNODC substantive offices, field offices and Member States. Located within the Office of the Director for the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs of UNODC, the CST carries out the following main functions:

Supporting the participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in intergovernmental meetings, in line with relevant UNODC mandates and rules of procedure for the respective intergovernmental bodies
Building capacity of non-governmental stakeholders to help them improve their knowledge of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols Thereto, and related International Drug Policy Instruments. It does so together with relevant substantive offices
Maintaining a database of non-governmental stakeholders

The CST carries out these functions in close collaboration with relevant UNODC substantive offices, including Crime and Economic Branch, Organized Crime Branch, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies, and relevant Field Offices. The CST also partners with umbrella organizations such as the UNCAC Coalition, Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, and the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

A guide for NGO participation in the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) is available here.

Highlights

UNODC Emphasized Civil Society Role in its Strategy 2021-2025 during Virtual Briefing

During the recent virtual briefing, UNODC addressed the main points on its Strategy 2021-2025 to representatives of Civil Society from all around the world. The meeting was co-moderated by Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA) and Anna Alvazzi del Frate, Chair, Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Learn more here.

Read about CSU side events at COP10 here.

UNODC and civil society discuss role of crime prevention in supporting development ahead of UN Crime Congress

With the Kyoto Congress, we have the opportunity to show our commitment to addressing crime prevention and criminal justice challenges that affect the daily lives of people around the world, said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly at a virtual meeting with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) ahead of the UN Crime Congress. Read more here.

Read all CSU stories here

News

Launch of UNODC Toolkit on Stakeholder Engagement for the Implementation of UNTOC

This toolkit aims to empower NGOs, academics and the private sector in their work with the view to contribute to effective implementation of the UNTOC, and promote systematic and comprehensive engagement with non-governmental stakeholders in line with the COP-UNTOC Resolution 9/1.

It is the main source for UNODC's Stakeholder for UNTOC Engagement (SE4U) trainings.

Download the Toolkit here.

“iStockphoto/ MilosMalinic”

UNODC reinforces stakeholder engagement in the UNTOC in Asia

With the aim to strengthen capacities of non-governmental stakeholders from Asia to support Member States in the implementation of the UNTOC and its review mechanism — the UNODC Civil Society Unit organized an online training for representatives of NGOs, academics and the private sector from 10 to 12 November 2020.

Find out more information here.