UNODC New York Office

26 June 2008 The World Drug Report 2008 was launched in New York by Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa. The report shows that the recent stabilization in the world drugs market is under threat because of a surge in opium and coca cultivation in rebel-held areas of Afghanistan and Colombia. Higher drug use in developing countries could also undermine recent progress in drug control.  More... 

25 June 2008 UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, addressed a Security Council meeting during its consideration of the report of the Secretary General on the developments in Guinea Bissau and on the activities of the UN in that country. More...

3 June 2008 The Shana Alexander Foundation hosted a luncheon, at the Delegates Dining Room West Terrace in NY, on the occasion of the UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on Human Trafficking and in recognition of the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. In attendance were His Excellency Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President of the 62nd UN General Assembly, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, and critically acclaimed actress Ashley Judd.

3 June 2008 The first UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on Human Trafficking took place at UNHQ in New York. Overview  l  Relevant Documents

2-3 June 2008 The UNODC New York Office in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), presented "Criminal Justice Responses Against Trafficking in Persons-Role Play Performance: Mock Interview and Trial Programme," an interactive cutting-edge human trafficking mock trial and role play.  The event was organized as part of UN.GIFT, the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. More...

2 June 2008 At a side event preceding the UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on Human Trafficking, the UNODC New York Office and the Australian Mission hosted a panel discussion on the problems of human trafficking and screened a film on the issue as well. More...  I  Details...

7 May 2008 The World Bank, in partnership with UNODC, The Ricky Martin Foundation, The International Justice Mission, and Free The Slaves, launched a Symposium and Exhibition titled: "Borderless Captivity: Exploitation and Human Trafficking." The exhibition is designed as a visual narrative to tell a story not only of abuse and despair, but of education, hope and redemption.  The photos, providing an unforgettable snapshot of the worldwide problem of human trafficking, will remain on display at the World Bank through 30 May 2008. More...

4 April 2008 UNODC NY Chief goes to the hill for briefings: The Humpty Dumpty Institute brought Simone Monasebian, Chief of the New York Office of UNODC, to brief House and Senate Staffers in Washington DC. More...

12 December 2007 UNODC awarded the Crown Prince of Qatar a certificate of honor in New York. UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, awarded Qatar's Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, for his efforts to encourage young people to turn away from narcotics and achieve their full potential through sport.  Announcing the Certificate of Honour at UN Headquarters, Mr. Costa commended the Crown Prince for setting up the Doha-based Global Sport Fund. More...

7 December 2007 Actress Mira Sorvino supports the work of UNODC in fighting human trafficking at NY UNCA dinner. Each year, the United Nations Correspondents Association Awards Dinner honors recipients for the best written and electronic media coverage of the United Nations.  The UNCA Awards Committee is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging and rewarding excellence in journalism around the world.  The dinner was hosted by the Secretary General. More...

29 October 2007  UNODC NY launched a photo exhibition, "Human Trafficking: Images of Vulnerability": The Executive Director of UNODC, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, and Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General, opened the photography exhibition which provided a snapshot of human trafficking around the world. The exhibition featured the photography of Howard G. Buffett, President of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation; Academy Award nominated director, Robert Bilheimer; and, international photojournalist Kay Chernush. More...    From the exhibition, Mark's Story.

7 October 2007 Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, presided over the NY launch of a UNODC survey on opium cultivation. As he launched the latest periodic report on cultivation in the so-called Golden Triangle, Mr. Costa said, "the situation in Myanmar, from the vantage point of opium, is extremely alarming." More...

19 September 2007 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime New York Office hosted the first Hollywood world premiere event ever to be organized at UNHQ. The premiere of the film 'Trade' took place in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, in the presence of the Secretary-General and Mrs. Ban, UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim, the film producers, directors and actors and numerous Hollywood stars... more on the event...    I    New York Times movie details...   I    Event Photos...

19 September 2007 Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline, held a briefing on the film "Trade" and the issue of human trafficking.  At the briefing, held at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Costa called human trafficking the "modern-day version of slavery" and said he hopes the film will "create worldwide awareness to motivate [all] to join forces" in the fight to end the practice. More...   I   Briefing Photos...

12 April 2007 The UNODC New York Office in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Thailand, the NGO Committee on Human Rights and the Unitarian Universalist UN Office hosted a panel discussion, "Human Traffic, Human Rights: Redefining Challenges." The Speakers included John R. Miller, Former U.S. Ambassador at Large on Modern Day Slavery and Senior Adviser on international slavery to the Secretary of State, Marianne Møllmann, Advocacy Director, Women's Rights Division, Human Rights Watch, Christina Arnold, Executive Director, Project Hope International and Simone Monasebian, Chief of the UNODC New York Office.

2 April 2007 The UNODC New York Office Chief, Simone Monasebian, participated in a UNITAR Peace and Security Series Seminar on Preventing Genocide. The session focused on strengthening the rule of law and in particular the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.  Seminar Program... 

5 March 2007 UN Officials press for urgent action to end 'modern-day slave trade' at The International Conference on Trafficking in Women and Girls which was co-organized by the UNODC New York Office. View the Programme and Statements.

30 November 2006 The UNODC New York Office, along with New York University's (NYU) Center for Global Affairs and Vital Voices Global Partnership, held an event entitled, "Human Trafficking: A Global Challenge in Our Own Backyard," to raise awareness of the global scourge of human trafficking and to commemorate the United Nation's International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. More...  I   A transcript of the event can be found here.

30 November 2006 UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, takes part in a breakfast panel discussion, "International Corruption: The Price Everyone Pays," co-hosted by the United Nations Association of the USA Business Council for the United Nations and the United Nations Foundation. The panel, which took place at the Metropolitan Club in New York, also featured Mr. James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank, and Mr. Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr., former VP and Counsel of General Electric. View Mr. Costa's Statement.

8 September 2006 Simone Monasebian, Chief of the UNODC New York Office, participated in a special event at the 59th Annual Department of Public Information/NGO Conference. The event was the launch of Redlight Children Campaign, a worldwide grassroots human rights initiative promoting awareness and practical action to reduce the number of sexually exploited children. More...

15 December 2005 UNODC held a panel discussion on the UN Convention Against Corruption, which entered into force on 14 December 2005. The panelists included Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, Ambassador John Bolton, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN and Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, among others. More...   View Ambassador Bolton's Statement.

2 December 2005 British actress and activist Julia Ormond was appointed UNODC Goodwill Ambassador by UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa. During her service, Ms. Ormond will focus on anti-human trafficking initiatives. At a press conference for her appointment, Ms. Ormond stressed the pervasiveness of modern day slavery and the need to find solutions that are tailored to the local reality.

21 November 2005 Jointly organized by the UNODC New York Office and DPI, a seminar- "Critical Perspectives in Combating Genocide: What we can do to prevent. What we can do during. What we must do after," took place at UN Headquarters. The seminar featured a distinguished panel of speakers, who have worked across a range of fields in the aftermath of genocide and continue to work tirelessly to prevent genocide from occurring again. Included on the panel was UNODC NYO Chief, Simone Monasebian. More...

10 November 2005 Simone Monasebian, Chief of the UNODC New York office, participated in an OLA/UNITAR seminar on deposit of treaty actions. She spoke on the challenge of prosecuting offenders before an international criminal tribunal. More...

18 October 2005 UNODC New York in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the United Nations University organized a workshop on international trafficking in human beings as part of the "UNITAR/ United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)/International Organization for Migration (IOM) Key Migration Issues Workshop Series". The workshop was held at UN Headquarters. More...