GOVERNMENT PRONOUNCEMENTS ON DRUG ISSUE NEED CONCRETE PROGRAMMES, RESOURCES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNDCP TELLS THIRD COMMITTEE

18 October 1996

Press Release
GA/SHC/3357

GOVERNMENT PRONOUNCEMENTS ON DRUG ISSUE NEED CONCRETE PROGRAMMES, RESOURCES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNDCP TELLS THIRD COMMITTEE

19961018 Despite expressing a clear determination at the highest levels, all governments were not giving high priority to addressing the drug issue through concrete national policies and programmes, according to Under-Secretary-General Giorgio Giacomelli, Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. He was addressing the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning, as it began discussing crime prevention and criminal justice, the elaboration of an international convention against organized crime and international drug control.

Mr. Giacomelli noted that the UNDCP had helped draft and amend drug-control laws and trained law enforcement personnel. However, several governments had seriously curtailed funding to tackle the drug problem. Others were not giving the necessary resources to implement policies which pursued a balanced approach to drug abuse and illicit trafficking. An ambiguous message by any government with regard to its treaty obligations might send the wrong message, particularly to youth. It would also undermine the credibility of the drug-control system, he added.

Several speakers also stressed the importance of a coordinated international approach to deal with the global dimensions of transnational crime and its intrinsic link to drug trafficking. They described UNDCP's activities as both effective and practical and said it must be given adequate resources to continue its work.

Speakers also welcomed the 1998 special session of the General Assembly on international drug control, which they said would be an effective way to focus attention on the issue. The representative of the Czech Republic said the session should only address key issues and aim to increase the efficiency of existing mechanisms that address the international drug control problem rather than creating new ones.

The representatives of Egypt, Cuba, Japan, Mexico and Venezuela addressed the Committee this morning. Bolivia spoke on behalf of the Rio Group -- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The Committee will meet again this afternoon at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of crime and drug related issues.

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Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to examine crime prevention and criminal justice and the elaboration of an international convention against organized crime. It will also take up the issue of international drug control.

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

The documents before the Committee on crime include the Economic and Social Council's 1996 report and two reports by the Secretary General. In its 1996 report, the Economic and Social Council (document A/51/3) recommends that the Assembly adopt a United Nations declaration on crime and public security. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice -- the principal United Nations policy-making body on crime -- agreed on the text of the 11-article draft at its fifth session, held in Vienna from 21 to 31 May 1996. The declaration calls on States to pledge a range of crime-control measures to protect people within their jurisdictions, to secure their borders against drugs and arms smuggling; to prevent money laundering, trafficking in persons, and terrorist crime; and to strengthen the professionalism of their criminal justice, law enforcement and victim assistance programmes.

Acting on another proposal by the Commission, the Council also recommended that the Assembly adopt an international code of conduct for public officials which covers such issues as conflict of interest, disclosure of assets, and the non-acceptance of gifts or favours that might influence officials' judgement or the performance of their duties.

Last year, the General Assembly adopted resolution 50/145 on the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (Cairo, 1995), and resolution 50/146 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity. The Secretary-General's report on progress made in the implementation of resolutions 50/145 and 50/146 (document A/51/327) covers the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which monitors the Programme and coordinates United Nations activities in the field of crime.

According to the report, the Governments of Austria, Bahrain, Greece, Japan, Jordan, Panama and Saudi Arabia have provided information on their initiatives to implement the recommendations of the Ninth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention regarding international cooperation and technical assistance. These include efforts to strengthen the rule of law; improve policy development, increase the use of bilateral and multilateral agreements and promote integrated regional policies and programmes to prevent crime and ensure justice. Specific measures against organized crime include updating domestic legislation on money laundering, extradition and mutual assistance; setting up separate units to deal with organized crime; and improving legislation on environmental protection. National initiatives to deal with the links between terrorist crime and transnational organized crime include domestic legislation,

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investigation and law enforcement.

The report says the Programme's credibility will be measured by its ability to help countries draft legislation and create independent justice systems, establish police forces that respect the rule of law and set up national institutions that protect fundamental human rights. These measures, in turn, will determine the credibility of governments and people's faith in them.

The Programme is a focus of technical assistance and international cooperation -- an urgent priority because of the transnationalization of crime, according to the report. However, there is a gap between increasing demands by Member States and available resources. The Commission's recommendation to transfer resources from low- to high-priority areas is only a stop-gap measure. Programme activities can only have a relatively small impact, since its resource base is one of the smallest in the United Nations budget. The gap can only be filled by Member States, and voluntary contributions for project implementation will be vital. Otherwise, the Programme will not be able to meet expectations.

