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YOUTH: At the heart of UNODC’s work towards the Sustainable Development Goals

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UNODC & the SDGs

In September 2015, Member States of the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today, interlinked
global crises and conflicts threaten to reverse years of progress, jeopardizing the accomplishment of
the SDGs. As Secretary-General António Guterres underscored, the world has a long “to-do” list to
get back on track to building a better world that leaves no one behind.

The mission of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is to contribute to global
peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime,
corruption and terrorism by working for and with Member States to promote justice and the rule of
law and build resilient societies. Because the scale of these problems is often too great for individual
states to confront alone, UNODC offers practical assistance and encourages transnational
approaches to action in all regions of the world. We do this through our global programmes and
network of field offices.

The mandates of UNODC include addressing the world drug problem, countering and preventing
organized crime, countering and preventing corruption and economic crimes, countering and
preventing terrorism and crime prevention and criminal justice. These five normative areas are
intertwined with the 2030 Agenda as it recognizes that there cannot be peace without development,
nor development without peace. The Office is committed to meaningfully supporting Member States
in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Considering the indivisibility of the Agenda and the interlinked
nature of the SDGs, enhanced coordination and collaborative efforts are critical to addressing the
remaining challenges, implementing solutions and building a more sustainable world.

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UNODC & Youth

There is a generation of young people who are critical actors to accelerate change and advance the
SDGs. The UN has emphasized the importance of meaningful youth engagement with the creation of
the Youth 2030 Strategy in 2018, several references in the Secretary-General’s report on “Our
Common Agenda,” and the foundation of a new UN Office on Youth Affairs, which was confirmed at
the General Assembly in September 2022.

Youth empowerment involves working “with,” not just “for” young people. It means including them
in programmes and projects at the planning, implementation and evaluation stages while taking into
account challenges and opportunities they may have or not have due to their multifaceted,
intersecting identities (gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, etc.). Moreover, it focuses on
meaningfully engaging young people in problem-solving and uplifting their voices in decision-making
processes.

UNODC is committed to empowering youth through the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025. The Office is
expanding its technical cooperation efforts tailored to engaging and nurturing the potential of youth
in supporting their communities to become more resilient against drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism
and to involve them more actively in crime prevention activities.
To accelerate progress on youth mainstreaming across UNODC’s work, the Office launched the Youth
Empowerment Accelerator (YEA!) Framework in December 2022. The YEA! Framework promotes
best practices on meaningful youth engagement, brings together UNODC’s ongoing youth-focused
initiatives and provides concrete youth mainstreaming actions to ensure that young people – both
within the Office and with external partners – have the opportunity to engage in our mandate areas.

The stories presented in this brochure offer a glimpse of UNODC’s work and demonstrate the
Office’s long-standing support for youth-focused initiatives across all five thematic areas - addressing
the world drug problem, countering and preventing organized crime, countering and preventing
corruption and economic crimes, countering and preventing terrorism and crime prevention and
criminal justice. The brochure also highlights how the implementation of these programmes,
projects and actions directly contributes to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For more information, visit: www.unodc.org/youth.

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DAPC Project in Peru

SDG 3.5 holds significant importance for youth, addressing the impact of substance use on their
health, well-being, and future prospects. By strengthening resilience in children and youth through
drug use prevention initiatives, young people are safeguarded from health problems related to drug
use or alcohol disorders and other risky behaviours (e.g., violence).

DAPC Website

DAPC GRANTS PROGRAMME: FROM YOUTH, TO YOUTH, FOR YOUTH!

Since 1994, UNODC has been promoting drug use prevention and youth empowerment in many
countries around the world, thanks to the contributions of the Drug Abuse Prevention Center (DAPC)
based in Japan. The youth from DAPC mobilize communities and raise funds that are donated to
UNODC to support youth-centred drug use prevention activities in low- and middle-income
countries. This initiative is truly from youth, to youth, for youth!

