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 Unit (CSU) is the main entry point for non-governmental stakeholders and serves as a bridge between these stakeholders and UNODC substantive offices, field offices and the Member States. Located within the Office of the Director for the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs of UNODC, the CSU 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 CSU 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 CSU 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

French

Spanish

UNODC launches the Guide for Civil Society Engagement with the UNTOC Review Mechanism in two more languages.

The aim of the Civil Society Guide is to support civil-society actors in familiarizing themselves with the UNTOC, its three Protocols, and the Review Mechanism in a user-friendly way. To reach more relevant Civil Society Stakeholders the Guide for Civil Society Engagement with the UNTOC Review Mechanism is now available in French and Spanish.

Click on the image for each language.

Reinforcing partnerships with civil society to tackle and prevent crime spotlighted at CCPCJ31
The regular 31st session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) took place in Vienna in a hybrid format. The session presented several opportunities to civil society, including an Informal Dialogue with the UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly. Read the full story here.

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News

UNODC

Call for Application to the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (COP UNTOC) 17 to 21 October 2022 in Vienna Austria

We are pleased to inform you that the Eleventh session of the COP UNTOC will be held from 17 to 21 October 2022 in Vienna, Austria. This intergovernmental Conference will discuss, among other things, the implementation of the Convention and its three Protocols.

Relevant Non-Governmental Organizations with and without ECOSOC Status are invited to apply as observers. Find out more here.

UNODC

Launch of the UNODC Compendium on PPP to Prevent & Counter TIP

The Compendium on PPP to Prevent & Counter TIP aims to improve effective partnership between the public and private sectors with a view to better assisting member States in their implementation of the UNTOC and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol. It presents the main findings and insights from four Regional Expert Group Meetings organized by UNODC, focusing on PPPs as they relate to countering trafficking in persons from within the supply chain, financial and technology sectors. Read more here.