UNICRI

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

Item ID
{804C913B-84A5-4DD7-9269-B1D24909695E}
UNAgency ID
{EDB4E196-D159-472E-BC2E-2A4BD4CE5DAC}
Background

The mandate of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is to contribute, through research, training, field activities and the collection, exchange and dissemination of information, to the formulation and implementation of improved policies in the field of crime prevention and control, due regard being paid to the integration of such policies within the broader policies for socio-economic change and development, and the protection of human rights.

Mail Address

Viale Maestri del Lavoro, 10. 10127 Turin, Italy

Areas of Work

UNICRI’s activities are developed in accordance with the priorities indicated by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Recently, UNICRI has devoted specific attention to the issue of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, for the purpose of sexual exploitation In the past, UNICRI has also carried out activities in the field of domestic violence prevention and control. 

Since 2010, with the support of Italy, UNICRI has been developing a programme to enhance gender mainstreaming in substance use prevention, treatment and recovery strategies.  In collaboration with other UN agencies such as UNODC and WHO, UNICRI has promoted awareness raising activities, good practices and data collection on enhancing the access to health and social services for vulnerable groups, in particular women and girls for recovery from substance use and related phenomena, including violence and sexual abuse. The focus has been on the social determinants influencing the health and social disparities in vulnerable groups.

In 2014 UNICRI conducted a study to assess the gendered impact of the financial, political and social crisis, and provide more data about its consequences for women, focusing on domestic violence, discrimination, access to justice and welfare services. Documented case studies were collected from the grassroots level of four countries from the Mediterranean basin: France, Spain, Italy and Greece.

Moreover, within the programme on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in Sahel Maghreb, UNICRI has provided financial support through micro grants to 60 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the implementation of innovative approaches to prevent radicalization and violent extremism. CSOs have been selected through a pre-identified criteria that included gender equality considerations as part of their project proposals and in their managerial procedures. As result of the selection process, UNICRI works in close collaboration as women associations, as Reseau Femme-Solidarité-Developpment (RFSD) in Mauritania, Fanny Raghman Anni in Tunisia, and supports the implementation of innovative approaches as the training to imams by women preachers to promote the rights of women in religious discourses (Foundation Tlili).

Agency Type
Title
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
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UNICRI

Feb 2017 - Apr 2018 | UNICRI

A Report on “The Impacts of the Crisis on Gender Equality and Women’s Wellbeing in European Union (EU) Mediterranean Countries” was prepared with the involvement of researchers from France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The report included the findings of the gendered impact of the crisis and its consequences for women in the EU Mediterranean Basin. 

Apr 2016 - Jan 2017 | UNICRI

In June 2016, UNICRI carried out a survey to explore the level of gender mainstreaming in the working agenda of substance use treatment centres in Italy. Gender responsive approaches are relatively new in the substance use field, although many studies highlight barriers to women's access to substance use services. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate to what extent a gender responsive approach is applied in the Italian substance use treatment services and to explore the professionals’ opinions regarding the advantages and the challenges of applying such approach.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | UNICRI

In June 2015, UNICRI published a good practice handbook: “Promoting a gender responsive approach to addiction”, which provides practical examples of gender mainstreaming in addiction services, as well analyses the most relevant factors influencing the development of addiction in women and girls, including the role of previous abuse and violence. The handbook also discusses protective and resilience factors, as well as the  role of trauma from previous violence experiences and the specific characteristic of female recovery processes.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | UNICRI

A new Report on “The Impacts of the Crisis on Gender Equality and Women’s Wellbeing in European Union (EU) Mediterranean Countries” was prepared by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) with the involvement of researchers from France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The report included the findings of the gendered impact of the crisis and its consequences for women in the EU Mediterranean Basin.

Jul 2007 - Jan 2008 | UNICRI

In Costa Rica, UNICRI carried out specialized training for law-enforcement professionals. It provided training for Hotline and Information Call Centers operators on commercial sexual exploitation of children; the extension of the Information System for specialized public prosecutor offices to the Prosecutor’s Office of Liberia and Jacó and related training of personnel.

Jul 2007 | UNICRI

Furthermore, UNICRI developed a multi-disciplinary training manual for all the stakeholders involved in preventing and tackling trafficking in minors in Thailand and three major training courses took place. In Ukraine, in 2005-06, UNICRI focused on training, especially for specialists working for the national hotline on trafficking dealing with children, and prevention/awareness-raising activities.

Jul 2007 | UNICRI

UNICRI also developed training courses for immigration and border police in Costa Rica to strengthen their capacity to address cases of trafficking in children for sexual exploitation. As a follow-up to the programme of action against trafficking in minors for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, UNICRI is currently carrying out in Costa Rica specialized training for judges and prosecutors and hotline operators, in collaboration with Fundaciòn Paniamor.