The DAPC grants help youth-focused organizations initiate and scale up concrete prevention, health
promotion, awareness-raising and youth empowerment activities in schools and communities. Since
2012, the DAPC grants have benefitted 139 projects in 55 low- and middle-income countries from all
regions of the world. These projects are guided by the UNODC/WHO International Standards on
Drug Use Prevention, which summarizes scientific evidence on interventions found to be effective in
preventing drug use.

Throughout the years, DAPC-funded projects have left footprints all over the world. In Lao PDR, the
DAPC grants have supported out-of-school children and youth to have better access to education
opportunities through mobile school buses and nonformal education sessions, with the ultimate goal
of school reintegration. In Albania, student leaders used peer-to-peer methods to engage with their
peers in awareness-raising and conducting drug prevention seminars at school.

The DAPC Grants Programme helps to achieve the 2030 Agenda by advancing SDG 3, particularly
Target 3.5 on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance use and SDG 17 on
partnerships.

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2023 Youth Forum Participants

The Youth Forum provides youth around the world the opportunity to learn about effective,
evidence-based drug use prevention, and the platform to engage with other young leaders similarly
interested in supporting the well-being of their peers. Youth share experiences and practices from
various regions and gain inspirations for their own drug use prevention and health promotion
activities.

Youth Initiative Website

THE YOUTH FORUM ON THE SIDELINES OF CND: EDUCATE, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER!

The Youth Forum is an annual event organized by the UNODC Youth Initiative on Drug Use
Prevention in the broader context of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). Young people,
nominated by Member States and active in the field of drug use prevention, health promotion and
youth empowerment, gather to exchange ideas, visions and different perspectives on how to better
protect the health and well-being of their peers.

In 2023, the Youth Initiative celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Youth Forum since its launch in
2012. Throughout the past decade and beyond, UNODC continuously seeks to connect youth from
around the globe and empower them to become active in their schools, communities and youth
groups for substance use prevention.

Joanitah Lunkuse (2018 participant) recalled, “The Youth Forum was an informative and profound
learning experience and a priceless opportunity to connect with passionate young people seeking
constructive transformation on drug use issues.” And Karthika Pillai (2021 participant) reflected, “I
learned that evidence-based strategies, backed up with scientific facts, are extremely important.
Whatever that we roll out or whatever that we do in any kind of strategy, it affects people.”

Throughout the last decade, 480 young people from 105 countries participated in the Youth Forum.
Youths were encouraged to reflect on the potential impact of substance use in their schools and
communities, and to start taking effective and evidence-based action to prevent substance use. As
the Youth Initiative steps into its next decade of youth action, UNODC will strive to develop and avail
a peer-led prevention programme as a tool for participants to use in their journey as changemakers
in their schools and communities, and will continue to engage with young people, bring the voice of
young leaders to the fore-front, and contribute to SDG 3 on health and SDG 17 on partnerships.

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Photo: @jacoblund via Canva.com.

Academia’s role in educating future professionals to combat organized crime and terrorism aligns
with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). UNODC’s
SHERLOC Portal provides high-quality, open-source teaching resources for academics on today’s
most critical challenges related to peace, justice and security.

SHERLOC Portal

EDU4U: SUPPORTING EDUCATORS TEACHING ON CRIME-RELATED TOPICS

To facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the United Nations
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the three Protocols thereto and the international
legal framework against terrorism, UNODC developed SHERLOC (Sharing Electronic Resources and
Laws on Crime), a free and accessible online knowledge management portal.
One of the components of SHERLOC is Education for Universities (Edu4U), which aims to prevent
crime and promote a culture of lawfulness through education activities designed for tertiary levels.
These activities help tertiary-level educators and academics teach the next generation to better
understand and address issues that can undermine the rule of law. In this context, UNODC has co-
created and jointly developed a series of peer-reviewed teaching modules and other tools with more
than 600 academics and national experts from more than 550 universities and 114 countries.

