GLOBAL COORDINATION ROLE OF UNDCP STRESSED IN THIRD COMMITTEE AS DEBATE CONTINUES ON CRIME PREVENTION, DRUG CONTROL
Press Release
GA/SHC/3361
GLOBAL COORDINATION ROLE OF UNDCP STRESSED IN THIRD COMMITTEE AS DEBATE CONTINUES ON CRIME PREVENTION, DRUG CONTROL
19961022 The important role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in promoting global cooperation and coordination was emphasized during this morning's meeting of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). The Committee was continuing its general debate on crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control and the elaboration of an international convention against transnational crime.At a time of cost cutting and budget tightening, it was not unusual to see partial implementation of programmes passed off as full implementation, the representative of Costa Rica said. Member States must ensure that the Drug Control Programme's efforts were transformed from words into action.
A representative from the World Health Organization (WHO) said an estimated 15 million people worldwide risked their health by using psychoactive substances. All psychoactive substances should be included in any demand-reduction programme, irrespective of the legal status of individual drugs. Attention must also be given to alcohol, tobacco and medicinal drugs to ensure that a reduction in health problems due to illicit drug use would not be offset by a rise in the use of other substances.
A number of speakers stressed that treatment programmes and demand- reduction policies should respect the rights and dignity of drug users. The representative of Brazil said the socio-political dimension of the drug problem should be recognized. Drug-control policies should include both prevention and rehabilitation. In addition, eradication of illicit drug crops should respect human rights, cultural traditions and protect the environment.
The representative of Lebanon said his Government had eradicated the production of narcotic plants. But it needed international assistance to help thousands of people, who were no longer cultivating illicit crops, find other means of support. Statements were made by Japan, Canada (on behalf of Australia), Ghana, Malta, Tunisia, Russian Federation, Cyprus, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam (on behalf of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), and Mozambique. The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its general debate on crime and drugs.
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Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to continue its examination of crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control and the question of the elaboration of an international convention against organized transnational crime. (For background, see Press Release GA/SHC/3357 of 18 October.)
Statements
FUMIKO SAIGA (Japan) said Japan attached great importance to the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its special session in 1990 as a comprehensive framework for national, regional and international action to combat the production and consumption of, and trafficking in, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. However, the Government regretted that an adequate mechanism for monitoring the progress made in implementing the Programme of Action had not yet been established, despite the efforts of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to facilitate reporting by governments. Japan was making every effort to implement the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international level, and hoped that measures would soon be adopted to further promote and implement its recommendations and translate them into practical action. Japan recognized the causal relation between poverty and the illicit production of narcotic drugs, she said. That was why Japan would continue to contribute to development programmes in producing countries and had recently contributed $330,000 for the project on drug control and development in the Wa area of Shan State in Myanmar through the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. All Member States should reaffirm their political determination to strengthen international drug control and their commitment to strengthening financial support. Therefore, this year the Government had increased its contribution to the Drug Control Programme to $6.7 million, of which $5.2 million was for general purposes.
ANDRÉ FRANÇOIS GIROUX (Canada), also speaking on behalf of Australia, said the challenges posed by the global nature of crime demanded a "whole system" approach by countries at the domestic and international level. Recent achievements at the United Nations, other multilateral bodies and regional organizations in facing illicit drug trafficking, organized crime, money laundering and corruption were made possible by a pragmatic approach, marshalling of scarce resources and hard work. Both Australia and Canada gave high priority to combating organized crime, in the areas of smuggling of illegal aliens, credit card fraud, money laundering and illicit trafficking in arms and drugs. Canada's approach was multidisciplinary and included bilateral cooperation among States. It aimed to build a growing set of international standards and norms consistent with human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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Both Australia and Canada were concerned over the issue of violence against women and children, he continued. His Government had led discussions on practical measures and strategies in the area of criminal justice, building on the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) and eliminating violence against women. Corruption must be addressed because of its corrosive effect. It interfered with legitimate trade and investment flows and undermined domestic economic development and affected the poorest of the poor. His Government had in place a conflict code of interest for public servants and public officer holders to guide their conduct and enhance public confidence. Both countries had been involved in a number of bilateral efforts against corruption. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's work on illicit firearms was important. He encouraged all countries to respond to the United Nations Study on Firearms. It would compliment the work done by Canada and Australia on domestic gun-control legislation.
