United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Q1. How have the COVID-19 pandemic and the current food, energy and financing crises changed the priorities of your organization?
The COVID-19 pandemic and the current food, energy and finance crises have deepened existing challenges and created new ones. It has left our societies poorer and more fragile, exacerbating the vulnerability of the most disadvantaged groups and worsening existing inequalities both within and between countries and regions. As people worldwide struggle to meet basic needs, drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism pose ever-greater dangers. However, rather than changing the priorities, the current global crises have reinvigorated the Office’s efforts in responding to such challenges.
Preventing and countering cybercrime:
Increased connectivity rates fuelled by measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in increased cybercrime vulnerability, victimization and reporting in all five regions of the world. UNODC supported 47 Member States in strengthening their criminal justice response systems, promoting and strengthening specialized law enforcement and prosecution cybercrime units, and launching six digital forensic laboratories. In 2022, UNODC established a cryptocurrency forensic laboratory in Malaysia (the first of its kind in the region), providing support to neighbouring States.
Renewed commitment to preventing and countering terrorism:
The COVID-19 pandemic also brought a host of both old and new threats related to terrorism. In response to these evolving challenges, UNODC developed a new global programme to prevent and counter-terrorism. The Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Terrorism (2022-2027) aims at supporting Member States to put in place effective, accountable and inclusive legal, crime prevention and criminal justice norms, measures and capacities to prevent and counter-terrorism. Through this new programme, UNODC will support increased Member States' adherence to and implementation of the international legal framework against terrorism; development and implementation of terrorism prevention measures that are rule-of-law based, partnership-based, gender-responsive and youth-empowering; and increased effectiveness of criminal justice institutions to prevent and counter-terrorism, in line with international human rights obligations and through international cooperation in criminal matters.
Preventing and combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants:
The current global crises have also increased the risks of human trafficking as criminals exploit people’s situations of vulnerability. To respond to this challenge, and building upon previous work, UNODC has increased focus on the impact of humanitarian crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change-related disasters and food, energy and financial crises, on migrant smuggling and human trafficking. This will also be a priority topic for the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), coordinated by UNODC, in 2023. Moreover, the Office has assessed the impacts of climate change on trafficking in persons through the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT). And it will continue exploring further work in this regard.
Implementing UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Latin America and the Caribbean:
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the work of UNODC is guided by its Strategic Vision for Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2027) and focuses on the fields of corruption, transnational crime, drug use prevention and crime prevention and criminal justice. As the financial crisis resulted from the outbreak of COVID-19 has shortened opportunities of financing towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Office has adapted by strengthening its fundraising approach towards international partners and the private sector.
Q2. How has your organization supported Member States to accelerate their recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda? How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations in these efforts to achieve coherence and synergies?
UNODC continues to work in partnerships with other UN entities and other non-governmental entities to maximize its impact and assist Member States to make progress towards the SDGs.
Please highlight up to three high-impact initiatives, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs and involves interagency collaboration. Concrete initiatives might be selected to be spotlighted during relevant intergovernmental meetings.
| Initiative | Statistical Measurement of Illicit Financial Flows |
| Partners | The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) |
| Relevant SDGs | SDG16 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Since its inception, the following countries have benefited: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia. |
| Description | Illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to drain resources needed to pursue sustainable development and fulfil human rights. Further, the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing economies highlighted the critical need for addressing the financing gap. As co-custodians of SDG indicator 16.4.1, UNODC and UNCTAD lead global methodological work to develop statistical definitions and methods to measure IFFs and support Member States in developing capacity to monitor progress toward SDG target 16.4. In 2022, UNODC-UNCTAD Conceptual Framework for the Statistical Measurement of Illicit Financial Flows was endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission and the two entities continued delivering capacity-building activities to establish statistical processes to measure IFFs. In Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Viet Nam, UNODC implemented workshops and trainings on measuring IFFs related to specific crimes. The publication of results related to these activities is expected in 2023. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/iff.html; https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/IFF/IFF_Co… |
| Initiative | Covid-19 Anti-Corruption Response and Recovery Project - “Ensuring Effective Responses to and Recovery from COVID-19 and Future Emerging Crises” |
| Partners | Open Contracting Partnership, Open Ownership |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 3 and 16 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa and Timor-Leste |
