HIGHLIGHTING THREAT OF TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS, PEOPLE TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, THIRD COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSION OF CRIME, DRUG ISSUES

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Third Committee

10^th Meeting (AM)

HIGHLIGHTING THREAT OF TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS, PEOPLE TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY,

THIRD COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSION OF CRIME, DRUG ISSUES

Trafficking in drugs and human beings not only affected numerous lives, but, through links to terrorism and other transnational criminal activities such as money laundering and corruption, threatened the security and stability of the international community, said the representative of Romania as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) concluded its consideration of crime prevention and international drug control today.

Efforts undertaken at the national level to contain and control trafficking in human beings and drugs would not bear fruits unless all members of the international community committed all their available material, human and financial resources to implement integrated policies and foster common approaches with regional partners, he continued.  Drug trafficking control was a problem that could be addressed only through coordinated actions undertaken at national, regional and international levels.

The need for coordination and cooperation in the face of transnational organized crime was also stressed by the representative of India, who welcomed the measures taken by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to emphasize an integrated approach to fighting drugs, crime and terrorism.  Bilateral, regional and international collaboration was needed to battle all aspects of international terrorism and transnational crime involving drugs, money laundering, arms and the illegal movement of nuclear, biological and chemical materials.  

      Several delegations, including representatives of Liechtenstein, Pakistan, Romania, and the Philippines expressed their appreciation for the important work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and stressed the importance of the Office coordinating international action on crime prevention.  A few speakers highlighted the need for the international community to support the work of the Office by ensuring adequate resources, including an increase in the share for UNODC from the regular United Nations budget.

Over the past few days, delegations raised concerns about the trafficking of human beings, drugs and small arms, and the general spread of organized transnational crime through the use of modern technologies.  Many delegations also stressed that organized crime was inextricably linked to terrorism, and that policies of States needed to be comprehensive, targeted and based on solid cooperation on local, national, regional and international levels. 

Poverty and the lack of opportunities were cited as reasons behind the cultivation, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs by several delegations. 

It was therefore essential to invest in socio-economic development, including through the provision of crop alternatives for poppy farmers.  Many speakers expressed their concern about the situation in Afghanistan and called on the international community to continue providing assistance in the battle against drugs.  

Delegations also welcomed the entry into force, two weeks ago, of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the conclusion of the drafting of the Convention against Corruption.  They expressed hope that those new international legal and preventive mechanisms would further bolster the unity of the international community in the fight against global crime. 

Also today, draft resolutions were introduced on the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly; cooperatives in social development; implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; policies and programmes involving youth; and follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons –- Second World on Ageing, by representatives of Chile, Mongolia, Philippines, Senegal, and Morocco, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China and Mexico.

The representatives of the following countries also addressed the Committee on crime prevention and international drug control:  Uganda, Cuba, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Belarus, Viet Nam, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mozambique.

The observer of the Holy See also addressed the Committee today.

The Committee will reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m. to begin its consideration of the advancement of women.

Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Culture) will continue its consideration of crime prevention and international drug control.

For further background information please see press release GA/SHC/3740 of 9 October.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

A representative of Chile introduced a draft resolution on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly (document A/C.3/58/L.9).  She said the draft emphasized the need for consistency in national and international economic policies and for greater participation by developing countries.

A representative of Mongolia introduced a draft resolution on cooperatives in social development (document A/C.3/58/L.7), saying cooperatives were becoming a major factor in social development, and the resolution sought to improve the role of cooperatives in the eradication of poverty.

A representative of the Philippines introduced a draft resolution on the implementation of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons (document A/C.3/58/L.8).  She said the resolution recognized that persons with disabilities faced discrimination, as well as higher risks with regard to poverty, and addressed the need for more improvements in strengthening protections to improve the quality of life for disabled persons.

A representative of Senegal introduced a draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth (document A/C.3/58/L.11).  She said the resolution sought to improve conditions affecting youth in the areas of education, unemployment, hunger, poverty, and health, which were in critical need of improvement, especially in developing countries.

Introducing a draft resolution on the follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons:  Second World Assembly on Ageing (A/C.3/58/L.10), the representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, China and Mexico, said that the draft resolution aimed to provide realistic coordination and follow-up to the Conference, including though the integration of issues related to ageing in all of the work of the United Nations.  

Statements on Crime, Illicit Drugs

STEFAN BARRIGA (Liechtenstein) said that only two weeks ago, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime had entered into force, and it could be expected that this, together with the entry into force, in December, of its Protocol relating to trafficking in persons, would further bolster the unity of the international community in the fight against global crime.  Only two days after the entry into force of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the drafting of the Convention Against Corruption had been completed.  Liechtenstein welcomed the constructive spirit shown by all delegations involved in those negotiations.  That process had been a prime example of the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation.

