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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

1.  How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the priorities of your organization?

Rather than changing the priorities of the Office, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the challenges that UNODC assists Member States with more acute and, as a consequence, reinvigorated the Office’s efforts in responding to such challenges. In some countries and regions, the pandemic has resulted in a higher incidence of crime, such as domestic violence, cybercrime, trafficking in persons, especially women, and smuggling of migrants, trafficking in fraudulent medicines and related sanitary goods, as well as increased illicit drug production and stockpile. The resulting health, humanitarian and economic crises have created an opportunity for criminals, as shortages, precarious economic situations and lockdowns have exacerbated the vulnerability of the most disadvantaged groups and worsened existing inequalities. Corruption risks have proliferated across a variety of fields threatening life-saving aid and further hurting the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. Likewise, illicit drug markets have adapted rapidly and exposed people who use drugs to new dangers. Young people deprived of basic needs are increasingly susceptible to engaging in criminal activities.

UNODC supported Member States in adapting their anti-corruption strategies to the higher risks of economic crime that the pandemic has presented, especially in the health sector. The fight against transnational organized crime has intensified, including by strengthening the approach to cybercrime, given the number of crimes committed using technology to obtain illicit gain (drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, corruption, sexual exploitation). Furthermore, the Office has enhanced efforts to bolster crime prevention and criminal justice reforms, particularly looking at the prison system, while at the same time providing integrated solutions to the world drug problem. Aware of the impact of the ongoing pandemic and that similar crises will likely occur in the future, UNODC has made it its duty to ensure that the international community is better prepared to respond to such crises. It has strengthened its efforts to support Member States in addressing wildlife crime and other crimes affecting the environment, as well as looking at the issue of trafficking in fraudulent medicines. The Office will continue to provide guidance, technical cooperation and support to multilateral platforms to advance short and long-term responses to the effects of the pandemic on preventing and countering illicit drugs and crime.

A significant focus of the Office in the past two years has been responding to the different priorities of Member States and dedicating particular attention to the needs of the most vulnerable, including through the reprogramming activities, the development and dissemination of up-to-date support in the form of policy briefs, guidance notes and operational advice and the conduction of research and analysis on the impact of COVID-19 on illicit drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption and criminal justice systems. Finally, UNODC has prioritized innovation, to find alternative ways to deliver its services.

1.1 Enhanced commitment to leaving no one behind UNODC reinvigorated the efforts of the Office to support Member States in addressing the challenges related to its mandate areas and particularly in protecting the rights and needs of the most vulnerable groups, including people who use drugs, people in prison settings, victims of crime and violence.

1.1.1 Preventing and addressing Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SoM)

Re-programming funds towards studies on the consequences of the pandemic on TiP and SoM UNODC supports states to prevent and address trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, including the protection of victims of trafficking and the rights of smuggled persons, as well as addressing the conditions that make people vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and ill-treatment. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNODC has reached out to donors to re-programme funds toward studies that examine the impact of the pandemic on the crimes of TiP and SoM. The resulting studies (e.g. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on trafficking in persons and responses to the challenges and COVID-19 and the Smuggling of Migrants) ascertained that the pandemic exacerbated existing disadvantages, poverty and vulnerabilities, that the closing of borders further reduced already rare regular pathways for migration and asylum and that these conditions pushed people into the hands of dangerous, profiteering criminals. In particular, the global assessment study on the impact of the pandemic on trafficking in persons has consulted with criminal justice practitioners and victim support organizations to identify challenges, lessons learnt and promising practices for a forward-looking response to trafficking in person during and post-COVID. Contingency Planning for the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) To address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Global Action against TiP and SoM (GLO.ACT) in Asia and the Middle East proactively identified workflows affected by the pandemic and developed a contingency and mitigation plan (May 2020-September 2020). While a mitigation strategy focuses on foreseeable risks and potential responses to minimize or reduce them, a contingency plan sets out a response once an emergency or worst-case scenario is already underway and identifies how to respond to it. The GLO.ACT plan contains information on steps taken to protect project staff in line with UN management and outlines measures to ensure continuity of project implementation given the new challenges. The plan was developed in close coordination with field offices and with inputs from National Project Officers, as well as from IOM and then submitted to the EU – GLO.ACT’s donor. The plan was continuously monitored and reviewed. In September 2020, GLO.ACT reviewed country and regional workplans, taking into account COVID-19.

1.1.2 People who use drugs and people in prisons

Ensuring continued access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support The COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions have severely hindered the delivery and continuity of comprehensive programmes for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for people who use drugs and people in prisons. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people who use drugs are particularly at risk due to underlying health issues, stigma, social marginalization and higher economic and social vulnerabilities, including a lack of access to housing and health care. The prison environment is highly conducive to the transmission of infections, including COVID-19, due to several risk factors such as overcrowding and poor ventilation, as well as inadequate health services. Supporting Member States in ensuring continued access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services for people who use drugs and people in prisons, while assisting them in responding to COVID-1,9 has been at the core of UNODC HIV programme over the last two years. In Cabo Verde, the access to care and treatment services for substance abuse disorders has been significantly limited and for those in the therapeutic communities the recovery process has become more difficult because they limit access to group therapies. The national service reports in Cabo Verde reveal that social isolation and limited access to therapies has represented a risk factor for increased alcohol and other drugs use, as well as relapse for people with substance use disorders in recovery process. To respond to this challenge, UNODC has been providing technical assistance to ensure the continuity of adequate access to health and social services for people who use drugs and with drug use disorders and to provide the continuum of care required as described in the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (UNODC/WHO, 2020). In this context, the UNODC guidelines for care and treatment of drug users were shared and disseminated.

1.1.3 Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)

As the pandemic made the protection from exposure to infection a necessity, a COVID-19-induced priority for the Office has been the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, UNODC supported drug treatment and care services by providing personal protective equipment (PPE) in a number of countries, including Afghanistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire. In addition, UNODC also provided PPE in prisons to staff and inmates, including in Cabo Verde and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in order to reduce the risk of infection among the inmate population. Finally, the Office also supported urgent procurement of PPE and medical supplies in other settings, including among law enforcement agencies, as well as at border posts, ports, social care facilities and schools, to enable their safe operability.

1.1.4 Ensuring access to justice for the most vulnerable groups

Access to justice has been significantly conditioned in the context of the pandemic. In many parts of the world, the pandemic resulted in a noticeable decrease in justice productivity, due to the limitations in carrying out investigations. The overall protection of social and economic rights due to the COVID-19 pandemic remains a human rights concern. Certain groups, including women and children at risk of violence and prisoners are acutely affected by these changes. Reduced court operations may also result in the prolonged detention of pretrial detainees or of prisoners eligible for early release.