| Description | In 2022, UNODC worked on strengthening transparency in public procurement, including by using beneficial ownership information in procurement processes. On the topic, the Office co-organized a public-private dialogue in Indonesia and held workshops in Chile, Paraguay and the Philippines. UNODC also assisted the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in amending the legal framework on beneficial ownership to strengthen sanctions for non-compliance. Moreover, UNODC supported Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay in conducting analyses of measures taken to enhance inclusion in public procurement. In Brazil, a series of six technical dialogues on whistle-blower protection and public procurement was concluded. In South Africa, key findings were published following a survey for over 100 public institutions on the availability of reporting channels and the extent of protection guaranteed to whistle-blowers. Finally, together with Timor-Leste’s Anti-Corruption Commission, UNODC held a three-day corruption risk assessment workshop to identify potential corruption risks in public health procurement. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2020/November/unodc-launches-c… |
| Initiative | Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Terrorism |
| Partners | UN Global Compact entities, regional organizations, local NGOs, private sector entities, and other civil society |
| Relevant SDGs | SDG16 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Approximately 70 Member States in Africa, Asia, Europe, the MENA region and Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Description |
UNODC works in close cooperation with UN Global Counter-Terrorism Compact entities to deliver technical assistance to Member States to build their normative frameworks, policies and institutional capacity to strengthen their criminal justice response to terrorism in line with international norms and human rights. In this regard, over the last year, UNODC provided training, mentoring and support to over 2,000 officials, strengthening efforts to prevent terrorism and bring terrorists to justice in full compliance with the rule of law. As a result of this work, for example, Nigerian prosecutors continued to successfully prosecute terrorism cases, with a total of terrorism convictions raising to over 650 since 2018. Moreover, the Nigerian defense counsel successfully advocated for the release, due to lack of evidence, of 600 persons, some of which had been held for over ten years. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/terrorism/UNODC_Role.html |
Q3. 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 full implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels?
Through its research and analysis work, UNODC continues its support to Member States by collecting and analysing data for the formulation of evidence-based solutions to the challenges posed by drugs, crime, terrorism and corruption.
Please select up to three high-impact resources to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs. Selected resources will be highlighted to inform relevant intergovernmental meetings.
| Resource | World Drug Report 2022 |
| Publishing entity/entities | UNODC |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 3, 5, 12 and 16 |
| Target audience | policymakers, practitioners, academia, other UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks, journalists |
| Description | The 2022 World Drug Report (WDR) provides an in-depth analysis of global drug markets and examines the nexus between drugs and the environment within the bigger picture of the SDGs. The report is aimed to foster greater international cooperation to counter the impact of the world drug problem on health, governance and security, and to supporting Member States in anticipating and addressing threats from drug markets and mitigating their consequences. Among others, the 2022 World Drug Report includes an analysis of the impact of the pandemic on drug use and drug treatment. According to the report, there are signs that drug use patterns may have become more harmful during the pandemic. At the same time, there was less access to services (prevention, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and overdose) for people who use drugs. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2022… |
| Language | Full report in English, Executive Summary also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. |
| Resource | Monitoring SDG 16 – A gender perspective – Data Matters 4 |
| Publishing entity/entities | UNODC |
| Relevant SDGs | SDG 16 |
| Target audience | policymakers, academia, UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks |
| Description | The publication provides an overview of global progress against SDG16 indicators on intentional homicide, perceptions of safety, trafficking in persons, unsentenced detention, firearms trafficking and bribery, with a specific focus on new, sex-disaggregated data and trends in order to shed light on the gender dimensions of global progress towards SDG16. While there has been some global progress in reducing criminal violence, some regions are experiencing setbacks. Findings show, among other, that despite reductions in the global prison population caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, limited progress has occurred in improving access to trial within a reasonably short period of time, both for male and female prisoners. Monitoring gender-specific progress on several Goal 16 targets, such as those related to bribery or firearms trafficking, remains challenging due to limited sex-disaggregated and comparable data. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/data-matters. html https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/DataMatter… https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/DataMatter… |
| Language | English and Spanish |
| Resource | SDG16 Survey Initiative |
| Publishing entity/entities | UNODC, OHCHR and UNDP |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 6, 8, 11 and 16 |
| Target audience | Policymakers, national statistical offices and other data-producing national entities, criminal justice authorities, UN agencies, academia, NGOs, think tanks. |
| Description | The SDG16 Survey Initiative, jointly developed by UNDP, UNODC and OHCHR, provides a high-quality, well-tested tool that countries can use to measure progress on several survey-based indicators under SDG16. It can support data production on peace, justice, and inclusion (SDG 16), which can help better understand complex realities at national and local levels. It can help unveil some of the hidden truths of how violence, discrimination, inequality, and injustice manifest in the community and identify entry points to address some of these persistent challenges. In the reporting period, the SGD16 Survey Initiative’s Implementation Manual and the Survey Questionnaire were published. Before its release in 2022, the survey questionnaire was piloted in eight countries to ensure sound methodology and international comparability. The three agencies will continue their work on the SDG 16 Survey Initiative by supporting countries in conducting the survey. |
| Website | https://www.sdg16hub.org/sdg-16-survey-initiative https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/sdgs/SDG16_Survey_Ini… https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/sdgs/SDG16_Survey_Ini… https://www.undp.org/publications/sdg16-survey-initiative |
| Language | Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish |
Q4. 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. For example, what has worked particularly well as a model for effective stakeholder engagement?