The UNODC Teaching Module Series focuses on the subject areas of organized crime, trafficking in
persons and smuggling of migrants, firearms, cybercrime, wildlife crime as well as counter-terrorism.
The Modules are designed to be used as either stand-alone teaching resources or to enhance
existing courses in criminology, law, political science, international relations, sociology, and many
other disciplines. Additionally, a “create your own course” feature allows lecturers to prepare their
own course by choosing and combining elements from different modules and thematic areas to suit
their needs.

This initiative contributes to shaping and empowering tomorrow’s leaders to tackle the threats
posed by crime and helps to achieve SDG 4, including Target 4.7, on ensuring that all learners
acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development, including through the
promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and an appreciation of cultural
diversity; and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

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Photo: Fundación Azteca Guatemala de Grupo Salinas.

Preventing cybercrime means supporting legal measures, global cooperation, and technology sharing
to safeguard society, and international collaboration against the growing threat of online crime,
especially for young people.

Global Cybercrime Programme Website

LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND: SUPPORTING YOUTH AND CHILDREN IN CYBERCRIME PREVENTION

UNODC supports ministries of education in Central America in developing cybercrime prevention

sensitization and awareness campaigns at a large scale by expanding their strategy development and
developing high-quality cybercrime content tailored for children and youth. In doing so, the Office
supports the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in developing an alliance with
Grupo Salinas/Fundación Azteca, one of the strongest media and communication private
corporations in the region.

The campaign “Gira Vive” - the result of a public-private partnership - was developed to promote a
healthy lifestyle among families and young people, free from addictions and violence. It also
included important cybercrime prevention messages reaching more than 113,000 people since 2020.

In 2023, the campaign resumed in-person activities and invited influencers to host the event. Danna
Castillo, a young influencer and TV host (with over 500,000 followers on social media) noted,
“Participating in this initiative is an authentic privilege, as it allows us to connect with fellow agents
of change, collectively charting a course towards a more secure and responsible utilization of the
internet.”

This initiative contributes to SDG Target 4.7, which seeks to promote education for a culture of
peace and non-violence, global citizenship and an appreciation of cultural diversity. Moreover, the
campaign addressed SDG 16a through violence and crime prevention efforts, and SDG Target 17.17,
through public, private and civil society partnerships.

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UNODC YouthLED Board members, Aimé (left), Parnneh (middle) and Diana (right), participating in a
regional, anti-corruption dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya.

Anti-corruption education and youth empowerment are vital in cultivating ethical leaders and
fostering accountable societies. By equipping young individuals with awareness and skills, we
promote a culture of transparency, integrity, and active citizenship, driving sustainable development
and ensuring a corruption-free future for all.

GRACE Website

GRACE: CREATING A CULTURE OF ANTI-CORRUPTION INTEGRITY

In 2021, UNODC launched the Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth
Empowerment (GRACE) Initiative to promote the role of education and youth empowerment in
preventing and countering corruption. Aiming to create a culture of rejecting corruption among
children and youth, UNODC provides assistance to countries to advance anti-corruption, ethics and
integrity education at all educational levels, while also working closely with academia to encourage
research on corruption-related topics.

The initiative has three pillars: primary and secondary education, academia and research, and youth
empowerment. Within the third pillar, the GRACE initiative launched UNODC’s first YouthLED
Integrity Advisory Board in 2021. The Board advises UNODC on strategies to engage young people in
effective and meaningful anti-corruption efforts. Under this light, the Board seeks to increase youth
involvement in UNODC’s anti-corruption initiatives as well as regional projects and activities
organized in partnership with a wide array of stakeholders. Additionally, the Board members are
provided with capacity-building, awareness-raising and visibility opportunities to shape and promote
the role of youth in addressing corruption.