Adapting activities to enhance access to justice for women Pandemic-related restrictions have significantly constrained access to legal aid for female detainees and victims of domestic violence, thereby rendering legal aid more pressing as a means of protection from rights violations. To respond to the increased need for protection of these vulnerable groups, in 2020 UNODC adapted some of its activities covering Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal, to maintain and enhance access to justice for women and girls. These activities built on partnerships developed with national authorities, CSOs, and the successful capacity achieved in previous years. By disbursing grants to CSOs, UNODC enabled the continuity of legal aid service delivery to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)and helped meet the surge in demand resulting from the pandemic. In addition, the Office increased awareness on how to access these services and on COVID-19 prevention strategies. The activities also focused on extensive data collection aimed at monitoring and assessing the impact of COVID-19 measures on women and girls in need of legal aid services.

1.1.5 Enhanced focus on crime prevention activities among youth

The COVID-19 pandemic posed particular challenges to young people. The disruption in education systems and unemployment furthers existing vulnerabilities and creates situations that can be conducive to their exposure to violence and criminal activity. As a result, UNODC has placed greater attention on young people, a group that has been highly affected by the pandemic, but not usually considered as vulnerable. In Mexico, working with youth has opened a new area of work for UNODC through interagency work, partnering with UNFPA and UNIDO to strengthen the recognition of youth as agents of change in their communities and prevent them from finding in crime an alternative to overcome the difficulties caused by COVID-19.

1.2 Harnessing technology

A new priority for the Office has been harnessing the use of technology as an innovative solution to ensure the continuation of its work and delivery of technical assistance, as well as its outreach.

1.2.1 Online capacity-building

To continue provide technical assistance, the Office has focused on strengthening the processes of implementation of projects, especially those of training for authorities, by moving towards hybrid or online capacity-building programmes, often adapted to include specific COVID-19 related elements such as the prevention of violence against women and children in isolation, cybercrime in the COVID-19 context, human rights approaches to crowd control, and increased vulnerabilities to TiP and SoM. For example, UNODC has adjusted the delivery of its technical assistance activities, in consultation with donors and beneficiaries, shifting to modalities of delivery that did not require travel or the organization of in-person meetings, so as to adapt to restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic while working towards attaining the same objectives and outcomes. In support of remote delivery of capacity development activities and exchange of a vivid community of experts and practitioners, UNODC has developed the first virtual Knowledge Center on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants (KNOWTS) (please see additional details under point 2 below).

1.2.2 Increased offering of e-learning modules and courses

As a consequence of the pandemic, UNODC has recorded an increase in the request for e-learning modules and courses. To respond to this need, the Office introduced innovative pedagogical tools and features on its eLearning Platform, such as instructor-led courses and online classrooms, and developed new self -paced eLearning courses covering several thematic areas aimed at better addressing global human and security challenges through the delivery of online and offline eLearning courses. As a result, UNODC enhanced criminal justice training courses for Member States and, in 2020, over 40,000 new criminal justice practitioners and members of educational institutions were trained using eLearning courses.

1.2.3 Harnessing technology to prevent gender-based violence

In Mexico, for example, the use of technology has led to the continued strengthening of the capacities of the public force to deal with gender-based violence. Furthermore, subnational governments have been trained in using technological tools to prevent violence against children and dissemination materials have been developed for the prevention of human trafficking, money laundering and gender-based violence. In addition, the collection of information through digital means has allowed UNODC Mexico to continue supporting the strengthening and regular functioning of the criminal justice system and the improvement of investigation processes.

1.2.4 Technology as enabler of wider participation

The use of communication technologies has made it possible to democratize information through webinars and virtual or hybrid forums, reaching a greater number of people. The Fourteenth Crime Congress, held in Kyoto in March 2020, has demonstrated that the use of customized formats for the organization of events allows for strengthened remote participation of a wider range of stakeholders. The unique set-up of the Congress enabled 4,000 online participants to join 1,000 in-person individuals from remote and to easily switch between different meetings and events of the Congress, including plenary meetings, workshops, special events, ancillary meetings and online exhibitions, thereby allowing all participants, in-person and online, to equally and meaningfully contribute to the Congress deliberations. On the basis of this successful experience, UNODC is now committed to use more innovative solutions to enhance the meaningful engagement of all relevant actors.

1.2.5 Enhanced innovation for advocacy

UNODC has stepped up its efforts to find new creative and innovative ways of reaching its audience, within the framework defined by the Department of Global Communications and in line with the Secretary-General's "digital first" approach. For example, through new ways of communicating with the ever-growing number of social media users worldwide and in cooperation with Member State partners, the Office managed to increase visibility of its work by developing new products, such as the “UNODC explains” series, for which experts were trained to record themselves on their mobile phones. This enabled to sharing relevant information about UNODC and its partners’ work during the pandemic.

2.  In 2020/2021, how has your organization endeavored to support Member States to build back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please select up to three high-impact initiatives to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs. How has your organizations cooperated with other UN system organizations in those efforts to achieve coherence and synergies?

Name: UNODC COVID-19 Anti-Corruption Response and Recovery Project - “Ensuring Effective Responses to and Recovery from COVID-19 and Future Emerging Crises” 
Partners: (please list all partners) Open Contracting Partnership, Open Ownership 
Relevant SDGs SDGs 3, 16
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa and Timor-Leste 
Description: Through this project, launched in September 2020,UNODC is bringing together national public procurement bodies, supreme audit institutions and anti-corruption authorities to strengthen public procurement transparency, including by harnessing technology and open data, and whistle-blower protection as an integral part of COVID-19 recovery efforts and future crisis response in ten target countries. Recent work undertaken includes finalizing the mapping of potential corruption risks in public procurement processes and supporting the incorporation of a gender perspective and greater inclusion in public procurement in Chile, Colombia and Paraguay. Further activities include the launch of a series of six technical dialogues in Brazil on the topics of whistle-blower protection and public procurement, bringing together national authorities and representatives from civil society, the private sector and academia. The project also supported the anti-corruption commission in Timor-Leste to plan a multi-stakeholder corruption risk assessment process involving six national authorities and non-governmental organizations. At the global level, the project recently hosted a virtual meeting of experts with the aim of developing a rapid response guide on expedited procurement for policy-makers. Key highlights include: UNODC’s ongoing support to the Philippines Government Procurement Policy Board to digitize key procurement planning documents and integrate the Open Contracting Data Standard, and upcoming support to the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission to strengthen its beneficial ownership registry. In South Africa, work continues to amend and digitize the National Treasury’s declaration of interest form to further information exchange and coordination among oversight institutions while also enhancing beneficial ownership transparency. A risk assessment with the National Department of Health is forthcoming. In Chile, Colombia and Paraguay, upcoming technical roundtables on the use of information technology to better prevent, detect and mitigate corruption risks in public procurement offer opportunities for innovation. In Indonesia, UNODC continues to support the Corruption Eradication Commission to enhance its capacity to use data analytics as an early warning system to prevent and detect corruption. 
Website:

Web-story launch: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2020/November/unodc-launches-covid-19-anti-corruption-response-and-recovery-project.html  

Website for technical dialogues on public procurement transparency and WB protection in Brazil within the framework of the project: https://integridadeposcovid.com.br/  

