Drug trafficking in West Africa: A threat to youth

02-05-2022

On April 22, 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Embassy of Spain jointly organized a Mini Dublin Group meeting on drug trafficking in West Africa at the Cervantes Institute in Dakar. Read more

 

UNODC launches Instructor Development Programme at Cameroon's Garoua Wildlife School

27-04-2022

To bolster Cameroon’s response to these crimes, UNODC has launched an innovative Instructors’ Development Programme (IDP) at the Garoua Wildlife School (GWS) in northern Cameroon Read more

Safe internet access for all: UNODC spearheads cybercrime protection among Cape Verdean students and teachers

26-04-2022

West Africa in recent years has witnessed a sharp increase in internet and social media users, especially among the continent’s youths and Cape Verde, The lack of knowledge of basic safety rules and internet protection made it easy for cybercriminals, whose activities increased dramatically during the pandemic, to prey on children. Read more

UNODC partners with MTN, META and IWF and launches Africa portal to help prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material online

07-04-2022

To raise public awareness on the prevalence of child sexual abuse and help counter the distribution of such material online, IWF joined forces with MTN Group, Meta, ICMEC and Child Helpline International, with the support of UNODC to launch the Help Children be Children campaign and the Child Safety Online Africa Portal. Read more

OCWAR-T supports Joint Operation by Côte D'Ivoire and Nigeria against trafficking network

01-04-2022

Under the auspices of the Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking project,  UNODC facilitated a Joint Operation Mission of the Ivorian Transnational Crime Unit,  the Nigerian Police Force Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. Read more

 

Awareness campaign in high school to address stereotypes and to sensitize young people about the importance of women in the defense, security and justice profession

25-03-2022

UNODC collaborated with the Ministry of National Education and Educational Reform to organize a campaign in Mauritanian high schools to combat unconscious gender stereotypes and create vocations to the professions of defense, security, and justice among young Mauritanian girls Read more

Countering online child sexual exploitation

21-03-2022

Fast-paced Technological innovation and widespread accessibility of information and communication technology (ICTs) have transformed societies around the world. Children, in particular, have unprecedented access to computers and mobile technologies and have in recent decades tended to adopt these from an early age Read more

 

 

Painting the silence: Stories about Disability and trafficking

15-03-2022

On International Women's Day, on 8 March 2022, in Dakar Senegal, the exhibition Painting the silence: stories about disability and trafficking" were organized by the UNODC,OHCHR nd the association Handicap.sn Read more

 

UNODC and partners pilot the Children Immunization App (CIMA) in Cameroon, Central Africa

07-03-2022

The UNODC collaborated with researchers at the Center for the Study and Control for Communicable Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaoundé, to launch children immunization app in Cameroon Read more

UNODC organized a side event on crimes that affect the environement and partnerships with the private sector during the CCPCJ 2022 Expert discussions

18-02-2022

UNODC approach with the Private Sector can serve to offer market infrastructure solutions for the African Great Green Wall Carbon Credits and combat crimes that affect the environment. In the framework of the CCPCJ 2022 Expert discussions, UNODC organized a side event in collaboration with UN Forum on Forests and the Private Company Xange.com. Read more

Joint workshop to review the draft ECOWAS legal framework against transnational Organized crime

18-02-2022

Transnational Organized Crime and trafficking pose a grave threat to human security, public health, and governmental stability. UNODC is partnering with ECOWAS and other key stakeholders to draft an ECOWAS Legal Framework Against Transnational Organized Crime. Read more

 

The regional workshop on drugs surveillance and information systems with West African Francophone countries

18-01-2022

To provide technical assistance to better streamline the collection, analysis, and reporting of drug use data and to understand the extent and patterns of drug use in francophone West African countries, UNODC has organized a regional workshop on Drug Surveillance and Information Systems. Read more

 

The Mourchidates, the Mauritanian Women religious guides responsible for deconstructing radical ideology and preventing violent Extremism

18-01-2022

As part of its contribution to the prevention of violent extremism, UNODC has established a network of Mourchidates, religious guides and women community leaders, in collaboration with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Education Read more

 