YouthLED Board Member, Diana Pasha, indicated that, “I have always wanted to be an agent of
change and always believed I have a voice. Being part of the YouthLED Board will help amplify my
voice to the world and inspire other young people to be changemakers and make the world a better
place.”

This initiative contributes to advancing SDG 4, primarily Target 4.7; and SDG 16, including Target 16.3
on promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensuring equal access to
justice for all; Target 16.5 on substantially reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms; and
Target 16.6 on developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

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Coding4Integrity Hackathon in Mexico.

This initiative empowers young minds to develop innovative tools that enhance transparency and
accountability. By merging technology and governance, they contribute to resilient institutions and a
just, corruption-free, global society.

Coding4Integrity Website

CODING4INTEGRITY: YOUTH ANTI-CORRUPTION HACKATHONS

As part of the GRACE Initiative, UNODC aims at fighting corruption by harnessing the power of
education, research and youth empowerment. The Coding4Integrity hackathon series gives young
people a learning and networking space to enhance their knowledge, strengthen their social and
technical skills and develop technological solutions for corruption-related problems that impact their
communities. Since 2021, UNODC has conducted four editions of its Coding4Integrity Initiative,
bringing together more than 400 youth from 24 countries. The first edition of the Coding4Integrity
hackathon series took place in 2021 with young developers from Africa whereas the second and
third editions of the Coding4Integrity youth anti-corruption hackathon series took place in Brazil in
2022 and in Mexico in 2023.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), UNODC
conducted the biggest in-person hackathon in Doha, Qatar, bringing more than 110 youth – of which
more than 50% were women – from across the Arab region. The participants were tasked to build
technology solutions to enhance transparency in public procurement, whistle-blowing promotion
and protection, corruption within the private sector and digital innovation of education systems.
One of the participants, Zarya Salah Jalal, summed her experience saying, “…this hackathon
encouraged us to emphasize promoting anti-corruption, integrity, transparency, and ethics through
technology and digital innovation in our future projects.”

The “Code Breakers” Team from Lebanon developed the winning solution of an e-procurement
system. Besides a substantial financial award generously provided by the Administrative Control and
Transparency Authority of the State of Qatar, they will also continue to develop their prototype at
the Microsoft Founders Hub and will showcase their solution at the 10th session of the Conference
of States Parties to UNCAC in December 2023.

The GRACE Initiative engages with a rich network of partners in this endeavour that directly
contributes to advancing SDG Target 4.7; SDG 16, including Targets 16.3, 16.5 and 16.6; and SDG
Target 17.17.

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Photo: @annamariasinibaldi via Canva.com.

The Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda resonates with SDG 16.3, promoting the rule of law and
equal access to justice. By engaging young people in conflict prevention, resolution, and governance,
it strengthens institutions, fosters justice, and nurtures a foundation for lasting peace, in line with
core principles of the Goal.

Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Terrorism Website

EMPOWERING YOUTH TO PREVENT VIOLENT EXTREMISM

Recognizing young people’s critical role as co-creators of solutions in peacebuilding, UNODC has
engaged youth in developing responses that empower them to lead initiatives to prevent terrorism,
promote tolerance and build resilience in their communities. Building on the Youth, Peace and
Security (YPS) Agenda, the new Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Terrorism, UNODC
has undergone an extensive consultation process with all important stakeholders – including youth.

Throughout the consultation process, local, national, and global youth leaders and youth-focused
organizations have underscored that:

 Young people need to be empowered to act as agents of change in support of approaches

that prevent violence, promote tolerance, and build resilience in their communities;
  The engagement of young people, who are inheriting a world facing multiple and profound
crises from the older generation, needs to be meaningful. This engagement needs to go
beyond just consultations but aims at real empowerment and leadership;
 The UN can be a force for good, but when we engage with our stakeholders, we need to be
mindfully aware of our own role, as well as the capacities of our partners.