Preventing and countering cybercrime among boys, girls and youth:
UNODC supports Member States in developing cybercrime prevention initiatives and establishing alliances with the private sector. The prevention campaign “Gira Vive,” developed with the Ministries of Education of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in partnership with Grupo Salinas/TV Azteca, started reaching 7,300 boys, girls and youth in 2020 and has reached 55,962 in 2022. Additionally, UNODC has diversified the menu of prevention tools offered to reach as many vulnerable populations as possible: graffiti, muppet theatre play, tv shows, social media campaigns, videos, exhibitions in children’s museums and an upcoming movie. Public-private alliances have been vital to increasing the audience of cybercrime prevention messages and supporting state authorities in developing sustainable strategies and actions.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS):
As a co-sponsor of UNAIDS and the entity responsible for addressing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support among people who use drugs and people in prisons and other closed settings, UNODC contributed with other co-sponsors to the development and the implementation of the first year (2022) of the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF). UBRAF is the primary framework for operationalizing the Joint Programme’s work at global, regional and country levels and the central tool to guide and frame our Joint Programme’s action for results as part of the implementation of the Global AIDS Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2022, UNODC implemented activities funded through the UBRAF in 40 countries, supporting governments and communities in developing and implementing comprehensive evidence-informed and gender-responsive HIV and hepatitis prevention, treatment and care services for people who use drugs and for people in prison.
Alliance 8.7:
UNODC regularly participates in the activities of Alliance 8.7, which brings 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 labour, ending modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminating the worst forms of child labour. UNODC participates in the organs of the forum, namely the Global Coordinating Group (GCG) and the SDG Monitoring Working Group, and regularly updates the membership on recent developments relating to countering trafficking in persons, including on the work of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), which the Office coordinates and co-chairs this year. Furthermore, in 2022, UNODC participated in the development of an Accountability Framework for the Pathfinder Countries to report on their respective efforts to attain SDG 8.7.
Partnerships to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants:
In addition to Alliance 8.7, UNODC participates in other mechanisms relevant to addressing several SDG targets, including targets 5.2, 8.7, 16.3 and 16.2. These mechanisms include, among others, the UN Network on Migration and the Global Protection Cluster Anti-Trafficking Task Force. In 2022, UNODC also contributed to the first quadrennial International Migration Review Forum, whose Progress Declaration acknowledges the importance of international cooperation and accelerating the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Below are listed three high impact multi-stakeholder partnerships that UNODC established in 2022.