Recent web-story from 23 Nov highlighting technical roundtable with authorities from Chile, Colombia and Paraguay: https://www.unodc.org/peruandecuador/es/noticias/2021/unodc-y-open-contracting-partnership-realizan-intercambio-de-buenas-prcticas-sobre-el-uso-de-data--alertas-tempranas-y-riesgos-de-corrupcin-en-el-marco-de-la-pandemia-de-la-covid-19.html 

 

Name: KNOWTS- Knowledge Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling
Partners: (please list all partners) Information Technology Service (ITS) United Nations Office at Vienna. In addition, the platform will facilitate collaborations and exchanges with all UNODC partners 
Relevant SDGs SDGs 5, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Global online platform that will benefit all MS engaging with UNODC’s Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (UNODC/HTMSS). 
Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, and responses thereto. The UNODC global assessment study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on trafficking in persons and responses to the challenges has however also shown the incredible resilience and commitment to continuing the fight against trafficking in persons and to supporting its victims, aided by technology, during the pandemic. Technological solutions have further increased exchange and collaboration between different stakeholders. To respond to the new reality created by the pandemic, UNODC has developed the first virtual Knowledge Center on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants (KNOWTS). Ultimately, KNOWTS promotes adherence to and implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. KNOWTS provides a learning management system, allowing for remote connection, delivery of training and technical cooperation, peer to peer support, blended and self-paced learning, interaction and exchange with UNODC/HTMSS’ growing global community of practice. The Global Online Platform will provide for an integrated experience to the users, functioning as a one-stop shop for practitioners offering instant access to training material, recorded training sessions and various instructive videos, simultaneous interpretation for webinars, case-law, legislation, policy documents, statistical data, publications, insights from peers, case-studies etc. In addition, it will unlock knowledge exchange, innovation and collaborations by providing a platform for interaction of the UNODC global community of practice. The KNOWTS interface will also become gradually available in different official UN languages and possibly beyond. 
Website: https://knowts.unodc.org/htmss/login/index.php?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fknowts.unodc.org%2Fhtmss%2Fuserlogin&mdid=1&flowName=useridentifier&flowDirection=forward

 

Name: Lockdown Learners
Partners: (please list all partners)  
Relevant SDGs SDGs 4, 5, 10, 16
Member States benefiting from the initiative: India
Description: Linked to UNODC’s Education for Justice initiative, the “Lockdown Learners” is a series of free-of-cost, interactive dialogues with students and educators in India on topics pertaining to COVID-19 and its impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 16),peace and the rule of law. It includes sensitization of students on issues such as cybercrime, misinformation, gender-based violence, discrimination and corruption, among others. The Lockdown Learners series also aims to provide a platform for students to receive mentorship and knowledge support to use their skills to promote awareness among these issues and share their ideas and solutions to address some of these problems. With a special focus on engaging with economically disadvantaged groups and students from rural and low-income groups, the series has applied innovative approaches such as using audio recordings on Whatsapp, fostering exchange of notebooks and creating offline youth-driven action clubs in support of SDG 16. Capacity and network building among educators on teaching issues pertaining to peace and the rule of law is also being undertaken. The response has been extremely positive, with students thinking about ways to address social issues through dialogue, critical skills, knowledge and unified action, and educators reporting positive behavior changes among students. The initiative continues to gain traction and acclaim in India. In September 2021, activity-based interactive dialogues were held with over 700 students and educators from diverse socio-economic backgrounds in 7 states/Union Territories. The themes in focus included the SDGs, discrimination, tolerance, misinformation and cybercrime. Knowledge support and mentorship were also provided by UNODC South Asia's Communications Officer to online youth collectives in developing community outreach and advocacy tools on vaccines, COVID-19 precautions and awareness on essential helplines and information. 
Website: https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/about-e4j/e4j-around-the-world/lockdown-le…;

 

3.  Has your organization published or is it planning to publish any analytical work or guidance note or toolkits to guide and support recovery efforts from COVID-19 while advancing SDG implementation at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three high-impact resources to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.

Name: Data Matters: Killings of women and girls by their intimate partner or other family members – Global estimates 2020 
Publishing entity: UNODC
Relevant SDGs SDGs 5, 16
Target audience: All Member States – criminal justice practitioners, policymakers, researchers 
Resource description: Some 47,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members in 2020.This means that, on average, a woman or girl is killed by someone in her own family every 11 minutes. While the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in domestic gender-based violence, this research brief reveals that, where trends can be calculated, they show that the magnitude of such gender-related killings remains largely unchanged, however, with only marginal increases and decreases over the past decade. Homicides within the private sphere affect both sexes ,but women and girls bear the largest burden of lethal violence perpetrated within the home, accounting for approximately 6 out of every 10 homicide victims killed by intimate partners or other family members. Several types of female homicide are committed on the grounds of gender-related motivations, but there is not yet a standardized approach to define and count all forms of gender-related killings of women and girls. When available, statistical data on this type of homicide are often based on national definitions, practices or specific legislation that are not comparable at the global level. To address this issue, the United Nations system has held a series of consultations aimed at developing anew statistical approach to improving data on gender-related killings of women and girls. This research brief, released in November 2021, focuses on female victims of intentional homicide perpetrated by intimate partners or other family members. This is because – based on available evidence – intimate partner/family-related homicide accounts for the largest proportion of gender-related killings or “femicides”. Furthermore, data on this type of homicide are more readily available and comparable than data on gender-related killings that take place outside the family sphere. 
Website: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/crime/UN_BriefFem_251121.pdf 
Language: English  

 

Name: Guidance Note on Ensuring Access to Justice in the Context of COVID-19 
Publishing entity: UNODC and UNDP
Relevant SDGs SDG 16, as well as SDGs 5 and 10 
Target audience: All Member States – practitioners and policymakers 
Resource description: The Guidance Note presents key issues to consider in ensuring access to justice during the pandemic, and is divided into three sections: Preparation, Response, and Recovery. While there may be a chronological overlap across the different phases as States face differing dimensions of the crisis, the note highlights critical elements for the justice sector to respond effectively to the short, medium, and long-term impacts of the pandemic. From reducing rates of pretrial detention and improving access to fair and effective dispute resolution mechanisms as well as putting in place measures to ensure better representation in the judiciary, the note highlights the need of evidence-based strategies to ensure more equitable access to justice, in order to develop and implement recovery plans that truly reach, and secure the rights, of those who are furthest behind. This note has been developed jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and benefited from review and inputs from UN Global Focal Point on Rule of Law partners. In particular, contributors to the note include the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG), the Justice and Corrections Service of the Department of Peace Operations’ Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (DPO/OROSLI/JCS), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR), the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (O-SRSG-SVC), the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). 
Website: https://www.unodc.org/documents/Advocacy-Section/Ensuring_Access_to_Justice_in_the_Context_of_COVID-191.pdf 
Language: English  

 

