Vienna, Austria – EPLO Ambassador in Vienna, Dr. Ugljesa “Ugi” Zvekic, bids farewell to Mr. John Brandolino, Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Mr. Brandolino concludes his service at UNODC after many years in senior leadership roles within the UN system. Ambassador Zvekic attended the farewell in his capacity as EPLO’s representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna, a role he has held since 2019, when he presented his accreditation to the Director‑General of UNOV and Executive Director of UNODC.
UNODC is the UN Secretariat’s principal body responsible for drug control, crime prevention, and criminal justice. It oversees the implementation of the three UN drug conventions and the major anti‑crime conventions, and it supports prevention initiatives, technical assistance, and training programmes worldwide.
EPLO’s presence in Vienna focuses on following and contributing to the work of the UN’s governing and policy‑making bodies in these fields. This includes the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), and the Conferences of the Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). These bodies shape international legal frameworks, review implementation, and promote capacity‑building—areas closely aligned with EPLO’s mandate to advance good governance, the rule of law, and effective public administration.
Ambassador Zvekic’s participation in the farewell event reflects EPLO’s ongoing engagement with UNODC and its commitment to supporting international cooperation in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice, and public law.