The Secretary-General's report on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (document A/51/450) highlights issues on the status of operations, staffing, programme activities and funding. It also reviews the Institute's functions and its potential contribution to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme for the African region. The Institute is recognized as a dynamic instrument for enhancing regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration, especially in the fight against transnational crime, which cannot be adequately dealt with by national action alone. It emphasizes close collaboration with the other institutes of the Programme network.

The Institute has continued to strengthen its training and research and maintain a more a reliable database on criminal justice in Africa. However, from the beginning, it has been short of funds, and the current financial crisis has forced it to lay off core professional staff and freeze posts. If no action is taken to reverse the crisis, the Institute will have to cease operations and other approved activities will not be implemented.

Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

On the elaboration of an international convention against organized transnational crime, the Committee will consider a 24 September letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland (document A/C.3/51/7), which contains as an annex a draft United Nations framework convention against

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organized crime. The draft convention was first put forward by President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland in his address to the General Assembly on 24 September. It was subsequently formally introduced in the Committee as a new agenda item by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland on 14 October.

The draft framework convention defines "organized crime" as meaning "group activities of three or more persons, with hierarchical links or personal relationships, which permit their leaders to earn profits or control territories or markets, internal or foreign, by means of violence, intimidations or corruption, both in furtherance of criminal activity and to infiltrate the legitimate economy". The draft text refers particularly to such activities as illicit drug-trafficking, trafficking in persons, counterfeiting currency, corruption of public officials, illicit trafficking in or stealing cultural objects, stealing of nuclear material, terrorist acts, and illicit trafficking in or stealing of arms and explosive materials or motor vehicles.

The draft states that the convention would be a response by States parties to the growing threat of organized crime to global security and criminal justice. The convention would be intended as a flexible and efficient framework for multilateral and bilateral cooperation to intensify law enforcement, criminal justice and crime prevention activities by Member States.

International Drug Control

Documents before the Committee on international drug control include the 1996 Economic and Social Council report and four reports by the Secretary- General.

The Economic and Social Council's 1996 report recommends that the General Assembly convene a three-day special session in 1998 to consider the fight against illicit drugs. It calls for continued development of a draft declaration on guiding principles to reduce demand and strengthen the role of the International Narcotics Control Board. The Council also recommends the strengthening of international cooperation to control the illicit manufacture and diversion of controlled substances, particularly amphetamine-type stimulants and the establishment of effective control over operations carried out by intermediaries in the international trade of psychotropic substances.

The Secretary-General's report on Implementation of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control (document A/51/129-E/1996/53), details the new specific, multi-agency global and regional plans of action to control drug abuse. The initial six plans will focus on demand reduction and prevention in schools, and among children, rural youth, young people in

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especially difficult circumstances and in the workplace. The plans will also focus on drug abuse by women and data collection and assessment. Plans on supply reduction and other sectors will be added later.

Agencies are expected to use the plans as a tool to help assess activities and identify priorities. The system-wide plan will be an ongoing process with activities added or deleted and new plans added as necessary. Its design, monitoring and success will be constantly evaluated. The plans should be successful in fund-raising because potential donors can identify areas they want to support.

The Secretary-General report on the status of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 (document A/51/436), includes implementation of article 5, paragraph 4 on confiscation and related investigations; article 6 on extradition; and article 7 on mutual legal assistance. The report outlines activities by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), which provided legislative assistance to States and developed model legislation to promote more uniform implementation of international drug control treaties and to facilitate international cooperation.

The report also details Department of Public Information (DPI) activities to promote the Convention. These included two "UN in Action" television programmes, two television interviews for "World Chronicle," and two articles in its publication "Development Update", four articles in the UN Chronicle and more than 100 United Nations radio programmes during the last two years. The DPI helped UNDCP prepare a major exhibition on "Sports against Drugs" in Vienna, New York and at the Olympics in Atlanta.

Recommendations by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to further implement the Convention are included in the report. The Commission urges all States to accede to the international drug control treaties before the end of the United Nations Decade against Drug Abuse, 1991 to 2000. It endorses recommendations by the Working Group on Maritime Cooperation aimed at encouraging maritime commercial carriers and professional groups to become involved in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

The Commission notes the role of governments and international narcotic control boards in furthering the implementation of article 12 of the Convention on the control of precursor chemicals frequently used in manufacture of illicit drugs, and actions States should take to broaden measures against money laundering. It also notes cooperation between the UNDCP, the Secretariat's Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division, and the Financial Action Task Force, which was established by the "Group of 7" industrialized countries and the President of the Commission of the European Communities.

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The Secretary-General's report on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 1990 (document A/51/437), includes a list of countries which supplied the Commission on Narcotic Drugs with information on their implementation efforts. According to the report, national strategies should include prevention, education, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes which are sufficiently funded. The number of government campaigns, many of which are mainly targeted at young people, are increasing, but overall numbers remain low.