JACOB B. WILMOT (Ghana) said even though the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders was recognized as a dynamic operational instrument in the fight against crime, it was starved of resources that would enable it to make any meaningful contributions, especially in its transnational dimensions. While it was the responsibility of African States to sustain the Institute, due to weakened economic and financial situations, most were unable to supply adequate funding. Ghana appealed to all its partners for understanding so that adequate funds could be provided to support the Institute's programmes, which were vital, not only to the African region, but also to the international community as a whole.
The success of efforts to deal with crimes like money laundering would depend on how the Drug Control Programme and the international community were able to develop a mechanism for information sharing, he said. International legal instruments were needed, not only to eliminate money laundering, but also to make it possible for the seizure of criminals' assets. Ghana was also concerned that the Technical Committee -- charged with formulating anti-drug strategies at the subregional level under the auspices of the Drug Control Programme -- had not yet become operational. The Government urged the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to take urgent measures to remedy this situation because incidents of cross-border drug trafficking were becoming more frequent.
CARLOS MOREIRA GARCIA (Brazil) said his Government had taken the lead in innovations in the field of criminal justice, by creating special criminal courts which might expedite the trial of misdemeanours and petty crimes whose prison terms could be less than one year. The courts had the authority to impose alternative punishments, such as mandatory services to the community, interdiction of certain rights and the payment of fines. There were now two systems of criminal justice -- the traditional one which applied to serious
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offences, and the so-called consensual one which handled lesser offences. Studies were being conducted to see if police officers, public attorneys and judges relieved of the heavy number of cases were finding more time to prosecute serious offenders. Brazil had also decentralized its penal establishments favouring smaller units, aimed at keeping prisoners close to their original communities to ensure access to work and study and help with rehabilitation into society.
Brazil had been an active participant in the Commission on Crime and Prevention of Criminal Justice and had supported a resolution on the strengthening of international cooperation. He urged the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to be more actively involved in projects on judiciary and penal reform. Brazil's policy on drug control followed three principles. It recognized the socio-political dimension of the problem. It did not accept that there was a direct connection between drugs and terrorism, although in some countries it was a fact. Without prejudice to the repression of drug trafficking, internal policies on drug control should include the prevention of illicit use and the rehabilitation of drug dependants. He urged careful action in the eradication of cultivated areas so as to respect the human rights and cultural traditions of the countries involved, as well as the protection of their environments.
JOSÉ MANUEL GUTIERREZ (Costa Rica) said that, while all varieties of crime were on the rise, United Nations programmes dedicated to combating crime were increasingly becoming victims of the Organization's financial crisis and the manner in which the crisis was being managed. States should take steps to ensure that these programmes were strengthened, adequate financial support was offered, and resolutions were passed. In these days of cost-cutting and budget-tightening, it was not unusual to see partial implementation of programmes passed off as full implementation. It was the responsibility of Member States to ensure that Drug Control Programme efforts transformed words into action.
The Costa Rican delegation looked forward to the General Assembly's 1998 special assembly on drugs, he said. It hoped that there would be opportunity to discuss comprehensive strategies to deal with the problems of the production and cultivation of illicit drugs, among other pressing subjects.
VICTOR PACE (Malta) said his Government had reorganized and strengthened its internal capacities to meet the challenge of crime in a modern and efficient manner. The National Commission against the Abuse of Drugs had three board of experts dealing with prevention, treatment and law enforcement. The Agency against Drug and Alcohol Abuse coordinated and implemented national policies and strategies. It monitored operations, research and training of both statutory and non-statutory agencies. Demand reduction was the best strategy and was given top priority. The goal was to promote healthy attitudes leading to healthy lifestyles. Drug prevention programmes and
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strategy were targeted at communities, schools, the work place, leisure activities, professionals and the media. Emphasis in the rehabilitation fields had shifted from the medical to the social model, and priority was now being given to community services. Treatment services included community work, early intervention, residential treatment, reintegration and after-care.
