The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) contributes to global peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights by helping to make the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism. UNODC provides technical assistance, research, and normative support to Member States to help them develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based solutions to the complex and interconnected threats that they face at the national, regional, and global levels. In today’s challenging times, UNODC's work is needed more than ever.

Efforts center on protecting people and the planet from criminal exploitation through inclusive, sustainable, human rights-based approaches. Headquartered in Vienna with a network of over 130 offices around the world, UNODC advances justice, health, and security to build resilient societies and improve everyday life for individuals, families, and communities around the globe.

UNODC works in all regions of the world through normative expertise, research, regional and global programs, and an extensive network of field offices to help Member States in:

- Tackling the world drug problem through balanced, evidence-based responses to address drug abuse and drug use disorders, as well as the production and trafficking of illicit drugs.

- Preventing corruption by promoting integrity and good governance and helping recover stolen assets.

- Countering terrorism through effective, accountable, and inclusive legal, crime prevention, and criminal justice measures in line with international norms and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

- Combating organized crime by providing technical assistance and support and strengthening international cooperation to address organized criminal activity and all forms of trafficking.

- Preventing crime and promoting criminal justice through human rights-based and victim-centered approaches that strengthen the rule of law and access to justice.

UNODC’s unique strengths lie in its normative, research, and technical assistance work, which are mutually reinforcing, helping the organization work with governments and other stakeholders to rapidly identify new trends and threats, develop effective responses to counter them, and support Member States in taking strategic action.

Global expertise and broad field presence provide specialized assistance to Member States. Research, data collection, and policy analysis create a strong, evidence-based foundation for policies and operational approaches. UNODC's role as guardian of international crime and corruption conventions and Secretariat of global UN policy bodies on drugs, crime, and corruption ensures normative support for multilateral policymaking.

UNODC cooperates with a wide range of stakeholders to maximize the impact of its work, including governments, civil society organizations, academic and research institutions, the private sector, international and regional organizations, and other UN entities. UNODC also fosters South-South cooperation between countries facing similar challenges to share know-how and good practices.

Funding for UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from governments, to carry out the majority of its work.