THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP ISSUES OF DRUG CONTROL, CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Press Release
GA/SHC/3527

THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP ISSUES OF DRUG CONTROL, CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Alternative crops and projects to the production of illicit drugs was the way of the future because it meant that whole communities would lift themselves to a better quality of living, Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning.

During his address to the Committee, which began its consideration of issues related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control, Mr. Arlacchi explained that the use of satellites and the Internet had revolutionized international drug control. Countries were now able to estimate narcotic cultivation and break the economic dependence of crop cultivators. He cited Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam as having had “spectacular results” in regard to alternative development and almost no production of illicit crops. He regretted the situation in Afghanistan where more than 75 per cent of the world’s opium was produced. “We cannot just wait and hope for the problem to be solved, but we should at least contain it”, he emphasized.

A dialogue was conducted between Mr. Alarcchi and the Committee members.

The representative of Finland said reducing the supply and demand of illicit drugs had to be seen as integral parts of the European Union’s cooperation in development programmes. Speaking also on behalf of the European Union (EU) and associated countries, he said the opportunity and motivation for crime also needed to be reduced by dealing with a whole range of social problems, including unemployment, poverty and inequality.

The representative of Colombia said that beyond the international legal instruments and organs, the main tool to fight against illegal drugs was the political will to act together. Every form of multilateral cooperation should be used to address each manifestation of the problem.

Participation in the Tenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to be held in April of next year, should be at a high political level, the representative of Swaziland

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3527 13th Meeting (AM) 15 October 1999

said. Also speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) he said visibility would raise awareness among political leaders and would increase the political will to review national capacities and policies to deal with transnational organized crime.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Mexico, who also spoke on behalf of the Rio Group, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chile and Japan.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today, 15 October, to continue considering questions of crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. It is also expected to introduce draft resolutions on issues related to social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to begin considering issues related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

The Committee has before it the relevant sections of the 1999 Economic and Social Council report (document A/54/3, to be issued). It also has reports of the Secretary-General on crime prevention and measures to eliminate violence against women; on preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on Crime and strengthening the United Nations justice programme; on the United Nations African Institute for Crime Prevention and Treatment of Offenders; and on international cooperation against the drug problem.

Documents

In taking up the question of the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Committee had before it a report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/69-E/1999/8) which had been submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/86 of 12 December 1997. By that resolution, the Assembly had adopted the Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women. Those Strategies were built on the measures included in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women. They are divided into 11 sections that deal with criminal law, criminal procedure, police, sentencing and correction, victim support and assistance, health and social services, training, research and evaluation, crime prevention measures, international cooperation and follow-up activities.

The report states that the Model Strategies and Practical Measures specifically acknowledge the need for an active policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies related to violence against women. The report includes the relevant actions related to crime prevention and criminal justice with regard to the elaboration of a United Nations convention against transnational organized crime; a global programme and technical advisory services; and a Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, scheduled for April 2000.

Responses received from Government indicate evidence of the persistence of significant problems in respect of violence against women and of difficulties encountered in effectively suppressing it, the report states. For the most part, strategies introduced were far from being as systematic and comprehensive as those recommended in the Model Strategies and Practical Measures. Steps described to date were predominantly legal, although many other types of action were also taken. According to the report, there was a need for further planned and coordinated work on the basis of the Model Strategies. Also, research and a more scientific policy approach would have to be pursued regarding key aspects of the Strategies. Furthermore, advisory services could assist Member States in coordinating their national efforts to plan and institute a country specific plan.

The report contains specific initiatives and measures by some countries on the elimination of violence against women. It also contains an Annex with resolutions related to programme activities on the elimination of violence against women and the implementation of General Assembly resolution 52/86. An addendum to the Secretary-General’s report (document A/54/69/Add.1- E/1999/8/Add.1) states that the Government of Chile has provided the Secretary- General with background material concerning various educational programmes to eliminate violence against women established in that country. It also reports that in the United States, the violence against women act of 1994 provided the legislative basis for the first comprehensive government approach to fighting domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. The Violence against women Office was also established to lead the national effort to combat violence against women as a top priority.