He said his Government had strengthened its fight against crime through legislation and reinforcement of the capacities of law enforcement. Cooperation at the multilateral and bilateral levels had helped the country fight criminal acts ranging from money laundering and fraud to drug trafficking and trafficking in stolen goods.
WAHID BEN AMOR (Tunisia) said the 1998 special session of the Assembly would allow Member States to review and evaluate the measures of drug control and international action taken against drug abuse and illegal traffic. Furthermore, any action taken in the context of controlling drug trafficking and abuse should include a development component. And all actions should also address poverty, whose links to drug abuse and traffic were apparent. Tunisia also shared the concerns of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme with regard to the downward turn of its resources and called for better funding of the Programme.
Crime prevention was a challenge for all countries, individually and collectively, and the increase of criminal activity was a major obstacle to growth and development, he said. His Government was pleased with the significant role played by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the efforts of Member States to formulate a convention against transnational crime. However, the convention should stress the tie between terrorism and organized crime. Terrorism also indiscriminately struck out against innocent adults and children throughout the world, and all efforts must be made to fight this scourge. Despite a greater awareness in the international community, some voices were still being raised insisting that the ties between terrorism and organized transnational crime were accidental.
HASSAN NAJEM (Lebanon) said drugs were one of the main problems facing governments all over the world because of their adverse affect on health and societies in general. The mental deterioration from drug addiction interfered with proper work performance which, in turn, affected families. Lebanon did not have a full-fledged drug problem since the number of drug addicts was decreasing. This was a result of the extension of government authority over the country except for the area in the south occupied by Israel. Illicit drug crops had been eliminated and there was now stronger security at international borders and at airports. The first step in dealing with drug abuse was to stop cultivation and arrest drug traffickers. It was also important to have adequate media and public information campaigns to discourage drug use and raise public awareness of the problem.
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He then outlined Lebanon's commitment to United Nations conventions and its participation in all regional efforts to combat drug use. Since 1993, the Government had eliminated the cultivation of narcotic plants and worked to prevent new crops. International commissions which had visited the country and the International Drug Control Board had noted that the destruction of crops had been completed. However, thousands of people in the Bekka area whose livelihoods had depended on drug cultivation were now looking for other means of support. Lebanon needed international assistance to help these people.
SERGEI TARASSENKO (Russian Federation) said drug trafficking and transnational crime were threats to social development and national security, and any efforts by individual States to combat these problems would be in vain if they were not accompanied by actions on the international level. The United Nations should play the role of organizer and catalyst of States' efforts in the war against drugs and transnational organized crime. The Russian Federation supported the activities of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Declaration on Crime and Social Security and the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials.
His Government also commended the efforts of the Division on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in the areas of technical cooperation, consulting and staff training, he said. Crime-fighting efforts of States in its region should get similarly appropriate support and aid from the United Nations. The Russian Federation agreed with the policy of achieving maximum practical benefit at the 1998 special session by considering the issues of interest to all States, without exception. The decisions taken on the discussions at the special session would hopefully continue to promote further consolidation of the efforts of States against the dangers of drugs.
KORNELIOS KORNELIOU (Cyprus) said his Government's determination to combat crime had been shown by its participation in all United Nations conventions, aimed at increasing international cooperation in criminal justice, as well as in the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism and the European Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime. His Government had also concluded bilateral agreements with most of its neighbours, as well as other countries to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking. It had also cooperated with international law enforcement agencies and attached great importance to the broader exchange of information and intelligence.
The problem of narcotic drugs was a significant global problem, and its spread over the last 20 years had been unprecedented, he said. No nation had been immune from the devastating effects of drug abuse. Implementation of the relevant international instruments and an enhanced role for the United Nations was essential. Political support and sufficient financial resources were needed by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. Although
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Cyprus was located at the crossroads of three continents making it susceptible to drug trafficking, less and less drugs were being transferred through the country because of the Government's continuous efforts.