Name: Accountability and the prevention of corruption in the allocation and distribution of emergency economic rescue packages in the context and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic   
Publishing entity: UNODC 
Relevant SDGs SDGs 8, 16
Target audience: National anti-corruption authorities 
Resource description: Building on a study published by ITU in 2020 this report examines the impact of fixed and In response to COVID-19, Member States have taken abroad range of measures to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus, including decrees that mandate “social distancing” and the large-scale closure of small-and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”), leading in many cases to the widespread, temporary unemployment of millions of people. These measures of economic “lockdown” have resulted, in the immediate term, in a significant slowdown of global economic activity and an increase in social instability, which disproportionately affects the poor, leading to an inability to pay for housing, basic provisions and public services. To avoid a global economic collapse and stave off a potential depression, Member States have taken dramatic and significant measures to provide an economic safety net for citizens and businesses in distress, including through direct cash disbursements, short- and medium-term forgivable loans and deferment of payments, unemployment insurance and other measures. In taking such emergency measures, Member States have necessarily relaxed safeguards by trading compliance, oversight and accountability for speed of response and achievement of rapid impact, thus leading to the creation of significant opportunities for corruption to thrive. In the context of these enormous challenges, the paper provides immediate and long-term recommendations for Member States to bear the following in mind to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of large-scale resource disbursement. 
Website: https://www.unodc.org/documents/Advocacy-Section/COVID-19_and_Anti-Corruption-2.pdf 
Language: English, French and Spanish

 

4.  How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups to support SDG implementation and COVID-19 recovery at national, regional and global levels? Please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned. If your organization has established multi-stakeholder partnerships in this regard, please describe them and provide links to relevant websites, if applicable.

Name: Measuring Illicit Financial Flows
Partners: UNCTAD; UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence for Statistical Information on Government, Crime, Victimization and Justice (CoE); ESCAP; ECA; National Statistical Offices, Ministries of Interior, Law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, other specialized agencies and national experts of Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador; Central Banks; other key national stakeholders of Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Relevant SDGs SDG 16
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Description: As custodian agencies of SDG Indicator 16.4.1 (‘Total value of inward and outward illicit financial flows, in current United States dollars’), UNODC and UNCTAD conducted comprehensive and inclusive expert-level consultations to develop a methodologically sound approach for estimating this indicator. As a result of such consultations and coordinated action, in October 2020 the two co-custodians agencies published the Conceptual framework for the Statistical Measurement of Illicit Financial Flows. The Framework is a cornerstone in the measurement of Indicator 16.4.1 as it provides - for the first time – a definition of IFFs for statistical purposes. Consistently with such framework, methodological guidance to measure IFFs from selected illegal market activities and from tax and commercial practices has been provided in a number of pilot tests conducted in volunteer countries. UNODC and UNCTAD cooperate on several capacity building projects on the measurement of IFFs in various regions of the world: • Between 2018-2020, methods to estimate crime-related IFFs were pilot tested by UNODC in the context of a UN Development Account project for four countries in Latin America with direct support of the UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence for Statistical Information on Government, Crime, Victimization and Justice (CoE). The Center collaborated with Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador to measure IFFs originating from drug trafficking and smuggling of migrant activities. Important methodological progress was also made for measuring illegal gold mining-related IFFs. The pilot activities involved a number of National Institutions such as National Statistical Offices, Ministries of Interior, Law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, other specialized agencies and national experts that contributed to collect data, as well as to produce and validate estimates. This pilot contributed to build capacities in the participant countries to measure IFFs in the future, and to identify best practices for similar testing exercises in other regions of the world. • Based on such experience, in 2020 UNODC, UNCTAD and ESCAP inaugurated a new DA project in Asia-Pacific, where the three agencies are currently consolidating existing and testing new methods to measure crime-related IFFs (in Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal) and tax and commercial IFFs (in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). The pilot activities are contributing to increase awareness, collect data and develop estimates in beneficiary countries, by providing technical assistance to a number of institutions such as National Statistical Offices, Central Banks, Financial Intelligence Units and other key national stakeholders A similar DA project is being conducted by UNCTAD and ECA, with UNODC support, in 13 countries of Africa.
Website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/iff.html

 

Name: Supporting national capacities to monitor SDG 16
Partners: UNDP; OHCHR; ESCAP; ESCWA; UNESCO
Relevant SDGs SDG 16, as well as SDGs 3, 5, 11, 15
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Asia, Asia and the Arab region
Description: Six years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, many countries face challenges in monitoring SDG 16 indicators on governance, crime, and access to justice. To support SDG implementation and foster engagement with national stakeholders, UNODC has partnered with several other United Nations entities to deliver a series of interactive regional training workshops (each with a curriculum of 5 to 8 sessions). The workshops provided national data producers with the methodological tools needed to measure progress on SDG 16, and to promote a "data community" among data producers and data users for the exchange of experiences and challenges. A “One-UN” approach was established by co-organizing responsibility between UNODC, UNDP, OHCHR, ESCAP and ESCWA, as well as UNESCO. Trainings have taken place in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Asia and Asia. The initiative started in 2020 with a Regional Training on Measuring SDG 16 in Africa, which included 5 training sessions and was attended by more than 200 representatives of National Statistical Offices, Police, Prosecutor's Offices, Courts, Prisons, Ministries of Interior and Justice, National Human Rights Institutions, as well as other relevant entities. In 2021, the geographical scope and reach of the trainings was expanded to include more countries in Latin America, the Arab region and Asia. Overall, more than 2400 national data producers attended the regional trainings on SDG 16 in 2021, and a total of 17 training sessions were held. This successful initiative will continue in 2022 and will be expanded to include the Pacific region and West Africa.
Website:

Asia: https://www.sdg16hub.org/regional-training-measure-sdg-16-asia

Africa: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/measuring-sdg16-webinar-series.html Latin America and the Caribbean: https://www.sdg16hub.org/basic-page/regional-training-measure-sdg-16-latin-america-and-caribbean

 

Name: New methodological tools to produce SDG16 indicators
Partners: UNDP; OHCHR
Relevant SDGs SDG 16, as well as SDGs 5, 8 and 11
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Global
Description: UNODC, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) joined forces in late 2019 to develop an internationally standardized and tested survey instrument to collect high-quality and comparable data for 13 survey-based indicators under Goal 16. The SDG16 Survey instrument provides a coherent and standardized tool that countries can use to measure progress on most of the survey-based indicators under SDG16. The Survey focuses on 8 domains: Access to Justice – Access to Dispute Resolution Mechanisms; Access to Justice – Violence Reporting; Corruption; Discrimination; Harassment; Physical Violence; Psychological violence; Satisfaction with Public Services; Sexual Violence; and Trafficking in Persons. The SDG16 Survey instrument was developed to address data gaps in the measurement of SDG 16 indicators (in 2021, nine of the thirteen indicators covered by the SDG16 Survey instrument had a country coverage well below 25 per cent). After thorough testing and piloting at country level, the SDG16 Survey instrument was finalized in 2021. It is designed as a flexible tool that can be adapted to national needs and it can either be applied as a standalone population survey or, if necessary, countries can implement selected modules as part of other ongoing survey operations. The development of a standard international instrument aims at strengthening in-country capacity for producing statistics in this field and promoting a standardized, accurate and comprehensive methodological approach in measuring the Survey Based SDG 16 Indicators. The Survey builds on existing methodological standards as well as regional and national practices.
Website:

https://www.sdg16hub.org/sdg-16-survey-initiative 

 