In his report on Crime and Prevention and Criminal Justice (document A/54/289), the Secretary-General states that the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention completed a major review and re-orientation of its work methods and structure. It is now more action-oriented and has streamlined its methods of work. It focused on the most pressing priorities of Member States.

The report covers the second year of implementation of the Secretary General’s reform measures and the second year of operation of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. The new approach, adopted by the Centre, is manifested in its launching of global programmes against transnational organized crime, trafficking in human beings and corruption. Attention is given to the building up and re-orientation of criminal justice systems based upon the standards and norms laid down under the aegis of the United Nations.

According to the report, the eighth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Vienna from 27 April to 6 May, demonstrated a further consolidation of the streamlined process of work of the Commission. It also contains information on the drafting of a convention against transnational organized crime. It states that the Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of the convention formally began its work in early 1999 and intended to finish in the year 2000. The Committee had made significant progress on the convention, as well as on three additional international legal instruments against illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components; illegal transporting of and trafficking in migrants; and trafficking in human beings, especially women and children.

A draft resolution on the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders would be presented for adoption at the General Assembly fifty-fourth session, the report states. That resolution would approve the programme of work for the Congress (10-17 April 2000) and recommend a high-level segment for 14 and 15 April. It would also decide that the Tenth Congress should devote particular attention to ways and means of making the draft United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime operational.

The report also contains information on the technical cooperation activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention which are being re- oriented and focused on pressing priority areas. It also contains two tables. The first on technical cooperation projects supported by the Centre during 1999, as at 20 August 1999; and the second on contributions and pledges to the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund during 1999 also as at August 1999.

In his report on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) (document A/54/340), the Secretary-General reviews UNAFRI activities, in particular with regard to the Institute’s transnational dimension. The Secretary-General also reviews UNAFRI’s financial situation, which had greatly affected the Institute’s capacity to deliver its services.

The report indicates that activities regarding general direction and management focused on an intensified raising of awareness among African Governments that crime impedes strategies and programmes of economic sustainability, which is a major constraint on alleviating poverty in Africa. In the area of crime prevention and criminal justice activities, UNAFRI focused over the past year on issues of extradition and mutual legal assistance; firearms and ammunition trafficking; corruption; penal reform; juvenile justice; study of criminal impact on development in southern African countries; and victimization study.

Cooperation and partnerships with international and regional agencies, institutions participating in the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, and with donor agencies were improving steadily, the report continues. It reported that while the Institute had continued to receive political support during the nine years since its founding, total resources of the Institute for 1999 amounted to $403,407, of which $24,126 was derived from assessed contributions from Member States. As at July 1999, out of total assessed contributions of $2,540,816 for the period from 1989 to 1999, only $333,294 had been received.

The Secretary-General’s report on international cooperation against the world drug problem (document A/54/186) states that the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem, held in June 1998, had represented a major landmark in international efforts to achieve a drug-free world. It had formulated a global strategy with a balanced approach viewing demand and supply reduction as mutually reinforcing elements. The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) was following up.

The report summarized the action plan for implementing the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction adopted during the special session. It reports on efforts to eliminate illicit cultivation of the opium poppy, coca bush and cannabis through alternative development, and on measures to promote judicial cooperation for those activities.

The report then describes measures taken with regard to the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and their Precursors, also adopted at the special session. It describes measures to control precursors to those kinds of drugs, as well as measures to counter money-laundering associated with the illicit drug trade. Finally, it enumerates the steps taken to mobilize the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the agency to help States meet the goals and targets set out at the special session for the years 2003 and 2008.