BETTY RUSSELL (Barbados) said that the power of organized crime in drug trafficking was so great that small developing countries such as Barbados could not tackle the problem alone. The region had consistently sought help from international and bilateral donors and neighbours to create a programme of consistent and sustained action. She recalled that, in March, an expert body of the European Union reported that it was especially difficult for the governments of the smaller countries of the region to develop adequate drug- control structures. Regional and subregional bodies were required. Barbados and the Caribbean were particularly vulnerable as the bulk of the drugs were trafficked by ships and boats. No country in the region had the means to adequately monitor and patrol its territorial waters, let alone the international waters beyond.
Well aware of the dangers posed by narco-trafficking to its own society and the rest of the region, she said Barbados had hosted a regional meeting, under the auspices of international institutions, to discuss cooperation. She was alarmed that free ports and free export-processing zones had frequently been used as ports of diversion, forcing Caribbean countries to monitor closely the movements of precursor chemicals in such trading centres. She also noted the recommendation that Governments provide a mechanism to seize consignments of precursor when adequate grounds for suspicion had been established. Welcoming the Plan of Action worked out in cooperation with the Drug Control Programme at the regional meeting in May, she said that the "detailed and comprehensive strategies" -- in conjunction with the work of the non-governmental organizations at the national level -- constituted a strong start in the campaign for drug eradication.
PEHIN MOHAMMAD (Brunei Darussalam), on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), said preventative education had played a pivotal role in reducing the demand for illicit drugs and was the key to a long-term solution. Regular dialogues on demand reduction should be strengthened or established among all United Nations entities involved in drug control, and demand reduction should be integrated into their operational plans. The prevention of drug abuse required long-term commitment at the regional and international levels, he said. ASEAN countries commended the work of the United Nations Global Programme of Action, but to achieve its goal the international community must cooperate closely with the Organization in translating the Programme into practical and balanced action within the framework of comprehensive demand-reduction activities. These activities should also include medical treatment, social integration, training and self- improvement components for those at risk.
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Global economic and social changes had provided an opportunity for drug producers and traffickers to organize themselves into powerful cartels, he said. Therefore, it was imperative that closer and coordinated international efforts be developed to check profiteering and money laundering from the illegal drug trade.
LEANNE RILEY, of the World Health Organization (WHO), said problems associated with the use of psychoactive substances were a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Although levels of illicit substance use in many developed countries had remained stable or even declined in recent years, the patterns of use were changing. The trend was for an increase in the use of different combinations of substances and earlier ages of use by young people. There had been an enormous growth in the world supply of drugs. An estimated 15 million people worldwide risked their health significantly as a result of using psychoactive substances. There had also been a rapid rise in the use of opiates, amphetamines, cocaine and other psychotropic drugs in many developing countries. Drug injection was common in a number of these countries with the accompanying risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections.
The WHO's Programme on Substance Abuse helped countries to strengthen their capacity to prevent and reduce problems associated with substance abuse, by developing guidelines for the continued epidemiological surveillance and assessment of trends in drug abuse. The Programme rigorously applied scientific evidence and tried to reduce inequities in health access and supported the rights of substance abusers to health and humane treatment. Emphasis was on balancing health promotion with better health protection and on involving the community in prevention and treatment. It also aimed to strengthen primary health care. A stronger international focus on demand reduction was now required, particularly in developing countries. The WHO believed it was important that all psychoactive substances be included in a comprehensive demand-reduction approach, irrespective of the legal status of individual drugs. Accordingly, attention must be paid to, not only to illicit drugs, but also to alcohol and tobacco, medicinal drugs and volatile substances, to ensure that a reduction in health problems due to illicit drug use would not be offset by a rise in the use of those other substances.
FERNANDO CHOMAR (Mozambique) said his country was alarmed by the growth of criminal groups and the spread of terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and illegal trafficking in arms. In addition to resolute efforts taken on the national level, a global struggle against that growing phenomenon must be orchestrated at the regional and international levels. Member States must strengthen their cooperation efforts by providing legal assistance and support.
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He called upon Member States to promote public awareness regarding illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption and the illegal trafficking in arms. Regional programmes must be organized to support cooperation among law enforcement institutions and criminal justice systems. Instead of continued appeals for a new mechanism to combat drug trafficking, the existing international instruments should be implemented.
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