The Rehab Archipelago - Human Rights Watch

United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
In correspondence to Human Rights Watch, UNODC’s regional representative noted:
In co-operation with the Vietnamese government, UNODC is engaged to
ensure improvements for the treatment of drug users, to protect the human
rights of drug users, as well as for them to have access to basic healthcare,
prevention and treatment services. UNODC also promotes a shift from
compulsory drug treatment services to community-based services. 293
UNODC has funded the training of drug detention center staff in Vietnam. For example,
from 2006-2007 the UNODC country office in Vietnam oversaw a project (I66) training
center staff and detainees on HIV prevention. 294 The project was funded to $55,866 and
implemented by the Ministry of Labor and the Vietnamese nongovernmental organization
COHED. The project involved training some 550 drug detention center staff and detainees
on HIV prevention in over 20 centers. 295
From 2007-2010 UNODC oversaw a separate project (H68) which aimed to build the
capacity of drug treatment services (including counseling, communication, care, and social
work) in the community and also in drug detention centers. 296 As part of this project
$134,347 was spent on activities and equipment in drug detention centers. The project has
involved training drug detention center staff from 10 provinces in drug addiction and
treatment counseling, and also funded drug prevention workshops, films, performances
and billboards in various centers. 297 The project also funded allowances and equipment for
counselors working in seven centers, as well as study visits to Australia and Malaysia for
Ministry of Labor staff and drug detention center staff. 298
Project H68 is discussed in greater detail below, in the section entitled “Training in
Compulsory Treatment.”
293 Letter from Gary Lewis, regional representative, UNODC, to Human Rights Watch, June 30, 2011.
294 UNAIDS, “United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vietnam,” undated,
http://www.unaids.org.vn/about/cosponsor/unodc.htm (accessed March 24, 2011).
295 Letter from Sandeep Chawla, deputy executive director, UNODC, to Human Rights Watch, August 10, 2011.
296 The project was slated to end in 2010 although of May 2011 it was listed as active on the UNODC Vietnam
website. UNODC, “AD/VIE/H68 - Technical Assistance to Treatment and Rehabilitation at Institutional and
Community Level,” http://www.unodc.org/eastasiaandpacific/en/Projects/2006_01/rehabilitation.html
(accessed May 1, 2011).
297 Letter from Sandeep Chawla, deputy executive director, UNODC, to Human Rights Watch, August 10, 2011.
298 Ibid.
THE REHAB ARCHIPELAGO 82