Eurojust and WACAP meet virtually to discuss Judicial Cooperation in prosecuting Transnational Organized Crime

27-10-2021

On October 27^th UNODC facilitated a virtual meeting between  Eurojust - the European Union agency administered by National judicial authorities of the member States, with the mandate to provide Criminal justice across borders - Read more

UNODC supports Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Ghana in assessing and building their capabilities to prevent and respond to the terrorist threat

23-12-2021

In response to the growing terrorist threat, UNODC Organized three separate activities funded by the Federal Republic of Germany under the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum West Africa Working Group (GCTF-WAWG). Read more

 

UNODC will increase its partnership with Xange.com with a view to offering market infrastructure solutions

17-12-2021

UNODC Supports forensic science services in The Gambia

06-12-2021

UNODC Organized a series of workshops within the framework of the "Assistance to the ECOWAS and to Member States in West Africa for the Development and Implementation of Drug Control and Crime Prevention Strategies" project. Read more

ECOWAS Operationalize an MoU on Implementation of Joint Maritime patrols in Zone E

08-12-2021

UNODC organizes a training on intelligence sharing and judicialization in terrorism prevention in Côte d'Ivoire

03-12-2021

In Côte d'Ivoire, the increase in terrorist incidents is of particular concern to the authorities, who wish to strengthen their criminal justice response to this threat. UNODC Organized a training workshop on "Intelligence Sharing and Judicialization in the Fight against Terrorism". Read more

UNODC trains judges and prosecutors in Senegal on cybercrime & digital evidence

02-12-2021

Senegalese judges and prosecutors participated in October in a hybrid training on cybercrime investigations, prosecutions, and digital evidence organized by the UNODC Global Program on Cybercrime in West Africa. Read more

UNODC "Paints" the Town in Senegal  for Cyber Safety Campaign

2021-30-11

In October, UNODC’s Global Program on Cybercrime in West and Central Africa launched a new cyber safety awareness campaign in Senegal, with hopes of reaching a wide audience in the country. The program commissioned the painting of five large “graffiti art” murals in multiple towns in Senegal. Read more

Senegal addresses the use of special investigation technique & begin work on a national strategy to prevent & counter terrorism

08-10-2021

The Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Regional Office for West and Central Africa of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organised a national workshop and a consultative meeting in Saly, Senegal, from 4-8 October 2021.  Read more

 

UNODC provides technical assistance for terrorism prevention in Mali  

22-11-2021

UNODC Organized a National workshop on information sharing between national and regional agencies responsible for combating terrorism and transnational crimes in the Liptako-Gourma region of Bamako. The discussions highlighted the main challenges that Mali faces in preventing and combating terrorism. Read more

OCWAR-T Peer exchange on Trafficking in Persons and Drugs between Ivorian and Nigerian law enforcement officers

12-11-2021

To strengthen Collaboration and build a platform for Cooperation between ECOWAS member states to combat transnational Organized crime in the region, UNODC organized a Peer Exchange Activity for law enforcement agents from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. Read more

UNODC deploys a Liaison Magistrate from Niger to Italy to strengthen judicial cooperation on cases related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants

01-11-2021

Maimouna Gogé Gazibo has been deployed to Italy as the fourth Liaison Magistrate (LM) assigned from Africa to Europe. She is part of an innovative initiative of the Regional Office of West and Central Africa of UNODC to strengthen international judicial cooperation on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons (TIPSOM) between countries of origin and countries of destination.  Read more

UNODC holds a webinar on the Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) to improve data collection on drugs in West and Central Africa

29-10-2021

West and Central Africa is an important transit point for drug trafficking. The Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ) provides a framework for Member States to report data on drug abuse in accordance with the international drug control conventions. The Research and Awareness Section of UNODC ROSEN organized a webinar to familiarize focal points with filling out the ARQ.  Read more

UNODC supports "digital ambassadors" in Senegal to educate the public of risks online

14-10-2021

UNODC partnered with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Telecommunications of Senegal and with the local organization Cyber221 to launch a new initiative called the “Digital Ambassador” program. It is part of the awareness-raising activities that the Global Program on Cybercrime is launching in celebration of Cyber October.   Read more