Address by Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

Pino Arlacchi, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, said there was great optimism created by the current results related to drug control worldwide. Drug control was a priority item on national agendas. However, it was necessary to study the global nature of the problem. Alternative projects to illicit crops were necessary. The use of satellites and the Internet had revolutionized international drug control. Countries were now able to estimate narcotic cultivation. Alternative development was the way of the future because it meant that whole communities would lift themselves to a better quality of living. The economic dependance of crop cultivators needed to be broken. There had been “spectacular results” in Thailand, Turkey and Viet Nam in regards to alternative development. Illicit cultivation was almost non-existent in those countries.

In order to break the economic dependance of drug cultivation, the support of the international community was needed. Almost all of the world’s opium production was concentrated in Afghanistan and Myanmar. The United Nations International Drug Control Programme had been unable to fully find a solution to that problem in those countries. Afghanistan was responsible for more than 75 per cent of the world’s opium production. Those figures were unacceptable. “We cannot just wait and hope for the problem to be solved, but we should at least contain the problem”, he emphasized.

In regard to cocaine production, Peru and Bolivia were already achieving remarkable results, he said. This year, Bolivia would eradicate 14,000 hectares of cocaine cultivation. In Peru, the figures were also promising. Colombia’s Government was also making great efforts to combat that problem. International support to Andean countries was very important. Breaking the economic dependance on drugs was essential.

More cross border cooperation was necessary to combat the problem of drug trafficking, he said. A global programme had been created to figure out the best practices in regards to that problem. The world was moving away from a culture of reduction to a culture of prevention.

Transnational criminal groups had proliferated worldwide, he said. They were able to fully exploit the globalization of the world’s economy and were very dangerous. The end of the Cold War had changed the international spectrum of crime. Global crime constituted one of the main threats to prosperity. The combination of corruption, organized crime and money laundering destabilized many countries. Enhanced judicial cooperation was necessary. In addition, it was necessary to abolish bank secrecy worldwide. The Centre’s work had become more effective. Three new global programmes to combat corruption, counteract the traffic in human beings and to track down organized crimes groups had been established. Four million human beings were trafficked every year. A coalition of victim assistance groups and immigration authorities had been created to help deal with that problem.

Dialogue with the Head of the Programme

The representative of Pakistan asked whether there were any on-going negotiations with the Kabul Government to cooperate with UNDCP. He also wondered what the Centre was doing to solve the problem of money laundering.

The representative of Colombia requested more information on the content of the agreement made by the Centre with the European Space Agency to enhance cooperation so as to monitor and determine the extent of illicit crop cultivation.

The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran said his country was situated between the major drug producers in the East and the illicit drug market of the West. He requested information on the steps made by UNDCP in regard to Afghanistan.

MR. ARLACCHI said a project had been started in northern Afghanistan with the Government. The overall political situation had required the project to be small. The size of production had been great last year except in three areas where UNDCP programmes were in place. Those three were small investments, perhaps a few million dollars. The long-term solution was alternative development. In the meantime, a second strategy should be put in place, which was to put a security area around Afghanistan and strengthen the border around it, as had been done in Iran. The flow of drugs had shifted north, particularly to the border with Tajikistan. The UNDCP had provided technical assistance to strengthen the border. This second plan did not change the basic problem, which was opium production in Afghanistan. There would be a meeting at the ministerial level of 21 involved countries to develop better strategies.

With regard to money laundering, he said technical assistance was being provided. Financial intelligence units had been developed for any country requesting it to assist with establishing legislation. More and more countries had asked for it, most recently, Israel. Another initiative was dialogue, or negotiation, with a fairly large group of those involved in off-shore activities, trying to get them to make changes in their practices. A final initiative was trying to understand the mechanism of money laundering so as to offer advise to those needing it.

The UNDCP had developed a strategy of technical instruments for aerial surveys to assist in monitoring of drug production.

The representative of Algeria said some aspects of corruption had been addressed but to resolve the problem, an international comprehensive instrument was required.