During one of the conversations, Imrana Alhaji Buba of the Youth Initiative Against Terrorism
mentioned, “Working with young people as partners in the fight against terrorism is not just a moral
imperative; it is critical to creating a world free of violent extremism. Our new perspectives and
creative solutions are the keys to unlocking a peaceful and prosperous future.”

UNODC will incorporate these recommendations into the implementation of its new programme
“Enabling Youth-Led Action to Prevent and Respond to Terrorism.” The aim of this programme will
be to provide grants to youth-led NGOs to enable them to implement, under UNODC’s supervision,
local projects in the way they consider most appropriate to prevent terrorism and violent extremism.
Young people will have real control over the project since it will be a youth-led board which will
choose the selected projects to receive grants, and this youth-led board will itself be elected by a
network of youth-led organizations.

These efforts will contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda by promoting safe cities with SGD 11 and
building inclusive and peaceful societies with SDG 16, including SDG Target 16.3 on promoting the
rule of law at national and international levels and ensuring equal access to justice for all.

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STRIVE Juvenile participant, Umar Bakari Muhammad.

Responding to violence against children by terrorist groups links to SDG 16.1 (Peaceful Societies) by
curbing threats to security and law. It also relates to SDG 16.2 (Justice for All) by advocating for fair
legal measures, safeguarding children’s rights, and ensuring accountability.

STRIVE Juvenile Website

STRIVE JUVENILE: RESPONDING TO VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN BY TERRORIST GROUPS

Operating in Indonesia, Iraq, and Nigeria, the STRIVE Juvenile Initiative is dedicated to enhancing
government strategies, policies, and mechanisms against child recruitment and exploitation by
terrorist groups. Rooted in a profound commitment to empowering children, youth, and their
surroundings, our core mission is to equip them with the knowledge and skills to stand against the
agendas of terrorist groups.

In 2023, driven by this mission, we launched a child and youth-led campaign in Nigeria. Our purpose
is clear: to dismantle the stigma enveloping reintegrated children in Borno State, thwart recruitment
efforts, and cultivate resilience among key stakeholders. These stakeholders encompass a diverse
spectrum, ranging from children and youth to leaders, religious figures, women’s groups, Almajiri
students, online communities, and governmental bodies.

To realize this vision, carefully chosen youth champions, identified through transparent open calls
and extensive community engagement, undergo comprehensive capacity-building events. These
events empower them with an array of skills vital for nurturing peacebuilding and reconciliation in
regions scarred by conflict. Their toolbox includes proficiency in social media, artistic expression,
animation, low-level conflict mediation, and a nuanced understanding of the treatment of children
associated with terrorist groups.
One of these remarkable youth champions, Umar Bakari Muhammad, voices their perspective on the
project: “The STRIVE Juvenile project not only recognizes our potential in safeguarding children
throughout decision-making but actively engages us in design and implementation. This embodies
true youth inclusion.”

This initiative aligns with UNODC’s collaboration with Member States, advancing SDG 5 and SDG 16.
Specifically, it enhances Target16.1 by universally reducing all forms of violence and related death
rates, and Target 16.2 by putting an end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against
children. Furthermore, our efforts resonate with the aspirations of SDG 17.

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Youth voices in the Middle East and North Africa drive inclusive progress. Their ideas and
involvement inspire innovation, social cohesion, and sustainable development, shaping a brighter
future for the region.

Youth4Impact Achievements 2022

YOUTH4IMPACT: RESPONDING TO VIOLENCE IN THE MENA REGION

Young people have the potential to become agents of change and contribute to a better future for
themselves and their communities. Evidence suggests that youth who are not provided with the
necessary support for growth and stability are more likely to become vulnerable to drugs, violence
and crime.

The “Youth 4 Impact” Regional Programme focuses on young men and women, boys, and girls in the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to gain resilience against drugs, violence and crime.
UNODC is supporting disengagement from violence programmes in prison settings. Based on the
toolkit, “Preventing violent extremism among children and young adults in detention and
strengthening resilience,” individual and group sessions are being conducted with children and
youth in detention, yielding beneficial outcomes.