UNODC encouraging more women to pursue careers and studies in Cyber

22-09-2021

UNODC’s Global Program on Cybercrime in West Africa has launched a new initiative to encourage more women to pursue careers and studies in cyber.  Read more

 

UNODC Organizes four workshops to Support Niger and Burkina Faso in preventing terrorism in the Liptako-Gourma region

15-07-2021

UNODC recently organised several workshops in Ouagadougou and Niamey on preventing and countering terrorism in the Liptako-Gourma region. Read more

UNODC implements several capacity-building activities on counter-terrorism

01-07-2021

UNODC's Terrorism Prevention Branch organised three separate capacity-building activities on counter-terrorism in Togo, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire under the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum West Africa Working Group (GCTF-WAWG).  Read more

 

At Garamba National Park in DRC, UNODC trains park rangers and judicial authorities to combat wildlife crimes

09-07-2021

DRC has the highest level of biodiversity in Africa and accounts for more than half of Africa’s forest resources. To strengthen the capacity of park rangers and judicial authorities to detect and investigate wildlife and natural resources-related crimes, UNODC organized a training at Garamba National Park.  Read more

 

UNODC supports Chad's efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and natural resources-related crimes

31-06-2021

Chad’s current mining activities are illegally exploited by organized crime networks and its wildlife is heavily threatened by poachers and traffickers of ivory. To strengthen the Chadian authorities' judicial capacity to fight against natural resources-related crimes, UNODC organised three complementary activities in June in N’Djamena.  Read more

UNODC holds first digital forensics competition to raise cyber security awareness

31-05-2021

Throughout the month of May, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s Global Program on Cybercrime in Africa held an Africa-wide Digital Forensics competition.  Read more

 

Malian court and CT Specialized unit officials discuss practices in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating terrorism trials

21-06-2021

Terrorism continues to represent a great threat to Mali. Mali is exerting substantial effort to enhance the criminal justice response to these threats. To further enhance this response, a training was jointly organized by UNODC and MINUSMA. Read more

 

UNODC facilitates south-south cybercrime collaboration between Senegal & Niger

04-06-2021

A team of 6 cybercrime officers from Niger took part in a training workshop in Dakar provided by the Senegal police cyber unit, and facilitated by UNODC. A Senegalese officer, supported by UNODC, led the workshop in the first bilateral knowledge-sharing workshop of its kind between the two countries in the domain of cybercrime. Read more

UNODC develops strategy to combat crime linked to fake meds in West & Central Africa 

28-05-2021

UNODC Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN) organized a side-event to the 30th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which took place from 17 to 21 of May in Vienna, Austria to raise awareness of the scourge of falsified medical products and to discuss responses to combat crime related to falsified medical products in this region. Read more

SUCCESS STORY: 2 years of collaboration by UNODC & Peace Building Fund 

11-05-2021

In just two years UNODC and the Peace Building Fund have strengthened community dialogue  in Mali and Niger through training sessions with key groups and members of the public, particularly actors at the countries’ borders, on the roles and mandates of the Defense and Security Forces. Read more

UNODC holds capacity-building training for Quranic teachers on human trafficking

11-05-2021

More than forty religious school teachers participated in a workshop on ending forced child begging and exploitation in Senegal, in the framework of a USAID-funded project  organized by UNODC.  The workshops covered the basic concepts of trafficking in persons, the most prevalent forms of exploitation in Senegal. Read more

UNODC trains the Police Component of the G5 Sahel Joint Force

29-04-2021

The first regional training session on the Human Rights Compliance Framework and judicialization for the Police Component of the G5 Sahel Joint Force was organized by UNODC, in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union, Interpol and Afripol. Read more

UNODC donates equipment to Malian judicial authorities to boost terrorism investigations

17-04-2021

UNODC has donated vehicles, computer equipment, cameras, and dictaphones  to the Malian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Specialized Judicial Pole (SPJ) to help improve the Malian judicial authorities’ investigations and legal proceedings of terrorism cases. Read more

 