The representative of Mexico asked what work was being done on drug reduction. How could those measures be implemented? How were State reports processed and how could they be better managed? Regarding crime prevention, trafficking in migrants was an area that needed to be addressed. Migrants were victims and they should never be penalized. A convention against corruption was a good idea. The definition of corruption should not be limited to the taking of bribes. What progress was being made in the trafficking of small arms? A meeting on small arms had just been concluded in Vienna. Those at the Secretariat should be kept informed about resources needed.

The representative of Rwanda asked if Mr. Arlacchi’s venue included crimes against humanity.

MR. ARLACCHI said that feedback from Member States on the UNDCP address of corruption had been good. A convention on corruption should be seriously considered by Member States. Attention now, however, was turned to the draft convention on organized crime, which should be adopted by the end of next year. A convention on corruption should be a high profile convention, one that began by considering best practices worldwide.

To effectively reduce the demand for drugs, the size of the demand had to be determined, he said. At the moment, very few countries had instruments to measure that. Some countries in Africa did not even have a single person to measure it. Some progress had been made, for example in improving data. The Centre’s work focused on improving the capabilities of Member States to implement their own programmes. It was hoped that donor States would finance more such activities.

A second element on demand reduction was providing treatment, he said. Soweto, for example, had a huge drug-user problem and not a single treatment center. The UNDCP had built one. A third element was to target youth with information and through treatment centers.

The Centre should be a focal point for monitoring small arms trade. There were other United Nations bodies doing more direct work with that.

The Centre was not at present involved with the huge category of crime known as crimes against humanity, because it was too small. There were only 30 people at the Centre. The Centre was ready to take that on when it had more resources.

The representative of China requested information on progress that had been achieved in relation to crime prevention during the Vienna talks.

The representative of Egypt noted that there was an imbalance in the donations given for public purposes and those for specific purposes from the United Nations Fund on Crime Prevention. Also, he wondered about the possibilities for the cooperation between the African Institute for Crime Prevention and UNDCP.

Mr. Arlacchi said that the Vienna talks concerning the Convention had satisfied the mutual assistance aspect of the provisions. The current session of the Ad Hoc Committee would finish today; the subject of money laundering would also be discussed. The degree of commitment and agreement in regard to guidelines set by the Convention was encouraging. That had been the first Convention on international crime. A total of 130 countries had participated in the Ad Hoc Committee and in the work on the Convention. The implementation of the Convention was crucial. The establishment of a fund to provide resources to developing countries so they could implement the Convention had been discussed. One idea was to establish a fund in the United Nations that would be comprised of a percentage of the assets confiscated from criminals.

On the imbalance between the general purpose donations and specific donations, Mr. Arlacchi said that most donations were related to global problems. He hoped that the number of donor countries would expand. Currently, there were three countries which provided most of the donations. The general trend of donations was very positive, even though it had started from a small base. A stronger and better cooperation with the Institutes was necessary in order to deal with international crime. The African Institute was cooperating with preparations for the Tenth Congress. His office in South Africa was acting as a sub-regional office.

Statements

MATTI KAARIAINEN (Finland), speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU) and countries associated with it, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Iceland and Norway, said the General Assembly’s adoption of the Action Plan on Demand Reduction would translate the Declaration on that subject into concrete guidance for Member States in developing programmes to reduce demand for illicit drugs. The United Nations machinery for drug control had to be strengthened. Cooperation and information sharing were of utmost importance in efforts to reduce the supply and demand of drugs, not only internationally but also at regional levels.

The EU, he said, worked with many other regions. For example, a Comprehensive Action Plan on Drugs, between the EU and Latin American and Caribbean countries had been adopted at a summit in Rio de Janeiro in June. Crime prevention, and in particular action against organized crime, was also a priority for the EU. Both national and international organized crime required concerted action. The European Council in Vienna had adopted an Action Plan that would, inter alia, strengthen cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities.

The EU attached great importance to the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, he said. There should be a balance in the programme between organized crime issues and others related to the prevention and control of crime and the criminal justice system, such as effective crime prevention, domestic violence, corruption, victim assistance, prison conditions and juvenile justice.

