United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNODC conducted a situational assessment on gender-based violence to support national strategic planning efforts of Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland. Hide

UNODC supported the Cumbre de Mujeres y Paz (Summit of Women for Peace) in presenting in proposals from the perspective of women to the peace negotiations between the government and the FARC in Havana, Cuba. Hide

UNODC continues its research on the patterns and flows of trafficking in persons worldwide. The biennial Global Report on Trafficking in Persons presents gender-disaggregated data on trafficking victims and offenders. It also analyzes female involvement in trafficking in persons, and regional differences in terms of detections of victims and forms of exploitation. Hide

UNODC carried out several interventions to address trafficking in persons. For example, in Colombia, it set up a strategy for the prevention of trafficking in persons, disseminated publications and carried out awareness raising measures, including conferences at schools, urban interventions, theatre performances and the production of a television series highlighting experiences of victims. In Mexico, it supported the “Blue Heart” campaign against human trafficking and initiated a pilot violence prevention initiative to reduce risk factors at municipal level through the development of family skills. In Côte d'Ivoire, UNODC implemented measures to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation along the commercial route Lagos-Abidjan. Hide

UNODC released the "Global Report on Trafficking in Persons" that revealed an increase in the number of girl victims, who make up two thirds of all trafficked children. Girls constitute 15 to 20 per cent of the total number of all detected victims. The vast majority of trafficked persons are women, about 55 to 60 per cent of victims detected globally and the total proportion of women and girls together soars to about 75 per cent. Hide

UNODC, in cooperation with UN Women, undertook a mission in Viet Nam to assess the situation women facing when dealing with the criminal justice system, including women subject to gender-based violence, with a view to identify recommendations and programming suggestions. Hide

In May 2011, UNODC Viet Nam, in cooperation with relevant national authorities, published a survey report on law enforcement practices and legal support available to victims of domestic violence. It presents information on what kind of action the police undertook when an incident of domestic violence was reported, how they treated the victims and what the result of the police intervention was. It is expected that the findings of the surveys will play a crucial role in determining existing gaps in Viet Nam’s response to domestic violence and plan future activities and initiatives to address those gaps. Hide

In Latin America, UNODC Regional Office for Brazil and the Southern Cone developed a project for the strengthening of public and civil society institutions to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The project seeks to improve the countries' capacity to offer support to gender-based violence victims and to develop a regional knowledge/expertise on this problem and to architect a good practices network, gathering players from the community, civil society and governmental institutions. Hide

During the period March 2011 to June 2011, the UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa organized, together with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO), a 5-day national training workshop, like in November 2010, on the development of effective law enforcement responses to violence against women for law enforcement officials in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe during which a total of 138 law enforcement officers were trained. Furthermore, the Office developed and published contextualized national pocket book versions of the “UNODC Handbook for Effective Police Responses to Violence against Women” and its accompanying “Training Curriculum on Effective Police Responses to Violence against Women” for each of the above countries. Hide

In November 2011, UNODC in cooperation with UN Women, UNFPA and UNDP and relevant national authorities, organized a joint conference on the role and responsibilities of the State to respond to domestic violence against women in Viet Nam. About 90 officials attended the conference, both from national and local level representing five different Ministries as well as civil society. Hide