UNODC supports Senegal in strengthening its criminal law response to terrorism

08-04-2021

While not living under a constant terrorist threat, Senegal seeks to develop its terrorism prevention measures. UNODC supported the Government of Senegal in a consultative meeting on legislation on criminal response to terrorism in Dakar. Read more

 

UNODC supports Ghana to enhance police cooperation to combat terrorism

25-03-2021

Technological tools to combat terrorism, the use of financial intelligence units, the gathering of digital evidence during prosecutions proceedings and the collection of battlefield evidence in military operations were discussed at a workshop organized by UNODC that gathered national counter terrorism experts from Ghana. Read more

 

Strengthening women's leadership in preventing and combating violent extremism in Mauritania 

15-04-2021

In the context of the gender institutionalization strategy of the Mauritanian government, UNODC and UNESCO have jointly developed a project to strengthen women's leadership in preventing and combating violent extremism in Mauritania. Read more

 

UNODC works to increase the role of women in Sahelian defence and security forces

06-04-2021

UNODC, in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the G5 Sahel, organized in March 2021 a two-day workshop in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on increasing the participation of women in security operations in the Sahel. Read more

 

UNODC supports Mali's Specialized Investigation Brigade in the Fight against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime

01-04-2021

Mali has long been subject to terrorism and violent extremism, particularly due to two major terrorist organizations in the region - Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). UNODC has been delivering assistance to strengthen capacity and knowledge on the terrorism threat in Mali and the Sahel. Read more

2018-2021: The Niamey Declaration celebrates its 3rd anniversary!

16-03-2021

On March 16, 2018, 14 Ministers of Interior and of Foreign Affairs from West Africa and Europe, together with the European Union and other international organizations, adopted the Niamey Declaration, committing States to tackle the smuggling of migrants (SoM) and trafficking in persons (TiP) between countries of origin, transit and destination. Read more

Container Control Programme (CCP) Annual Report 2020: Results in West Africa

16-03-2021

Today, most of the world’s raw materials move through the maritime container trade. Yet, only 2% of containers worldwide are properly inspected. Actions of organized crime groups in the movement of supplies and illegal goods have not seen a palpable decline despite the apparent limitations resulting from the ongoing pandemic. Click here to read more about the work of the UNODC-WCO CCP in West Africa.

UNODC commends Germany for its commitment during the COVID-19 crisis

09-03-2021

Germany's financial support and responsiveness has enabled UNODC to provide personal protective equipments to the law enforcement agencies of Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, the Gambia, Ghana, Senegal and the police component of the G5 Sahel to ensure continuity in the fight against drug trafficking, transnational organised crime and terrorism. Read more

UNODC celebrates International Women's Day in West and Central Africa

08-01-2021

Since the beginning of the pandemic, ROSEN has been engaged in the response to the COVID-19 crisis in partnership with women from civil society, public institutions and law enforcement agencies. These women were able to use their skills and knowledge to respond effectively to the challenges posed by this crisis. The UNODC launches a digital awareness campaign (in French) to make their voices heard. Read more

Global Study on Firearms Trafficking 2020: Perspectives for West and Central Africa

08-01-2021

"Many countries in Africa and Asia appear to have a lower capacity to intercept and report trafficked firearms, which may lead to underreporting of some types of firearms. Moreover, the total figures reported by countries include seizures which are not directly connected to trafficking". Executive Summary of the Study available in English and French. Read more

Cybercrime investigations are showing good results in Burkina Faso

04-01-2021

Cybercrime is a transnational crime, involving organised criminal groups and posing challenges in terms of governance as well as in the investigation of the Darknet cryptomarket or the exploitation of cryptocurrencies. Investigators continue to be challenged by the high speed of data exchange, the involvement of multiple providers and nuances necessary to apply traditional legal principles to this crime. Read more

Firearms Operation KAFO II disrupts illicit supplies in the Sahel

04-01-2021

A seven-day operation saw law enforcement officers intercept illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives, and disrupt the trafficking networks used to supply terrorists across West Africa and the Sahel. Under Operation KAFO II (30 Nov-6 Dec), coordinated jointly by INTERPOL and the UNODC through, frontline officers targeted smuggling hotspots at airports, seaports, and land borders in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger. Read more

 

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