| Partnership | Stakeholder Engagement on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) |
| Partners | Anti-Corruption Agency, Uzbekistan; Regional-Anti-Corruption Initiative; SELDI Network; UNCAC Coalition |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 5, 16 and 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia as well as Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244) Uzbekistan |
| Description | UNODC provided support to the establishment of the Public Council under the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, that includes members from the civil society and the academia. The council serves as an oversight mechanism on anti-corruption. Furthermore, through the “Southeast Europe - Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC)” programme, UNODC is working to strengthen civil society capacities on and engagement in anti-corruption, in particular as concerning the Implementation Review Mechanism of the UNCAC. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2021/January/unodc-and-partner… |
| Partnership | Stakeholder Engagement for the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), its Review Mechanism and Related Activities (SE4U) |
| Partners | The NGO Alliance, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 5, 16 and 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Mexico and Pakistan |
| Description | Under the framework of the project “Stakeholder Engagement for the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), its Review Mechanism and Related Activities”, also known as SE4U, UNODC facilitates dialogues between governments and civil society stakeholders through national consultations for the implementation of UNTOC. As a result, during the reporting period, Mexico and Pakistan launched pilot initiatives through which they are engaging non-governmental stakeholders in their review processes |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ngos/unodc-facilitates-the-launch-of-a-l… ; https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ngos/the-first-ever-pilot-initiative-on-… |
| Partnership | Support to the implementation of the National System for Alcohol and Other Drugs Use Prevention |
| Partners | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and National Secretariat for Drug Care and Prevention (SENAPRED) |
| Relevant SDGs | SDG 3 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Brazil |
| Description | The strengthening of policies and actions in the field of drug use prevention and treatment of people with drug use dependence constitutes an essential strategy of great relevance to public health and social development. The multi-stakeholder partnership between UNODC, UNDP and SENAPRED aims at supporting Brazil with the institutionalization of the National System for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drugs Use (SINAP) through i) the development of a coordination mechanism between relevant actors; ii) an informative platform for the public; and iii) access to information and tools on preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. |
| Website | https://www.unodc.org/lpo-brazil/en/frontpage/2022/03/unodc-and-senapre… |
Q5. In the 2019 SDG Summit declaration (GA Resolution 74/4), 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 these ten priority areas:
5.1 leaving no one behind
UNODC remains firmly committed to leaving no one behind and 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 all thematic areas of UNODC, in particularly in relation to its work in support of people who use drugs, people with drug use disorders and people in prisons, as well as on topics pertaining to issues such as preventing violent extremism, crime among vulnerable youth and access and availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. In Brazil, within the framework of SDG Targets 10.2, 10.3 and 16.3, UNODC launched a package of informational material on custody hearing in Nheengatu, Baniwa and Tukano languages, to support the access of traditional communities to justice and constitutional rights. Eight posters were translated in partnership with the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of the Rio Negro (FOIRN) and the Socio-environmental Institute (ISA). In addition to information on the steps to be taken from the moment of arrest to the custody hearing, the posters cover topics such as prisoners' rights, precautionary measures, electronic monitoring, work, income and education, health, social assistance benefits, and prevention of abuse and violence. Also in Brazil, in June 2022, the Office, in partnership with UNAIDS and the Federal University of São Paulo, held the National Meeting on HIV Combined Prevention and Care for Women who Use Drugs. The goal of the three-day meeting was to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at addressing the barriers that women who use alcohol and other drugs face in accessing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment regarding HIV. The meeting was aligned with the new HIV and AIDS Policy Statement: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030 and the Global AIDS Strategy 2021 - 2026, which aims to break down barriers to achieving HIV outcomes, with a focus on community-led responses, human rights, gender equality and youth. Among the targets of the Strategy is to ensure that 95 per cent of women have access to sexual and reproductive health services by 2026.
5.2 mobilizing adequate and well-directed financing
In 2022, UNODC continued implementing its fundraising plan 2021-2025 in line with the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 to strengthen its engagement with traditional donors and partners and open new avenues for diversifying and broadening its donor base. The Office continues to expand its resource mobilization efforts to include international financial institutions, the private sector, foundations, and national donors contributing to UNODC's programmes in their own countries. Strategic dialogues have been developed to engage and discuss Member States’ priorities in line with UNODC mandates and expertise. UNODC continues building on engagements in existing and new United Nations multi-partner trust funds. The Office is enhancing its work with those trust funds ensuring that priority geographic and thematic areas can benefit from these joint funding mechanisms. The Office has expended 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 the creation of a digital/global fundraising platform targeting business and private donations.
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, launched in 2020. The purpose of the Review Mechanism is to assist States parties in the effective implementation of the Convention as well as help them identify specific needs for technical assistance and promote international cooperation. In November 2022, the third group of reviews of the first thematic cluster was launched. A total of 189 parties are currently reviewing their implementation as part of the peer review process. UNODC briefed and trained over 1,500 government officials on the UNTOC Review Mechanism as well as on the methodology of the review process and the use of REVMOD, the online platform to conduct the country review. Moreover, in 2022, four constructive dialogues on the review process were conducted to promote fruitful engagement with relevant stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, in line with the procedures and rules of the UNTOC Review Mechanism.
