Research and Policy Development
 

Program Description:
This department aims to provide a solid empirical foundation for formulating responsive and effective policies and programs designed to reduce crime, including delinquency and its harmful consequences, as well as economic and organized crimes (both national and transnational) in several African countries. To this end, research studies are conducted on crime, correctional approaches, victimization, the reform of criminal laws and procedures, as well as the interrelationship between development and crime.
 

The department particularly strives to identify, analyze, and bring to the attention of African governments the trends and patterns of crime, their interfaces with other phenomena and processes, while proposing options for the development of more viable strategies for crime prevention and criminal justice.

As a central pillar of UNAFRI, the Research and Policy Department conducts studies, particularly policy-oriented research surveys and actionable initiatives.
 

The department's activities include:

• Revealing crimes and criminal trends;

• Empirical reports on the outcomes of research/surveys;

• Publishing a precise and comprehensive analysis of crime in Africa;

• Updating the manual for collecting and analyzing crime statistics and other relevant data in African countries;

• Capacity building for collecting and analyzing valid and reliable crime and criminal justice statistics, as well as improving the compilation and publication of these data;

• Developing legislative models for crime prevention, justice administration, and offender correction, while strengthening capacities to prevent, combat, and control crime.
   

The findings of these research efforts are intended to be published in the African Journal on Crime and Criminal Justice (AJCJ). They will serve as a foundation to guide the formulation and implementation of policies in African countries, to reduce or even prevent crime, which often hinders socio-economic development.

Progress Report:

In recent years, the research unit has been vigorously reactivated, particularly with the hiring of an experienced researcher to lead it. Among the recent studies conducted are:

1. From Prison to Home: Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration (revised, 2005): A study on the social rehabilitation and reintegration of released prisoners into their host communities. The findings of this study served as the basis for correctional services workshops held in Uganda, Kenya, and Zambia between November and December 2007.

2. Causes and Patterns of Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2007): A study revealing the root causes of this heinous trade, often referred to as modern slavery. Nigeria is one of the most affected African countries.

3. Study on the Trafficking of Children and Women in the Karamoja-Teso Region of Uganda (2006): A study conducted in a crisis-affected community to provide recommendations on preventing victimization or vulnerability.

4. Cyber Watch Analysis Report (2006): A documentary study on cyber fraud, a high-tech crime, whose findings were used for public awareness. Many potential victims were protected thanks to this campaign.

5. Criminal Victimization Study (2007): Conducted in collaboration with UNODC in four African countries (Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, and Egypt), this study established patterns of criminal victimization for various categories, such as property theft, social crime, livestock theft, armed robbery, consumer fraud, and burglary.

6. Admission/Affiliation Scam: An unpublished study on fraudulent admissions to universities in the UK, USA, India, and Canada through affiliated colleges. The findings were used to raise public awareness through the media.

7. Other Ongoing Research: Several other studies are underway. The findings of some reports have been widely used in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria. The results of studies on trafficking in Uganda and Nigeria were presented at the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) in Vienna, Austria, in February 2008, where UNAFRI actively participated.

8. Report Presentation: The reports of these completed studies have been made public, and copies have been distributed to all concerned organizations.