He said tackling of illicit drugs and crime had to be integrated into all relevant sectoral policies. The root causes of the problems needed to be addressed. Poverty and social exclusion played a key role in finding long-term solutions. Reducing the supply and demand of illicit drugs and reducing the opportunity and motivation for crime had to be seen as integral parts of EU development cooperation. A whole range of social problems, including unemployment, poverty and inequality, had be addressed. Where needed, alternative means of livelihood had to be created. Trade policy measures should encourage developments in eradicating drug cultivation.

LUIS ALFONSO DE ALBA (Mexico), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said the Plan of Action for drug demand reduction was a most important development in control of drugs. Its focus on youth and on state, regional and international steps needing to be taken were both critical. The plan was a call to all governments for reducing demand at all levels. It urged governments and civil society to carry out anti-drug-abuse programmes.

He described numerous measures taken by the Rio group for regional cooperation to control drugs. Those actions centred on coordination between institutions, incorporating technology and strengthening mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels.

Speaking on behalf of his own country, he said Mexico was making a concerted effort to fight drug trafficking. National actions had been taken to fulfil obligations. Mexico’s strategy focused on such elements as creating better coordination among institutions and incorporating state-of-the art machinery for surveillance work. Its aerial surveillance of suspect areas had been strengthened. Mexico had also carried out actions in demand reduction, through campaigns to sensitize the population, stressing the fact that the problem of drugs attacked all people at any level of society. He welcomed the Convention on organized crime to combat transnational and associated crimes.

Mexico had also taken actions with regard to small arms and associated explosives, he said. It had taken steps to make sure migrants were not victimized, as well as to stop trafficking in people and to address corruption. Mexico had done all that without coercion or forcing anyone to make commitments that wouldn’t lead anywhere. Member States should discuss proposals to make sure they were feasible. There should be coordination so as to avoid duplication of work being done in Vienna.

MOSES DLAMINI (Swaziland), speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said international cooperation should be enhanced in confronting the uncivil society that had evolved as a by-product of globalization. That was the one associated with the production, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs and the spread of transnational organized crime threatening the institutions of the State and civil society.

Participation in the Tenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice next year should be at a high political level, he said. Visibility would raise awareness among political leaders and would increase the political will to review national capacities and policies to deal with transnational organized crime, including the need for technical support and identifying the measures to improve them. A focus on women in the criminal justice system, as intended for one of four workshops at the Tenth Congress was encouraging, he said. Also to be addressed were the issues of female criminality, the treatment of female offenders, women as victims and women as practitioners in the criminal justice system. It was important to remember that violence against women was not only a crime but a violation of human rights. As such, addressing it called for an integrated, holistic approach.

He said continued support for the United Nations Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders would benefit not only the Institute but the people of Africa. SADC had not been spared the harmful effects of the illicit drug scourge, which was continuing to pose a serious threat to social and economic development. The SADC was committed to implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly in the time frame specified. International cooperation to control illicit drugs and prevent crime was critical for developing countries. Development could not occur in the absence of national and global security.

CHRISTINE LEE (Singapore) said her country’s geographical location and the fact that it was an island made it open to economic and cultural interaction with the rest of the world. It also made it vulnerable to outside influences, such as those related to criminal activities. It had become a transit point in the international trade of illicit drugs. There was an ongoing struggle to protect society. The provision of capital punishment to counteract such activities was in place in her country. That position should be respected by the international community. In the absence of security of persons and property, neither individuals nor any society could be truly free. However, “the rights of every individual must be balanced against the equal rights of other individuals, and against the rights of the community as a whole”, she added.

The rights of victims of crimes needed to be respected, she emphasized. They had the right to have just and effective remedies. No States or group of States had the right to impose its views on another one. The European Union was attempting to impose its views on criminal justice, specifically in regard to the abolition of the death penalty. The only international instrument which imposed an obligation on States to abolish the death penalty was the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That instrument was optional and States had the sovereign right to choose whether or not to abolish the death penalty.

