Dr Angela Me

Dr Angela Me is an international research leader with over two decades of experience in the fields of drugs and crime, and more than 30 years in data governance and statistics, including areas such as migration, disability, and gender.

Throughout her career at the United Nations, Dr Me has led major research initiatives, produced influential global studies, and contributed to shaping international policy and intergovernmental agreements. During her 17-year tenure at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), she built on the good work of her predecessors and strengthened the organisation’s research function as a global reference point for data and analysis. Under her leadership as Chief of the Research Branch, UNODC developed a reputation for quality, impartiality, and policy relevance. 

In UNODC, Dr Me has overseen the production of more than 30 research publications annually, including globally recognised flagships such as the World Drug Report, Global Study on Homicide, World Wildlife Crime Report, Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, and the Global Analysis on Crimes that Affect the Environment. These studies have become authoritative sources shaping international debates and policymaking on crime and drug-related issues. 

With a strong foundation in statistics and data systems, Dr Me has advanced the generation, processing, and use of UN data, advocating for evidence-based policymaking. Since joining the UN in 1995, she has served in different capacities in three departments across New York, Geneva, and Vienna, leading the development of international statistical standards and strengthening national analytical capacities worldwide. 

She has authored, contributed to, and supervised numerous UN analytical reports, policy papers, and intergovernmental documents covering drugs, crime, population, gender, disability, and migration. Dr Me holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Padua, Italy, and is recognized for her commitment to advancing data-driven research and international cooperation in addressing global challenges.