5.4 strengthening institutions for more integrated solutions
As the custodian of SDG 16, UNODC assists Member States in strengthening institutions, good governance and the rule of law. The combination of weak institutions and fragile governance structures provides significant opportunities for corruption, with a relatively low risk of detection through independent investigation and prosecution. Supporting national institutions to reinforce integrity, transparency and accountability is an enabler of the 2030 Agenda and accelerator to achieving all Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16. By building transparent, effective, inclusive and accountable institutions, UNODC strengthens the capacity of States to prevent and counter corruption. For this purpose, in 2022, UNODC increased its efforts to assist States parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) by facilitating knowledge-sharing among practitioners, providing training as well as legal and policy advice to build the capacities of national counterparts and conducting risk assessments to proactively mitigate corruption risks. In the area of corruption, in response to the growing demand for strengthening the capacities of institutions and ultimately enhancing their accountability and transparency, UNODC continued to facilitate coordination and collaboration between technical assistance providers. Following the establishment of regional anti-corruption platforms in Southeast Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa, and the Western Balkans in previous years, two new platforms were launched in 2022 to fast-track the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) implementation. In March 2022, the South America and Mexico platform was launched, followed by the West Africa and the Sahel platform in November of this year. Collectively, these five platforms harness synergies, facilitate the exchange of good practices, strengthen coordination and build multi-stakeholder partnerships to help enhance the role of national institutions in their anti-corruption efforts and improve cooperation between national institutions at both national and regional levels.
5.5 bolstering local action
UNODC, in partnership with UN-Habitat and UNDP, has implemented a wide set of programmes to assist the Government of Brazil, at federal and sub-national levels, in preventing crime and violence, and ensuring Rule of Law to support the COVID-19 recovery. In the province of Pernambuco, the three entities have provided technical assistance in strengthening violence reduction and drug-related public policies, as well as mental health to local communities. In 2022, the programme has advanced with the development of a logical framework, a matrix of indicators on prevention, and a research to map Pernambuco’s treatment services network for people with problems associated with the harmful use of alcohol and/or other drugs. In Paraguay, in order to mitigate corruption and improve procurement outcomes, UNODC worked under the framework of its COVID-19 anti-corruption response and recovery project to track investments in education in real-time. These efforts were complemented by an application developed by civil society organizations that enabled community monitoring of allocated education funds and trainings to procuring entities, civil society and educational communities on resource allocation and accountability.
5.6 reducing disaster risk and building resilience
Waste trafficking has severe implications for the environment and human health due to improper waste management. For this reason, one of the last projects of the Container Control Programme (CCP) of UNODC and the World Custom Organization (WCO) targets illegal plastic and waste shipments. Through this project, UNODC is currently providing technical assistance to Southeast Asian countries. The project’s overall objective is to advance frontline officers’ technical skills and enhance inter-agency and international cooperation in waste trafficking. In Colombia, as part of its efforts to prevent and counter crimes that affect the environment, UNODC is working on the construction of a risk index related to the loss of forests as a consequence of illegal activities to raise awareness and seek prevention mechanisms to protect strategic ecosystems and maintain biodiversity in Colombia.
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. For example, to support the effective implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and enhance its use for international cooperation, UNODC has continued to deliver assistance in the development of national legislative and strategic frameworks against organized crime, bringing the total number of countries supported in these efforts to 116. Additionally, the Office continued to collect and disseminate legal information on organized crime, with the SHERLOC Knowledge Management Portal hosting over 11,900 pieces of legislation from all UN Member States and over 3,200 cases on organized crime and terrorism. In the context of cybercrime, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, through General Assembly resolutions 74/247 and 75/282, is an intergovernmental initiative that proposes to address challenges involving crimes using information and communications technologies for criminal purposes through the development of a new international convention on the matter. In 2022, the Ad Hoc Committee held three formal sessions and three consultations of the Chairperson with relevant stakeholders with the secretariat support of UNODC. Among other issues, Member States discussed the central role of international cooperation in criminal matters to address this type of crime. Moreover, the process made evident that all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society and academia, play an important role in preventing and combatting cybercrime. In the field of anti-corruption, UNODC’s work in 2022 strengthened cooperation between law enforcement authorities through the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network). The Network fosters informal cross-border cooperation by facilitating information exchange between anti-corruption authorities and offering knowledge, resources and tools to track, investigate and prosecute cross-border corruption. Since its launch in June 2021, the GlobE Network has attracted 124 members from 68 countries. Finally, UNODC provides support to Member States in the achievement of SDG target 16.4 on reducing illicit arms flows. For the third year in a row, the Office carried out a two-week long operation against firearms trafficking in the Sahel. 850 officers from across relevant law enforcement agencies of the seven participating States seized a total of 594 firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition, as well as vast amounts of illicit drugs, explosives and other smuggled contraband. Over the years, the operation has proven to help better understand the extent and nature of this crime in the region, including the links between firearms trafficking and other kinds of crime. The activity is an integral component of UNODC’s Strategic Vision on Africa, which pursues to intensifying the fight against illicit firearms with an increased focus on fragile and conflict-affected areas.