LAKSHMAN KIRIELLA (Sri Lanka) said society, as a whole, was responsible for the actions of children. They needed to be helped rather than imprisoned for criminal offences. Having a society free of drug abuse, especially for the youth was essential. His country’s proximity to the “Golden Crescent” and the “Golden Triangle” which were responsible for providing a considerable quantity of the world’s heroin supply, had adversely affected his country. There were currently approximately 40,000 heroine addicts and about 200,000 users of cannabis. A Special Committee to combat those problems had been established.

Narcotic drugs were brought to children by drug producers, he said. Other causes of addiction were the lack of family support and of religious faith. The latter was important in both developing and developed countries. The religious harmony in his country was due to Budhism’s principle of tolerance. That religion encouraged refraining from consuming alcohol, taking drugs and indulging in undesirable activities. He was confident that the teachings of other religions would enrich the lives of the youth so they could cope with the stresses and strains of the modern world.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) recalled four trends cited recently by the UNDCP: an increase in global consumption; the growth of synthetic drugs; closer links between criminal drug organizations operating in different markets of the world; and a tendency to consider less dangerous drugs as candidates for legalization. “What tools does the State have to counteract these tendencies?” he asked. Beyond international legal instruments and organs, the main tool was the political will to act together, as in the conclusions adopted at the special session on drugs. A solid declaration had been made to share responsibility for the drug problem. Every form of multilateral cooperation should be used to address each manifestation of the problem.

He said globalization had facilitated the access of drug traffickers to drugs. That had made the distinction between producer and consumer countries irrelevant. Modern transport, communications and international banking had created criminal networks. It was important to conclude the convention against organized transnational crime. Colombia’s national plan focused on alternative development; reduction of supply; strengthening legal and institutional arrangements; reducing domestic demand; environmental management of cultivated areas; and adherence to the international agenda. That last issue entailed consolidating the principles of shared responsibility to create a balanced and integrated approach to the problem of drugs. That was done by bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation.

LORETO LEYTON (Chile) said she shared the view of the Mexican representative, who had spoken on behalf of the Rio Group. She mentioned other regional programmes in which her country was involved.

The special Assembly session on drug control had reaffirmed international commitment to counteracting the problem of both drugs and crimes, she continued. In her country, numerous campaigns had been carried out through cooperation between agencies and financial systems. Illegal assets had been seized and steps had been taken against money laundering. Among other steps taken by Chile to counter crime were studies undertaken to strengthen definitions of crime and to devising the necessary mechanisms for implementing anti-crime measures, particularly in the financial field. The norms of international instruments were being incorporated into Chile’s legislation. The new penal code would go into effect next year and would affect all aspects of illegal drug activity.

Furthermore, she said, Chile had strengthened its programmes to reduce demand. Illegal cannabis crops had been cut-back. Chile’s national policy held that the State was responsible for demand reduction. The State, however, worked with the family so that demand reduction programmes were successful. New demand reduction programmes were modified and introduced on an ongoing basis.

KUNIO UMEDA (Japan) said in addition to creating legal instruments to combat transnational organized crime, voluntary cooperation was important. His Government exchanged information and cooperated in law enforcement and was also active in providing technical assistance. In addition, it had established new laws to cope with organized crime. Those laws imposed severe penalties on organized crime, authorized the interception of electronic communications in connection with investigations of specific serious crimes and provided for the protection of witnesses during the trial processes.

In order to break the “vicious cycle of drug abuse”, his Government attached great importance not only to the supply of drugs, but to demand. In order to reduce demand, preventive action was much more effective than treatment and rehabilitation. The abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants had increased at a higher rate than heroine or cocaine and was a global issue. His Government supported the UNDCP efforts to obtain information on that problem. Regional cooperation in controlling drug abuse was essential.

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