Name: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Partners: UNFPA; UNICEF; WFP; UNESCO; ILO; WHO; World Bank; UNDP; UNHCR; drug control and law enforcement agencies, prison authorities, justice and health sectors actors, civil society and community-led organizations
Relevant SDGs SDGs 3, 5, 10, 16, 17
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Global
Description: Together with other co-sponsors of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNODC contributed to the development of the new Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 entitled End Inequalities, End AIDS which was adopted by consensus by the Virtual Special Session of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in March 2021. The new Strategy aims to scaling up evidence-informed interventions to reach the targets set for 2025 by the Global AIDS Strategy, which are essential prerequisite for ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 (SDG target 3.3). One of the cross-cutting issues that the Strategy addresses is that on Partnerships, multisectorality and collaboration at all levels. These are essential to address the immense challenge of reducing inequalities by 2025 and getting the HIV response on-track to end AIDS by 2030. As per its core mandates, and as a trusted partner of drug control and law enforcement agencies, prison authorities, justice and health sectors actors, civil society and community-led organizations, UNODC continued to strengthen functional and meaningful partnerships between these entities as an essential step towards creating an enabling environment to a ‘’leaving no-one behind’’ approach. The Global Programme continued to support the UNODC Civil Society group on Drug use and HIV and established the first-ever informal network of civil society organizations responding to the diverse health needs of prison population, comprised of 26 organizations across various countries and regions. As communities are central to ending AIDS, in 2020 and 2021, UNODC awarded civil society organizations 15 grants for projects to support communities in their HIV responses. The main objective of this grant programme is to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, particularly community-based organizations, to address gender-sensitive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support among people who inject drugs and people in prisons.
Website: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/PCBSS_Global_AIDS_Strategy_2021--2026_EN.pdf https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/hiv-aids/new/stories/cso-meeting-hiv-in-prison.html https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/hiv-aids/new/stories/hiv-grants-for-civil-society-organizations.html

 

Name: Alliance 8.7
Partners: 26 Pathfinder Countries, 373 partners, including Academic Institutions, Think Tanks, CSOs, Workers’ organizations, Private Sector, Media and Journalist Networks, Survivor Networks and IOs, including UN entities: FAO, ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN Global Compact
Relevant SDGs SDGs 5, 8, 16
Member States benefiting from the initiative: Global
Description: UNODC regularly participates in the activities of the Alliance 8.7, a forum bringing together actors at all levels to collaborate, strategize, share knowledge and ultimately accelerate progress to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and particularly Target 8.7 on eradicating forced labor, ending modern slavery and human trafficking. As an active member of the forum, UNODC attends and contributes to the regular meeting of the Global Coordinating Group (GCG), aimed to update the membership on recent developments, including related to the work and expansion of Pathfinder countries. In its role of coordinator and 2021-2022 co-chair of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), UNODC also provides updates on the work of ICAT to the attendees. Furthermore, UNODC is part the Alliance 8.7 Working Group on Monitoring to set up the workplan for the period running up to the 5th International Conference on Child Labor to be held in South Africa in early May 2022. In addition to its participation in the Alliance 8.7, UNODC also contributes to inter-agency SDG-related outputs. For example, UNODC contributed to a joint statement of the UN Network on Migration, entitled “Unlocking the Positive Impact of Migration on Sustainable Development to Recover Better, Faster and Stronger from COVID-19”, released on the occasion of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2021. The statement, among others, called on States to eliminate all forms of violence, abuse, forced labour and trafficking in persons, as well as other types of exploitation, especially of children and women in the context of migration, in accordance with SDGs 5.2, 8.7, 16.3 and 16.2.
Website: https://www.alliance87.org/

 

5.  Following the adoption of the 2019 SDG Summit declaration (GA resolution 74/4), where Member States outlined ten priority areas for accelerated action in SDG implementation, please highlight any major integrated and innovative policies or initiatives that your organization may have adopted in the following areas:

 

5.1 leaving no one behind;

While COVID-19 has exacerbated the socio-economic vulnerabilities exploited by criminal networks to scale up their activities, it has also placed a heavy burden on Member States’ ongoing efforts to prevent crime, strengthen criminal justice institutions and promote the rule of law. In this time of global unprecedented crisis, UNODC is strongly committed to the principle of leaving no one behind and remains committed to delivering vital evidence-based and gender-responsive technical assistance to those in need, especially the marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. This commitment is reflected in UNODC’s work in each of the Office’s thematic areas, as exemplified by the following: The World Drug Problem UNODC implemented specific initiatives in support of women-led actions on drug use prevention, e.g. in Colombia, such as enhancing female leaders’ psychosocial skills to support governmental actions within their communities. As a result, 187 women improved their knowledge and understanding of the key drivers and risk factors of drug use and strengthened their leadership and interaction skills. Moreover, and considering UNODC’s commitment to support vulnerable groups in closed settings, UNODC, in partnership with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, conducted a series of online technical workshops for frontline personnel and prison management on the prevention of communicable diseases in prisons with a specific focus on upholding human rights and international standards for the treatment of prisoners. Transnational Organized Crime UNODC developed and delivered a specialized training on cybercrime prevention with an emphasis on online child sexual abuse to 5,188 Honduran teachers aimed at preventing, detecting and managing cybercrime inside the classroom. Corruption UNODC published “The Time Is Now. Addressing the gender dimensions of corruption”. The publication seeks to explore the interconnectedness between gender equality and corruption and provides food for thoughts on how corruption differently affect women and men in order to support the anti-corruption community at large in translating ideas to programmatic initiatives. Terrorism Through the project 'STRIVE Juvenile: Preventing and Responding to Violence against Children by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups' funded by the European Union, UNODC and the partner countries Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria, develop and implement comprehensive national responses to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism affecting children, in full respect of human rights, gender equality and international law. Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice UNODC works to ensure access to justice for all and to promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies to protect the most vulnerable. This includes promoting the application of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), to support Member States in strengthening prison management with a view to ensure the secure, safe and humane custody of prisoners.