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. In this context, Under GRACE, UNODC has been scaling digital innovation for the prevention of corruption through the Coding4Integrity youth anti-corruption hackathon series, a programme that connects digital innovation and social entrepreneurship to provide support to young people to develop technology solutions to tackle corruption-related issues they have encountered in their communities and/or they are motivated to address. The second edition took place in Brazil, in September 2022, where participants were asked to develop an ICT-based solution to address gender-sensitive reporting of corruption, transparency and access to information for small businesses. The winning solution utilized artificial intelligence to support small and medium enterprises in establishing a gender-sensitive whistle-blowing system to detect and prevent gender-based corruption. Moreover, in 2022, UNODC finalized the development of an integrated firearms registry (GoIFAR) and will implement the registry in two pilot countries in early 2023. The system allows to efficiently control the trafficking of firearms at the 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 one to know the record or registration sequence of a given firearm; 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 increase the effectiveness of firearms control in general but also reduce the risks of theft and losses of items.
5.9 investing in data and statistics for the SDGs
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. Together with UNCTAD, UNODC developed the Conceptual Framework for the Statistical Measurement of Illicit Financial Flows, which provides countries with a definition of illicit financial flows (IFFs) for statistical purposes, as well as a classification of illicit financial flows in four types based on the illicit practices at the origin of these cross-border flows (illegal markets, corruption, exploitation type and terrorism financing activities and illicit tax and commercial practices). Beyond the Framework, which the UN Statistical Commission endorsed in March 2022, UNODC developed methodological guidance to measure IFFs from various activities, such as drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and wildlife trafficking, which practically guide Member States to compile estimates and report on SDG Indicator 16.4.1. The development of estimates on IFFs has multiple benefits that go beyond the compilation of statistics for SDG Indicator 16.4.1. Investing in IFFs estimation process provides Member States several indicators to measure main money laundering threats, is useful for conducting money laundering national risk assessment and mutual evaluation exercises, as well as an effective instrument to monitor crime trends and develop evidence-based policymaking. Additionally, through its Illicit Arms Flows Questionnaire, the Office annually collects data from Member States on seized and recovered firearms to support the monitoring of SDG Indicator 16.4.2. UNODC and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) are co-custodians of the indicator and jointly monitor progress towards target 16.4 as part of their respective reporting and data-collection initiatives. To strengthen national capacities to collect and analyse seizure data and submit firearms-related data systematically, UNODC organized workshops in 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and East and South-East Europe, as well as one regional workshop in the Caribbean, with more than 150 participants. In the Western Balkans, the Office developed a comparative analysis of the data collection procedures to identify and disseminate best practices for collecting and processing firearms data. Under the SDG 16 Survey Initiative, UNODC, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) jointly organized a series of interactive regional training workshops to raise awareness about existing methodological tools to measure progress on SDG 16 and to promote regional "peer communities" among data producers and data users. Moreover, in 2022, UNDP, UNODC, OHCHR, UNESCO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (UNESCWA) launched the “Regional Training on Measuring Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Institutions (SDG 16) in Africa.” The online training provides expert insights and national experiences of data collection, analysis and dissemination across indicators of SDG 16. It aims to equip participants with concepts, technical guidelines and methodological tools to measure the indicators and allow them to exchange experiences with other data producers and users. In Colombia, UNODC’s support in research and trend analysis has led to the inclusion of a gender perspective in drug trafficking analysis for public policy recommendations provided to the government, as it affects differently women. Moreover, information collected for SDG 15 has allowed UNODC to identify areas with loss of cover and vegetation due to agricultural frontier expansion and related impact on the ecosystems. Finally, data on coca cultivation, alluvial gold exploitation, and deforestation have been integrated into geographic databases, allowing the development of strategies and actions based on evidence, improving the knowledge and diagnoses of these three problems in the affected territories. This integrated approach to data collection and analysis supports progress towards various SDGs, including Goals 3, 5, 15 and 16.