“During these sessions, I was provided with the confidence and skills to disengage from a group that
was harmful to me and others. I am rebuilding myself, stepping away from violence, hatred and
judging towards others,” said M.A, a young male participating in the toolkit sessions in a detention
facility in Lebanon.

In the first half of 2023, the “Youth4Impact” programme reached and positively impacted the lives of
17,046 beneficiaries in targeted MENA countries, including 27 policy makers, 545 professionals, 291
family members, and 15,964 young people.

The implementation of this programme is an important enabler for the achievement of the 2030
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 4 on
quality education, SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 11 on sustainable cities, SDG 16 including SDG
Target 16.1 on eliminating violence in all its forms, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

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Sport is an important enabler of SDGs. It provides a tool for positive youth engagement, life skills
development and learning that are key in building youth resilience to violence and crime and build
safe and peaceful societies.

Youth Crime Prevention through Sport Website

YOUTH RESILIENCE AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SPORT TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND CRIME

Youth face many challenges that make them vulnerable to crime and violence. It is therefore vital
that they are properly supported to prevent their victimization and enable them to positively
contribute to society. UNODC, under its “Youth Crime Prevention through Sport” initiative, promotes
and uses sport and sport-based programming to address push-and-pull factors to violence and crime
and to build youth and community resilience. In this context, sport is used as a platform for building
life skills, promoting youth and community engagement, challenging stereotypes and normative
beliefs linked to violence and crime, promoting social inclusion, tolerance, and respect, creating safe
public spaces and addressing marginalization.

A flagship UNODC programme developed under this initiative is an evidence-informed, sports-based

life skills training programme called, “Line Up Live Up.” It has been piloted and implemented in 14
countries across the globe and in various settings reaching thousands of young people, especially in
marginalized areas. Youth are at the centre of UNODC’s sports initiatives with one of the participants
in Tajikistan mentioning, “The Line Up Live Up programme helped us to look at life differently and
this was the best of what we have learned in our years of life.”

UNODC has also joined forces with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the “SC:ORE”
program - Sport against Crime: Outreach, Resilience, Empowerment of At-Risk Youth. Launched in
2022, SC:ORE aims to engage at-risk youth, including those that are in contact with the criminal
justice system, to support their social integration and prevent (re)offending, ultimately helping them
to realize their full potential as agents of positive change.

These programmes contribute towards advancing SDG 3 on ensuring healthy lives, SDG 4,
particularly Target 4.4 on increasing youth and adult skills, SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 11 about
making communities and cities more sustainable and SDG 16 on creating peaceful societies as well
as SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

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Youth-led and youth-focused Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a transformative role in the
2030 Agenda. Their advocacy, innovation, and grassroots actions advance sustainable development
goals, catalyzing social change, policy influence, and inclusive progress that reflects the diverse
needs and aspirations of future generations.

UNODC Engagement with Civil Society

UNODC YOUTH CONSULTATION PRIOR TO THE COP ON THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST

TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

In 2022, UNODC initiated the first Youth Consultation preceding the 11th Conference of the Parties
(COP11) on the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). Young people are not
only vulnerable to crime, but also their contribution is vital to effectively respond to the current
threats posed by crime. The one-day hybrid event brought together 55 participants under the age of
35 from 33 countries. It aimed to explore how youth and youth-led organizations can be more
involved and better contribute to tackling drugs and crime, and how they can better engage with
UNODC’s work in its mandates in this field.