The report says existing drug treatment facilities are insufficient. States need to increase their efforts to eradicate illicit crops; review drug trafficking legislation and simplify extradition proceedings; and strengthen intelligence systems and consider establishing a central entity to collect and analyse data. Governments should extend criminal provisions to prevent money laundering to include institutions that handle large volumes of cash.

Also before the Committee is the Secretary-General's report on the possible outcome of a special session of the General Assembly on the question of international drug control (document A/51/469). The proposed session would present an opportunity to assess the status of international drug control and would help set the international drug control agenda for the next decade. The Secretary-General says that a special session could lead to the adoption of practical measures to strengthen international action in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The Secretary-General says that a special session could have several possible outcomes, including: a strategy to prevent diversion of chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs; measures against the abuse of and trafficking in stimulants; the reduction of the illicit demand for drugs; the prevention of and action against money laundering; the eradication of illicit crops and alternative development; improved judicial cooperation; measures to promote law enforcement cooperation and the exchange of information; and, a strengthened leadership role for UNDCP.

GIORGIO GIACOMELLI, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, introduced the agenda items on crime prevention and criminal justice and on international drug control. The item entitled "question of the elaboration of an international convention on organized transnational crime was introduced to the Committee by the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister on Monday, 14 October.

Mr. Giacomelli said drug abuse, illicit traffic and organized crime had emerged as major threats to public safety and national security. The negative consequences of illicit drugs and crime extended deep and far, bringing corruption, destabilization and suffering. The close and intrinsic linkages between crime and drug abuse were being intensified by globalization, therefore both issues needed a closely coordinated approach in order to be

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effective. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice had spelled out specific measures to achieve close cooperation. They had been pursuing a coordinated and common approach which tried to avoid duplication and optimize the use of limited resources.

He said both developing and developed countries needed to implement effective mechanisms for crime prevention and ensure a fair and humane criminal justice system. Unfortunately, just as crime assumed new and global dimensions, the United Nations financial crisis had a serious impact on the UNDCP's ability to forge ahead in meeting those challenges.

Turning to the issue of international drug control, he said the United Nations system had given increased attention to the issue. However, it was time to ask whether, despite the growing and clear determination expressed at the highest levels, governments were not giving high priority to addressing the drug issue through concrete national policies and programmes. He noted that several governments had seriously curtailed national budgets allocated to tackling the drug problem. The UNDCP had assisted many governments in drafting or amending their drug control laws and provided training to their law enforcement personnel in the adoption of drug-control master plans. Had governments provided the necessary resources to implement policies which pursued a balanced approach to drug abuse and illicit trafficking? he asked. Any ambiguous message by any government with regard to its treaty obligations might send the wrong message, particularly to youth and undermine the credibility of the drug-control system.

KARIM WISSA (Egypt) said the true solution to international drug trafficking lay in the implementation and application of the United Nations System-wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control. The objectives of UNDCP deserved the participation of all countries, North and South. Egypt accorded special attention to the need to achieve international cooperation for the 1998 special session of the General Assembly on international drug control.

He said that Egypt was aware that among the dangerous affects of the gains in illicit drug trafficking was the spread and proliferation of money laundering which had a perilous affect on the economies of States. Egypt had established a special department on money laundering and was currently studying the laws in different states to combat the phenomenon of money laundering, in concert with the work of the G-7 and United Nations organizations.

The limitation of financial resources should not constitute an obstacle for the United Nations in accordance with the Charter, he said. His Government shared the concerns of Executive Director Giacomelli about the paucity of funds in this area, and therefore, Egypt called upon international financial institutions to finance the campaign against drugs.

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RODLFO REYES RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said that his Government supported the convening of the special Assembly session in 1998 and was convinced that during the three-day meeting on the issue they would be able to promote international cooperation in combating international drug trafficking. Cuba believed it was improper for one country to blame other countries for the proliferation of drugs when it was unsuccessful in regulating its internal drug situation.

He said his Government applauded the role played by UNDCP as an independent international authority, which had the competence in regulating the actions taken by States and developing international cooperation. Cuba, because of its geography, situated between the consumer States in the north and the supplier States in the south, had been affected by the actions of drug traffickers. This year, Cuban authorities had seized 1 ton of cocaine and 1 ton of marijuana, and earlier this month a motor launch with over 1 ton of cocaine had been captured. As humanity approached the new millennium we must realize that either we eradicate drugs completely or drugs will destroy civilization.