5.10 strengthening the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
UNODC contributes to the review of progress made towards the SDGs 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). CND and CCPCJ regularly submit contributions to HLPF, most recently, in April 2022. During the HLPF 2022, a joint CND and CCPCJ side event was organized by the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies of UNODC and co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations in New York. This online event examined the impact of COVID-19 on the world drug problem and crime prevention and criminal justice, and presented measures undertaken by CCPCJ and the CND to Build Back Better.
Q6. Following the adoption of the 2022 Ministerial Declaration, please highlight any major integrated and innovative policies or initiatives that your organization may have adopted related to the below, if applicable:
6.1 Member States encouraged "the United Nations system and all relevant actors to take advantage of emerging technologies and their applications, as appropriate, in order to maximize impact and effectiveness in data analysis and collection and stress the need to bridge the digital gap among and within countries" (Paragraph 86)
The Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ):
In 2021, the Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ), which gathers aggregate data on several drug-related subjects, moved online. The new online Data eXchange Platform (DXP) allows for an efficient data collection workflow replacing the Excel questionnaires that were used before. Data providers can submit data and metadata directly on the platform, which can be reviewed in real-time at any stage of the data collection and validation process. In 2022, given the positive experience of collecting data on the ARQ through the DXP online platform, the Individual Drug Seizures (IDS) data collection was moved to the DXP. Thus, UNODC plans to move all its regular data collections to the DXP online platform. The DXP facilitates Member States to share data with UNODC and directly helps to improve drug statistics at the global level.
The Drugs Monitoring Platform:
UNODC launched the Drugs Monitoring Platform, a multi-source system for collecting, visualizing, and sharing drug data aimed at providing access to near real-time data on drug trafficking trends, delivering data using interactive visualizations adapted to user-specific needs, and improving early warning drug threat identification for law enforcement and analysts. The Drugs Monitoring Platform provides additional geographical insight into current drug trafficking trends, with over 508,000 geo-coded drug seizure data points obtained from countries worldwide.
UNODC’s new data portal:
In 2022, UNODC also redesigned its Data Portal to enhance its accessibility and user-friendliness. Data UNODC allows access to data on 12 thematic areas: Drug Use & Treatment, Drug Trafficking & Cultivation, Intentional Homicide, Violent & Sexual Crime, Corruption & Economic Crime, Prisons & Prisoners, Access & Functioning of Justice, Firearms Trafficking, Trafficking in Persons, Wildlife Trafficking, SDGs and COVID-19. Moreover, its ‘Country Profiles’ section provides a statistical snapshot of the drug and crime situation and the state of the criminal justice system in a given country and its ‘Microdata’ section provides access to survey microdata for statistical and scientific research purposes.
6.2 Member States specifically called upon the UN system "to work with the newly established United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, hosted by FAO, to support Governments to develop and strengthen SDG-based national pathways for sustainable food systems transformation" (Paragraph 128)
Sugarcane agroindustry in Colombia:
UNODC assists Member States in developing and implementing alternative development projects to enhance food security and contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems. In Colombia, the Office has promoted the engagement with indigenous knowledge and local cultural practices through participatory processes (particularly with vulnerable populations, women, and youth) to implement an alternative development initiative to strengthen the sugarcane agroindustry of the Arhuacos indigenous community. The initiative is conceived as a feasible opportunity to increase sugarcane production and use of community sugarcane mills, to enhance organizational and commercial capacities and implement a commercial and financial strategy.
Q7. The 2023 SDG Summit is expected to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development and follow-up and review progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, including through national and regional consultations, which will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs. In the lead up to the 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 in the field of preventing and countering corruption include:
• Strengthening anti-corruption efforts, including a strong involvement of the private and financial sectors, academia and civil society to identify best practices to prevent and counter corruption;
• Designing tools to analyse the linkages between corruption and high-impact crimes;
• Stressing the need for effective and accessible information systems that build on new technology and methodologies and allow access to real-time data.