“Unlocking SDG Target 16.4: A UNODA-UNODC Joint Event” Side Event: 11th Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development

Start Date: Feb 22 2024
Time: 16:45-18:00 GMT+7
End Date: Feb 22 2024
Organiser's Website: https://www.unrcpd.org
Location: Online
Meeting Hosted By: UNRCPD, UNODC

Background:

The 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) will take place from 20-23 February under the theme: “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions in Asia and the Pacific” at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, and online.

In alignment with the focus of the 2024 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the APFSD will assess progress on the SDGs under review: Goal 1 (No poverty); Goal 2 (Zero hunger); Goal 13 (Climate action); Goal 16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions) and Goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals). The Forum will also support the presentation of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at the 2024 HLPF.

Unlocking SDG Target 16.4: A UNODA-UNODC Joint Event

The availability of data for tracking progress on SDG Target 16.4 remains a persistent challenge. Understanding the extent and trends of illicit flows is particularly challenging with regards to illicit arms flows. As the co-custodians responsible for indicator 16.4.2, UNODA and UNODC will address major challenges countries encounter in achieving and in measuring and monitoring this goal, and present tools, frameworks, and programmes that can assist Member States in combating illicit arms flows and improving data collection on illicit firearms and organized crime, including links with other illicit markets.

Kick-off presentations will focus on the ‘architecture of efforts’ that underpin international actions in this field, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol) and the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The event will also highlight on-going initiatives in the region and beyond, to strengthen legislative frameworks and policies, preventive firearms control measures, law enforcement and criminal justice responses, including international cooperation and information exchange, as well as improve the monitoring of illicit flows.

UNODC and UNODA will engage in discussions with government officials and other stakeholders to explore how these initiatives complement each other and to reflect on progress, ongoing challenges, and measurability.

Target Audience:
This event is open to government officials, diplomats, civil society organizations and experts from the Asia-Pacific Region

Programme

  • Introduction to the topic: SDG 16.4 and relevant normative frameworks
    • Mr. Deepayan Basu Ray, Director of UNRCPD
    • Ms. Simonetta Grassi, Chief, Firearms Trafficking Section, UNODC
  • On-going initiatives on SDG 16.4 in the region
    • Ms. Sara Pinheiro Stocker
    • Mr. E. Felipe De La Torre, Regional Coordinator (Policy and Outreach Affairs), Border Management Programme on UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
  • Q&A and interactive discussion
  • Closing

RSVP

If you are interested in participating, please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/AJX4WmgQbh
For more information on the event, please send an email to ida.scarpino@un.org