Global drug use is on the rise, increasing from 4.8 per cent of the world's population aged 15-64 in 2009 to 5.3 per cent of the population in 2018. Although reliable data on drug use is lacking for a large number of countries, particularly in Africa, some trends have been identified. For example, at the global level, the increase in cannabis use between 2010 and 2017 was highest in Africa, followed by Asia. Read more

June 26th marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. For the 2020 edition, whose theme is "Better knowledge for better care", UNODC donated awareness-raising materials and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Network of Organizations for the Promotion of Mental Health in Senegal to help combat the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis. Read more

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AIRCOP is strengthening its e-learning activities in Africa through webinars in coordination with the UNODC e-learning platform.  AIRCOP organized a module for heads of its Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces (JAITFs) on how to better manage the task forces. JAITFs trainees from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau Niger, Senegal and Togo took part. Read more

In response to the negative impact of COVID19 pandemic on national efforts to combat trafficking in persons, and in particular to provide protection and assistance - including access to justice - to the victims of trafficking, UNODC, with the support of the government of the United States of America, delivered personal protective equipment to the national partners in Cote d’Ivoire engaged in the fight against trafficking in persons. Read more

The crime scene doesn't have the typical smoky smell nor the usually deafening sirens. They're silent today as the gendarmes try to gather clues for their investigation into this umpteenth act of terrorism. The main difference this time, is that this is a virtual crime scene. The objective of this online training is to ensure the continuity of UNODC's activities in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Malians are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants has increased with the current political crisis in Mali. The first PROMIS training session was held in Sikasso and focused on the detection, investigation and prosecution of cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Twenty-one people participated, including 2 women. Read more

"Before our radio programme, people didn't even believe in the disease," says Mohammed Samate, director of Radio Dodia in Anderamboukane, some 1,600 kms from Bamako in eastern Mali. "Thanks to the programme, they now realize that it's not a joke," he says.  Radio Dodia, located on the border with Niger, broadcast short messages in Tamasheq, the local language, to raise awareness of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

As soon as the programme went to air the phone in the small recording room of Radio Dodia started ringing off the hook. The impact was immediate with an estimated 40,000 people listening to community leaders, the Defence and Security Forces and representatives of the justice system talking together for the first time about security issues that have fuelled growing mistrust among them.  Read more

In addition to its technical expertise, UNODC provided PPE material support at the request of the Joint Force to ensure the continuity of its action against terrorism and organized crime in the Sahel during the COVID 19 pandemic. The equipment will serve the Joint  Force to continue its work in safe working conditions by preventing the spread of the virus within the Force, but also between the Force and the population. Read more

When the first case of COVID 19 reached Senegal, the Samu Social shelter for homeless children in the capital didn’t wait long before deciding to make space for more young residents, doubling its capacity. With twice as many mouths to feed during the pandemic  essential food supplies and medical equipment was provided to the Samu Sociale and other centres like it thanks to UNODC, supported by USAID. Read more

After two years of consultations to amend the country's anti-terrorism laws, a new law was promulgated by the President of Chad. The abolition of the death penalty for acts of terrorism is just one of the human rights reforms under way in the country, made possible with the support of UNODC. The new law retains life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for terrorist acts. Read more

Chad has become the first G5 Sahel country to adopt the text proposed by UNODC to establish the national legal existence of the Platform for Security Cooperation (PCMS). The decree aims to strengthen capacities to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Sahel countries.The PCMS is now legally recognized as a mechanism for regional police cooperation and can access INTERPOL's international criminal databases. Read more

COVID-19 travel and movement restrictions are not stopping the movement of people fleeing conflict, human rights abuses, violence and dangerous living conditions, according to a report launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The closure of land, sea and air borders, however, may result in an increase smuggling of migrants. People have an even greater need for the services of smugglers in order to cross borders. Read more

A picture is worth a thousand words: RBS Crew, a group of urban street artists from Senegal were invited to spread their message at the UN building in Dakar to reach as many people as possible. The result is a magnificent mural displaying all the barrier gestures against the spread of COVID 19. The UN in Senegal supports the efforts of the country in the fight against the global pandemic.  Read more