5.2 mobilizing adequate and well-directed financing;

In 2021, UNODC revisited its fundraising strategy to strengthen its engagement with traditional donors and partners and open new avenues for diversifying and broadening its donor base. The Office, guided by its Strategy for 2021-2025, plans to expand its resource mobilization to include international financial institutions, the private sector and foundations, as well as national donors that contribute to UNODC's programmes in their own countries. Fundraising plans will facilitate the matching of Member States’ priorities with UNODC mandates and expertise. Building on engagements in existing and new United Nations multi-partner trust funds, UNODC will enhance its work with those trust funds to ensure that priority geographic and thematic areas can benefit from these joint funding mechanisms. UNODC will expend significant efforts in engaging with these mechanisms, both at United Nations Headquarters and through the resident coordinators at the field level. The Office's resource mobilization will include continuous mapping of funding opportunities, the organization of briefings to existing and potential donors, as well as high-level strategic dialogues with funding partners. Finally, UNODC's intensified partnership and co-financing efforts will be accompanied by providing greater financial and substantive transparency on the results achieved through a dedicated online platform.

5.3 enhancing national implementation;

UNODC is mandated to assist Member States with the implementation of numerous conventions and protocols related, inter alia, to organized crime, corruption and terrorism. In the context of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto (UNTOC), UNODC supported the development and promotion of instruments for the Implementation Review Mechanism. The purpose of the Implementation Review Mechanism is to assist States parties in their implementation of the Convention. The Mechanism promotes the purposes of the Convention, provides the Conference of the States Parties with information on measures taken by States parties in implementing the Convention and the difficulties encountered by them in doing so, and helps States parties to identify and substantiate specific needs for technical assistance and to promote and facilitate the provision of such assistance. In addition, the Mechanism promotes and facilitates international cooperation, provides the Conference with information on successes, good practices and challenges of States parties in implementing and using the Convention, and promotes and facilitates the exchange of information, practices and experiences gained in the implementation of the Convention.

5.4 strengthening institutions for more integrated solutions;

As the custodian of various SDG 16 indicators, UNODC works to support Member States in strengthening institutions, good governance and the rule of law. Guided by its Strategy 2021-2025, the office continues to assist Member States in achieving SDG 16 through an integrated approach, not only by harmonizing its normative, technical and research functions, but also by enhancing coordination across its five thematic areas, to specifically address the nodal links between the world drug problem, organized crime, corruption and economic crime, terrorism and the criminal justice system, within the broader framework of the increased well-being of people. This integrated approach includes helping countries build strong national institutions and regional networks that uphold the rule of law, fight against impunity and provide justice to their people, including by supporting the development of legislative and policy frameworks that are responsive, coordinated and tailored to specific contexts. As effectiveness, fairness and accountability of criminal justice institutions are fundamental to tackle crime, corruption and terrorism and ensure access to justice for all, UNODC assists Member States in strengthening their criminal justice systems, by building capacity of a wide range of actors, from policing to prosecution and the judiciary. Support is provided to law enforcement institutions, prosecution services and courts to ensure human rights-based, gender-responsive criminal justice systems and strengthen their integrity and accountability to citizens and communities. Furthermore, to support Member States in their efforts to prevent and counter corruption, the Office provides legal, policy and programmatic support services to increase capacity for financial investigation, promote integrity of institutional actors and transparency in the management of public finances and procurement, including through mechanisms or bodies to oversee performance.

5.5 bolstering local action;

The work of UNODC at the field level has always been a joint venture with a variety of local actors and been guided by the priorities of Member States and aimed at empowering stakeholders at the local level. For example, in the context of crime prevention, UNODC focuses on community- and knowledge-based strategies to build the resilience of communities vulnerable to crime and violence. Of particular relevance is the work focusing on prevention initiatives among youth, including through sport and family skills programmes, to empower young people and make them active partners in crime and violence reduction.

5.6 reducing disaster risk and building resilience;

As the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of tackling illicit wildlife trafficking in order to prevent future pandemics stemming from zoonotic pathogens, UNODC stepped up its efforts to increase awareness about the links between wildlife trafficking and zoonotic diseases. To reduce the risks associated with illicit wildlife trafficking, which represents a serious form of organized crime that not only affects our ecosystems, but also poses a threat to human health, UNODC published a Guidance document on wildlife trafficking and COVID-19. The Guidance outlines the challenges related to the illicit wildlife trade market, such as its existence alongside the legal market, which makes the enforcement and security measures against wildlife trafficking ever more relevant to prevent a similar crisis in the future. Illegally sourced wildlife traded in a clandestine way escapes any sanitary control and exposes human beings to the transmission of new viruses and other pathogens. The guidance document provides an overview of how the pandemic has affected this form of transnational crime and presents the solutions that are being deployed by the UNODC Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime to tackle wildlife trafficking. These include the project “Safety across Asia For the global Environment” (SAFE), in partnership with the EU, to promote cooperation and partnership-building in Southeast Asia to address crimes affecting the environment. The SAFE initiative focuses on the health risks associated with facilities handling wildlife and wildlife trafficking, with the aim of preventing zoonotic diseases. By identifying and addressing the risk factors of possible transmission of zoonotic diseases in existing wildlife facilities, SAFE will support institutions in four target countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion to better respond to illegalities along the wildlife supply chain, in line with the One Health approach. Within this project, UNODC will cooperate closely with UNEP and FAO, as well as with several other organizations. The initiative envisions the development of a science-based assessment framework to identify high risk facilities handling wildlife in Southeast Asia that pose risks for human health, as well as the support of Governments to make interventions to reduce such risks. With this new project, developed in parallel with the initiative “Unwaste: Tackling waste trafficking to support a circular economy”, UNODC and the European Union partner up to bring improvements across three critically interlinked themes in Southeast Asia: rule of law, public health, and environmental protection.

5.7 solving challenges through international cooperation and enhancing the global partnership;

UNODC works to enhance international cooperation and global partnership in all its mandate areas, supporting the increased cooperation and exchange of information on operational and technical assistance matters among and between governmental institutions, the private sector, civil society and academia at the local, regional and international levels. A key to the successful implementation of UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 is the expanded use of partnerships with a broader range of stakeholders. Recognizing that flexible and wide-ranging partnerships add significant value to the work of the Office by using innovative ways to deliver assistance when and where needed, UNODC aims to maximize its impact through strengthened systematic South-South cooperation, to enable flows of know-how and expertise between countries that share similar challenges. To channel such expertise, the Office is determined to explore new modalities, including secondments from national Governments and the establishment of cooperation networks entailing the expansion of engagement with ministries and national departments that have not been UNODC's traditional counterparts. Furthermore, guided by this five-year Strategy, the Office continues to build on its successful role as convener and facilitator of public-private partnerships in the areas of drugs, crime and terrorism and intends to expand its cooperation with the private sector to all its areas of work. Finally, the Office aims to deepen its cooperation with other UN entities, other intergovernmental organizations, as well as civil society organizations and the academia, including by simplifying its framework for engagement of external parties to streamline the process of working with a more diverse range of implementing partners. A positive development in strengthening international cooperation is the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network). The Network, launched in June 2021, offers a platform for information exchange between frontline anti-corruption law enforcement practitioners in all countries across the globe. This one-stop virtual hub provides the knowledge, resources and tools needed to track, investigate and prosecute cases of cross-border corruption, including a decision tree and secure communications channels. In only a few months of existence, the GlobE Network has already boasted a membership of 81 anti-corruption related authorities from 48 countries.