EDGAR CAMACHO OMISTE (Bolivia) spoke on behalf of the Rio Group -- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and Bolivia. He said despite United Nations efforts and international conventions, illicit drugs were still a major threat to society, especially as their spread was closely linked to international trade and the laws of supply and demand. International efforts were required. Paradoxically, efforts in recent years by Member States had to be reworked because of the increase in activities by organized crime which crossed borders. The heads of State of the Rio Group had appealed to the international community to coordinate efforts to combat the consumption, production and trafficking of illicit drugs and such related crimes as money laundering and arms trafficking. National, regional and world efforts had to be shaped according to the principles of international law.

He said there must also be renewed commitment and efforts to address the social and economic aspects of the problem. Programmes must provide alternatives to drug cultivation and production for people, and social and regional programmes should be directed at improving living conditions. The United Nations was the most effective forum for tackling the drug problem. In order to be fully prepared for the special General Assembly session in 1998, the Rio Group welcomed the Colombian initiative for a group of experts to meet to discuss issues.

FUMIKO SAIGA (Japan) said that due to the budgetary constraints, efforts were sorely needed to mobilize resources for the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme from both regular and extra- budgetary sources. Therefore, the recently established informal consultative

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group on resource mobilization was a welcome addition. The group should contribute effectively towards establishing a coherent programme of activities.

The Government of Japan had made a voluntary contribution to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund in the amount of $200,000 for 1996, of which $105,700 would be earmarked for the firearms regulation project. The balance of the amount would be allocated to other activities of the Criminal Justice Programme, whose work the Japanese delegation attached great importance. She stressed the need for the Programme to receive an appropriate share of the regular budget of the United Nations so that the Division can fulfil its mandate pursuant to the relevant resolutions adopted by the intergovernmental bodies. More attention should be paid to strategic management of the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, particularly revising draft resolution submission guidelines and streamlining reporting requirements.

SAYED DURAN (Venezuela) said it was urgent that measures -- within states and internationally -- be adopted to ensure that states' actions against crime were complementary and reflected common political will. Venezuela was especially concerned with transnational crime because of its impact on state economies and security. The Government was in the process of setting up anti-crime policies to provide greater law enforcement with special emphasis on preventative measures. It was also adopting joint measures between the state and civil society to combat crime.

The link between organized crime and corruption undermined the values of democracy and morals and the development of people, she said. Recently, through the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Venezuela had submitted a draft inter-American convention against corruption and had received the cooperation of countries within the hemisphere. Such a convention should be a mandatory reference for any treatment of these issues because it codified internal laws on corrupt activities. Some crimes of corruption could not be qualified as political crimes, so mechanisms were needed to locate individuals who were guilty of these crimes of corruption. National and regional efforts were insufficient; bilateral or multilateral efforts were needed. Special programmes should be set up for developing countries who should receive technical and financial assistance.

MANUEL TELLO (Mexico) said that old distinctions between producer transit and consumer countries had lost their meaning. Countries were affected simultaneously by drug trafficking and related crimes, especially money laundering, diversion of chemical precursors, arms trade and terrorism. His Government urged the special session of the General Assembly of 1998 to strengthen international cooperation by adopting specific measures. His delegation shared and supported the objectives identified by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs that included: a worldwide campaign for prevention of illicit

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drug consumption directed to the groups at risk, especially young people; special measures for the mobilization of financial resources for UNDCP; and, a major coordination effort in which interested governments, United Nations organizations, and qualified experts devise schemes for alternative development programmes.

Regarding topics related to organized crime, terrorist groups, and trafficking of arms linked with drugs trafficking, Mexico and other states had submitted proposals which were being considered carefully. Most of these proposals were complementary and could constitute a significant component of the results of the special session of the Assembly.

KAREL KOVANDA (Czech Republic) said UNDCP's activities were both effective and practical and it must be given sufficient resources to carry on its work. He welcomed the 1998 General Assembly special session, which would be the proper forum to address the issue of illicit drugs. However, the session should only address key issues and aim to increase the efficiency of existing mechanisms that address the international drug control problem rather than creating new ones. The UNDCP was the most effective way to deal with the international dimensions of the problem and he was convinced new means of financing would be found.

He said there should be increased contact between with law enforcement agencies, as international cooperation in law enforcement helped control the drug problem. He drew attention to the effects illicit drugs had on developing countries and the impact of money laundering on businesses. Programmes and policies should focus on primary prevention given the importance of protecting young people from the devastating consequences of drugs. New legislation being prepared by his Government would address the precursor chemicals and psychotropic substances. It would not be possible to stem the flow of those substances into the illicit network of drug manufacturers without international cooperation. A study of consumption patterns by countries might serve as a guideline for granting export licenses on those substances. He appealed to Member States who had not done so to become parties to the relevant conventions and work towards their implementation.

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