In the area of criminal justice, UNODC has focused its technical assistance activities on several key issues, such as promoting the humane treatment of prisoners, improving prison conditions, victim support with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, criminal justice reforms in the context of post-conflict/peace building issues. In an effort to support both Government policy formulation and project design implementation, several
manuals, tools and handbooks are also under development in the broad area of penal reform. In this regard, CJRU places an emphasis on
inter-agency cooperation with other UN agencies providing technical assistance.
1. Criminal justice reform:
The unit assists developing countries, countries emerging from conflict, and countries with economies in transition in building the capacity of their criminal justice systems. A detailed criminal justice assessment tool is being prepared for this purpose.
2. Penal Reform:
General issues of prison reform including alternatives to imprisonment and restorative justice. Handbooks on alternatives to imprisonment and restorative justice, and a toolkit and training material on HIV/AIDS prevention in prison settings are under preparation.
3. Juvenile Justice:
Reform of justice systems in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Standards and Norms in Juvenile Justice and the new UN Guidelines on Justice for Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime.
4. Victim Support:
Provision of support to ensure a victim oriented approach to the provision of justice. Current activities include the provision of grants to NGOs working on victim support issues and the development of training materials for law enforcement officials in the area of violence against women.
5. Violence against women
The Unit designs and supports projects in the area of preventing and responding to violence against women. The projects in this area support "one-stop" centres for women and children victims of violence, which provide legal services, counselling, medical attention, support, resource centre and overnight shelters. The projects also offer rehabilitation services (counselling, support groups) for male perpetrators as well as potential perpetrators with the aim of breaking the cycle of violence. Capacity building programs with government and civil society support to survivors and victims of gender-based violence have also been conducted.
