UNIS/NAR/1002
22 May 2007

Media Advisory

UNODC to Launch New Report on Effects of Violence and Drugs on Development in Central America

VIENNA, 22 May 2007 (UN Information Service)  - The damaging effects of drug-related crime and violence on development in Central American countries will be the focus of a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to be launched on 23 May at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa will unveil the report Crime and Development in Central America: Caught in the Crossfire at a news conference at 09.30 hours at OAS Headquarters, 17th Street & Constitution Avenue NW.  OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza will also be present.

The report highlights crime as a development issue and stresses the need for greater international support to stem crime and poverty in the region.

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For further information contact:

UNODC:
Richard Murphy
UNODC Spokesman
Telephone: +43 1 26060 5761
Mobile: +43 699 1459 5761
Email: richard.murphy@unodc.org

For details about the news conference, please contact:

Lucrecia Baracat
OAS Department of Press and Communications:
Tel: +1 202 458 6824
lbaracat@oas.org