5.8 harnessing science, technology and innovation with a greater focus on digital transformation for sustainable development;

Harnessing science, technology and innovation for sustainable development is a prominent part of UNODC Strategy 2021-2025. As the pandemic-related restrictions revealed the importance of finding innovative methods to ensure the continuation of delivery of services to Member States, the Office has embraced an approach to its work that stresses the importance of leveraging new technologies. For instance, UNODC is committed to continue to develop hybrid solutions for meetings that include virtual and physical participation, facilitating more inclusive deliberations. The Kyoto Congress proved the effectiveness of organizing large scale events by bringing together over 5,000 participants representing a record 152 Member States, 114 non-governmental organizations, 37 intergovernmental organizations, 600 individual experts and several UN entities and institutes. Its unique set-up enabled the equal and meaningful contribute to the Congress deliberations of all attendees. Through digitization and digitalization, the Office aims to create new or improved ways of delivering its services to Member States and other stakeholders. For example, as the pandemic-related restrictions required the development of innovative methods for the delivery of laboratory and scientific services to law enforcement officers and forensic personnel in Member States, UNODC established a recording studio within the United Nations narcotics laboratory and adapted its curricula for in-person training to a virtual environment. The digitalization of these services allowed the continuation of UNODC’s support to Member States in achieving SDGs 3 and 16. With a view to improve technological responsiveness, UNODC, through the Global Firearms Programme, started in 2021 the development of an integrated firearms registry (GoIFAR). The system allows to efficiently control the trafficking of firearms at national level by preventing diversions to the illegal market and by optimizing the supervision and control of all activities linked to firearms and other regulated materials, as well as its users. Through tracing, the system is a reliable tool that could be used in investigations and court cases involving firearms and controlled materials as well as to give a timely response in requests of international cooperation by other States. The software consists of a set of interrelated registration systems allowing to know the record or registration sequence of a given firearm; as well as the materials subject to control from their manufacturing until their final stage; its holders whether natural or legal persons; and all related activities and types of transfers. Digitalized central databases on firearms and their movements not only increases the effectiveness of firearms control in general but also reduce the risks of theft and losses of items. In addition, such databases also provide for digitalized solutions that will allow these countries to move away from paper-based processes. Moreover, in a COVID-19 context, such systems should reduce physical presence of firearms owners for processes such as renovation of a license and requesting or issuing transfer authorizations, while also allowing part of the staff of firearms control authorities to make queries and respond to tracing requests from remote locations. The software will be pilot tested in two or three countries in Africa and Latin America in the course of 2022. After that it will be tailored and deployed to other requesting countries.

5.9 investing in data and statistics for the SDGs; and

UNODC research constitutes the key global authority in the fields of drugs and crime, providing high-quality, essential evidence to inform policy-making and valuable sources of knowledge in drugs and crime domains, including in the framework of the Sustainable Development Agenda. The Thematic Programme on Research, Trend Analysis and Forensics defines the key challenges, work priorities and quality standards, as well as the tools and services to support policy and programme development in the framework of UNODC mandates. UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 foresees the maximization of the Office's research function, by building on strong data analytics and optimizing data management, supported by people and culture, strong data governance arrangements, data partnerships and a solid technology environment. Stressing on the value of data as a strategic asset, the Strategy sets the intention of UNODC to increase the relevance, accessibility and usability of data and analysis on drugs and crime including by using data from traditional sources and combine them, using innovative solutions, with big and smart data. These include geospatial information systems that build on new technology and methodologies, such as artificial intelligence-based methods. With improved detection, processing and visualization of crime and drug threats and an integrated data system, UNODC will better identify “what matters on drugs and crime, when it matters” so as to generate prompt and timely policy responses at all levels: national, regional and global.

5.10    strengthening the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

CND and CCPCJ: UNODC contributes to the review of progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals through the support it provides to its governing bodies - the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) - as functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/290, the HLPF is the United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. The functional commissions of the ECOSOC, and other intergovernmental bodies and forums, provide support to the HLPF by conducting thematic reviews of the SDGs (A/RES/70/1). In resolution 70/299, the General Assembly called on the functional commissions to “ensure that they address the implementation of the 2030 Agenda within their respective areas of expertise and mandates”, and in resolution 72/305, called on the ECOSOC to ensure that its subsidiary bodies, including the functional commissions, adequately support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In 2021, the Assembly reiterated, in resolution 75/290 A, that “the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies should further enhance their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The CND and the CCPCJ actively contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and regularly provide substantive input to the HLPF, as sustainable development and the mandates of the Commissions are strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing. The Office supports the Commissions in making these contributions. Since 2016, when the SDGs took effect, the Office has supported the Commissions’ contributions to the HLPF, as well as the contributions of the Chairs of the Commissions to the preparatory work conducted by the ECOSOC. A prime example is the support rendered by the Office pursuant to the dedicated resolution negotiated by the CCPCJ in 2018, entitled “Enhancing the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The Office compiled views by Member States and other stakeholders on how the CCPCJ could further contribute to the review of the SGDs, and shared them with the Commission in a Conference Room Paper (E/CN.15/2019/CRP.1), which included information on actions taken towards meeting SGD 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which is of particular relevance to the CCPCJ’s work. UNODC will continue this support and is in the process of assisting the Chairs of both Commissions in preparing the 2022 contributions, which in line with the theme for the 2022 HLPF, will focus on building back better from the corona disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since 2016, the Office has organized several joint special events on the 2030 Agenda for the CND and the CCPCJ. The most recent joint special event took place on 8 July 2021, at the margins of the 2021 HLPF, and highlighted the contributions of both Commissions to the 2030 Agenda against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office had also organized joint special events in 2016 and 2019, both of which were held on the occasion of the visit of the President of the General Assembly. The 2019 event coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Vienna International Centre on “Contributions of the Vienna Commissions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda”, while the 2016 event was held on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, thereby giving effect to SDG 5 on Gender Equality, which is a priority for the Office as we support the Commissions in fulfilling their mandates on drug control, crime prevention and criminal justice. UNODC looks forward to organizing similar joint CND-CCPCJ events with the President of the General Assembly and the President of the ECOSOC in the future. Moreover, the CND and the CCPCJ have strengthened their cooperation with other functional commissions of the ECOSOC, in particular with the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Statistical Commission and the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), with a view to advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This has been done through participation in each other's meetings and through the organization of special events during the sessions of the Commissions (e.g. Joint CND-CSW Event in December 2016; Special Event CND-UN Statistical Commission in December 2017), as well as in the margins of meetings of the ECOSOC and the HLPF (e.g. joint CND-CCPCJ event with Statistical Commission, CSTD and CSW in the margins of the 2017 HLPF). UNODC has also created a website that reflects the work of the Commissions on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/SDG/commissions-2030.html). The Commissions' contributions to the HLPF from 2016 to 2021 are posted on that website, along with background information on joint CND-CCPCJ special events, as well as joint events with other ECOSOC functional commissions and stakeholders on the 2030 Agenda. Presenting progress against SDG 16: UNODC contributed to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2021 through the UN Network on Migration, including the statement entitled “Unlocking the Positive Impact of Migration on Sustainable Development to Recover Better, Faster and Stronger from COVID-19”, which called on States to eliminate all forms of violence, abuse, forced labour and trafficking in persons, as well as other types of exploitation, especially of children and women in the context of migration, in accordance with SDGs 5.2, 8.7, 16.3 and 16.2. Finally, building on the previous review of SDG 16, which highlighted the need of improving data collection to monitor this Goal, at the 2021 HLPF, UNODC organized the side event: “Crunching numbers and beyond: collaborative approaches to monitor SDG 16”. The side event showcased good practices in monitoring implementation of SDG 16 and its targets, to highlight the progress made towards the gathering of integrated, quality and reliable data through harmonized methodologies and innovative data collection tools involving cross-sectoral cooperation between governments, civil society and the private sector. The event stressed the role that integrated data plays in facilitating the identification of root causes, structural issues and systematic patterns of exclusion and in helping build capacity for effective and integrated implementation of SDG 16 targets. Within the Decade of Action, the monitoring of targets under Goal 16 can provide valuable information from which to design evidence-based programmes to advance the implementation of the Goal as a whole, while leaving no one behind.