Contributors to the Consultation shared their experiences, voiced their perspectives and concerns,
and offered feedback and solutions to a range of crime-related issues. Rania Ali, a young participant
in the Consultation, emphasized, “The more we speak, the more that we allow others to feel that
they are safe to speak as well.” Throughout this process, young people expressed the need for
greater involvement in issues related to UNODC’s mandate areas and suggested ideas on how
UNODC can better work with youth and meaningfully involve them in the fight against drugs and
crime. “UNODC will have a few ideas coming from the youth about how to bring us closer to their
work, but also how to talk to the youth more effectively,” highlighted Alice Pasqualato, another
contributor.

The outcomes of the Youth Consultation were presented at a side event at the margins of COP11.
The outcomes led to the launch of the “UNODC Youth Civil Society: Acting with Youth CSOs to
Combat Drugs and Crime” initiative, which aims to facilitate broad, inclusive and meaningful
engagement of youth CSOs to contribute to the implementation of joint international instruments
under UNODC’s mandates. Through this initiative, UNODC contributes to SDG 16, including Target
16.7 on ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels,
as well as SDG 17 by engaging with youth-led and youth-focused civil society organizations.

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Cover of the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022. Photo: Artwork © Yasser Rezahi; Photo of
artwork Lea Sophia Mair.

Research on trafficking in persons bolsters SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by
generating insights to combat this crime. Informed policies and effective law enforcement stem from
research, ensuring fair trials, protection for victims, and a society free from this grave violation of
human rights.

Youth Fact Sheet on Trafficking in Persons

GENERATION 30: EMPOWERING YOUNG RESEARCHERS

Since 2009, the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons has established the knowledge base
guiding how trafficking in persons is understood in the global fight against this crime. Based primarily
on trafficking cases detected by national authorities, the Report is compiled biannually by UNODC,
under the mandate given by the General Assembly through the 2010 United Nations Global Plan of
Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

For the first time, the 2022 edition of the Report includes contributions from early career and young
academic researchers as part of UNODC’s Generation 30 initiative, which aims to build new
connections between the UN and academia while expanding research opportunities for young
people. Contributors had the scope to explore a broad range of trafficking in persons areas, including
but not limited to trends, profiles of victims, trafficking routes and modus operandi of perpetrators.
The selections for the Report displayed an excellent quality of empirical research and topical
relevance in a 1,500-word narrative.

Awarded contributions focus on victim identification. The first piece used participant observations
and in-depth interviews to investigate the factors that make men harder to detect in some settings
and the dynamics affecting their exploitation. The second piece mapped the success of international
trafficking in persons instruments to improve detection of trafficked persons using a structural
equation modelling and publicly available data monitoring the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals.

One of the researchers, Belinda Rose Young, explained in an interview with UNODC that Generation
30, “…provides exposure for your work,” while also noting that, “you get to learn more about the
inner workings of the UN and their thought processes…and how to better communicate to their
audience”.

Generation 30 exemplifies UNODC’s commitment to working with and empowering young

researchers. The young researchers’ work contributes to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
by advancing SDG 16, particularly Target 16.2.

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Vienna International Centre, PO Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel.: (+43-1) 26060-0, Fax: (+43-1)
26060-5866, www.unodc.org

UNODC: CUSTODIAN OF INDICATORS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

UNODC is a custodian of several SDG indicators related to SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG10, SDG11, SDG 15 and
SDG 16. Being a custodian of the SDG indicators implies that the Office:

 Aggregates national datasets to generate global datasets for the monitoring of SDG
indicators;
 Produces storylines for annual Secretary-General’s Reports on the SDGs;
 Develops methodological standards to improve monitoring mechanisms for SDG indicators;
 Provides technical assistance to countries to improve their reporting capacity.

UN entities work closely together to address the different targets and indicators of the 2030 Agenda.
UNODC assists Member States in achieving the following targets:

 3.5 - Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug
abuse and harmful use of alcohol;
 5.2 - Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation;
 11.7 - By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public
spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities;
 15.7 - Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and
fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife;
 16.1 - Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere;
 16.2 - End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of
children;
 16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal
access to justice for all;
 16.4 - By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery
and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime;
 16.5 - Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.