6.  In the lead up to the 2023 HLPF to be held under the auspices of the General Assembly (or 2023 SDG Summit), please provide your organization’s recommendations on how to overcome challenges to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs, taking into account the thematic reviews and voluntary national reviews conducted to date.

Some recommendations include to:

• Strengthen anti-corruption efforts, including a strong involvement of the private sector;

• Work on the linkages between development and crime prevention;

• Stress the need for multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral approaches to combat crime. Finally, it is important to recognize that the pandemic has taught us that we need to have strategies in place to cope with future crises and that there may be new ways to do our job.

7.  Please review your organization's information contained in the UN System SDG Implementation Database. If you wish to submit any updates, please share details below.

Q1 - para 6: Change from "originally scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, in 2020, had now been postponed – due to the COVID 19 health crisis - to yet to be confirmed dates in the first half 2021" into: "originally scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, in 2020, was postposed – due to the COVID 19 health crisis - to March 2021."

Q1 - para 8, last sentence: change from "with the first intersessional meeting of the Conference on the preparations for the special session scheduled for June 2020" to "with the three intersessional meetings of the Conference on the preparations for the special session held in September 2020, November 2020 and February 2021. The Special session was successfully held in June 2021."

Q2.2 - change "The recent SG report" into "The latest SG report".

Q2.3 - Para 1- Change "will be" with "were" in the following sentence: "The recommendations of the peer review report were presented to Member States at the informal working group meeting on governance and financial management (FINGOV) in November 2019 and will be further discussed [...]

Q2.3 - Para 2 - Change "In order to enhance knowledge and skills on RBM of staff based in HQ and field offices, in 2019, UNODC designed interactive material and practical exercises on RBM and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to develop an e-learning training course. This new tool is currently in production and will be made available to users on Inspira in 2020. " into "In order to enhance knowledge and skills on RBM of staff based in HQ and field offices, in 2019, UNODC designed interactive material and practical exercises on RBM and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to develop an e-learning training course, which was made available to users on Inspira in 2020.

Q3.4 - 1) Delete "recently" from the following: "A new data portal (dataUNODC, at dataunodc.un.org) has been recently released to facilitate access and use of data produced by the Office, including on SDG indicators." 1) Eliminate "forthcoming" three times from the following: "A series of high-quality analytical reports produced by UNODC focus on relevant SDG indicators and provide in-depth analyses to understand trends, drivers and policy implications in relation to several topics, such as the Global Study on Homicide (2019), the World Drug Report (2020, forthcoming), the World Wildlife Crime Report (2020, forthcoming) and the Global Report on Trafficking on Persons (2020, forthcoming)." 2) Change "will be made" into "was made" and "is working" into "has worked" in the following: "Thanks to this work preliminary estimates of IFFs related to illegal markets will be made available for volunteer countries by end 2020 and data on SDG indicator on illegal trade will be released with the 2020 World Wildlife Crime Report. Furthermore, UNODC is working with UNDP and OHCHR to develop a series of standard survey modules to collect high quality and comparable data on 10 survey-based indicators of Goal 16. 2) Add the following sentence at the end of the paragraph: "After thorough testing and piloting at country level, the SDG16 Survey instrument was finalized in 2021."

Q3.5 - para 2: Change "is" into "was" in the following: "The issue of the use of technology both in the hands of criminals and as a tool at the disposal of criminal justice and law enforcement against crime is was the focus of a workshop"

Q3.5 - para 2: change "The Congress was scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from 20 to 27 April 2020. It was postponed due to the COVID 19 emergency situation, but it will take place as soon as this emergency situation ceases to exist. The discussion at this workshop will be led by panelists, will be of technical nature and will promote the exchange of [..]" into "The Congress was scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from 20 to 27 April 2020, but was, due to the COVID-19 emergency situation, instead held from 7 to 12 March 2021. The discussion at this workshop was led by panelists, was of technical nature and promoted the exchange of [..]"

Q3.12 - Para 2 - Change "five meetings" into "six meetings" and add "and 2020" after 2019, to read as follows: "The Expert Group has held a total of six meetings, in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020." - Delete the following sentence: "Its sixth meeting is to be held in July 2020." - Change the following sentence: "This work, to be conducted on the basis of a structured workplan, is aimed at compiling recommendations to be considered at a stock-taking meeting to be held no later than in 2021," into "This work, to be conducted on the basis of a structured workplan, is aimed at compiling recommendations that were considered at a stock-taking meeting held in 2021."

Q4.1 - After para 7 add the following: "2021 - Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development"

Q4.3 - Para 1 - Please change "is" into "was" after "In preparation for the 2020 HLPF Thematic Review, UNODC" - Change "are" with "were", to read as follows: "The co-conveners of each consultation have jointly prepared the initial questions for the consultations and identified the experts who were invited" - Change "will include" into has included", to read as follows: "The virtual consultation has included approximately [..]"

Q7 - para 3 - Change the following "Moving forward, the CST plans to conduct an online Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC training to build the capacity of NGOs, academics and the private sector on the implementation of the Convention in June 2020. The training will aim to: [..]" into "Moving forward, the CST has conducted an online Stakeholder Engagement for UNTOC training to build the capacity of NGOs, academics and the private sector on the implementation of the Convention in June 2020. The training has aimed to: [..]" - in the list of bullet points, please delete "forthcoming" to read as follows: "• provide a platform for a constructive dialogue and sharing of experiences, network, build confidence and promote positive interaction among different non-governmental stakeholders in general and at the COP10 meeting in Vienna, Austria, in October 2020".

ECESA Plus Member
Year of submission: 2021