He said Liechtenstein had in the past supported the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with voluntary financial contributions, and was committed to continue and further enhance this cooperation, in particular through the provision of expertise in the fight against financing of terrorism and money laundering.  Liechtenstein contributed to various specific assistance programmes, such as a project aimed at strengthening crime prevention in Central and Eastern Europe.  Furthermore, Liechtenstein was currently assessing possibilities of increasing its priority cooperation with the Global Programme against Money Laundering and of supplementing this cooperation with financial support to the coordination mechanism of the Global Programme against Corruption.

H.E. BAYANI MERCADO (Philippines) said his country was committed to the fight against transnational crime, one of the major problems faced by today’s policymakers.  It was a defining issue of the twenty-first century, as the cold war had been for the twentieth century and colonialism was for the nineteenth century.  The collective will of the international community must be intensified to combat this scourge.

The Philippines was heartened to note that the United Nations, through the newly organized United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, was taking an active role in these efforts, he said.  His country also welcomed the expansion of technical assistance activities undertaken under the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, particularly in trafficking in human beings and international terrorism.  His Government had ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, including its two protocols against trafficking in persons and smuggling in migrants.

The Philippine Congress had also passed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, a comprehensive national law that widened the scope of human trafficking covered, and imposed stiffer penalties against traffickers.  To address the problem of illicit drugs, the Philippine Congress had passed a law creating a drug enforcement agency, he added.  The Government also created a multi-agency task force to assist in eliminating illegal drug syndicates in the country.

CATHERINE OTITI (Uganda) said terrorism had caused untold suffering in many parts of the world, including East Africa.  The East African Community was progressively working together to combat crime, and had, among several measures, adopted the Protocol on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking.  In the case of Uganda, terrorist groups such as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ad the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) had terrorized communities in many parts of the country.  Uganda called for the support of the international community and the United Nations to help end this reign of terror.

There still remained great obstacles to overcoming the numerous manifestations of crime, she said.  Measures including poverty eradication and debt cancellation must be given momentum to alleviate the problem.  Least Developed Countries must therefore be assisted to allow their participation in preparatory meetings charged with crafting international legal instruments so that the nexus of their problems could be well represented and solutions could be found.  Training for all relevant personnel must be undertaken to enable developing countries to enforce laws against crime, and also to prevent these personnel from becoming part of the food chain that nourished crime.  Crime did not only violate human rights, but was a hindrance in many parts of the world to the efforts being taken to achieve the Millennium Declaration Goals.   

JORGE CUMBERBACH (Cuba) said greater international cooperation was required to support national efforts in fighting the alarming rise in international crime involving the trafficking of arms, drugs, and women.  He stressed that such collective efforts must be based on respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in national affairs.  The entry to force of United Nations Convention on Transnational Crime was a big step forward in promoting international cooperation to combat this global problem.

He said Cuba also supported efforts for the adoption of the Convention against Corruption, noting that it must not supersede national efforts to fight corruption.  The most recent exposure of corporate frauds, such as those involving Enron and WorldCom, showed how useful combating corruption could be for national economies.

Turning to the plight of illegal immigrants entering the United States, he said it was unacceptable that millions of undocumented immigrants survived on the streets without rights, and that US law continued to deny protection to these individuals.

Cuba, despite the economic difficulties resulting primarily from the embargo against its economy, had an exemplary history in combating transnational crime, including money laundering and trafficking of drugs and arms.  He called on the international community to step up efforts and increase cooperation to eliminate transnational crime.

MUKTA TOMAR (India) said her country welcomed the measures taken by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to emphasize an integrated approach to fighting drugs, crime and terrorism.  The work of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the UNODC was of particular importance, due to the high priority given by the international community to that issue.  There was an urgent need to enhance the capacities of the Terrorism Prevention Branch, especially through increased budgetary resources.  There could be no justification for terrorism on religious, political, ideological or any other grounds, and international cooperation was vital to strengthening efforts against it.  Furthermore, the fight could not be restricted to the perpetrators, but needed to encompass States which sponsored, supported, or provided safe haven to terrorists.

India had taken extensive legislative and administrative measures to fight terrorism, but it was important to note that terrorism was a global phenomenon.  Terrorists were highly networked, and used the latest technological advancements to their advantage, she added.  Narcotic drugs were their main source of funding.  The close nexus between international terrorism and transnational crime involving drugs, money laundering, arms and the illegal movement of nuclear, biological and chemical materials posed a serious threat to the international community, and needed to be carefully monitored.  Bilateral, regional and international collaboration was essential to effectively combat drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism.

OUNSENG VIXAY (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) said the scourge of illicit drugs had become an international problem.  The fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking could, therefore, not be won without the full involvement of the international community.  Technical cooperation and financial assistance were crucial to enable all countries to sustain the achievements made so far, and to make further progress.  In this fight, all States must join hands and do everything they could in order to turn the world into a place free from drugs.  Through the implementation of the ongoing balanced approach for drug control, the elimination of the opium poppy cultivation by the year 2006 in his country seemed to be on the right track.

He said the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision, a national focal point for drug control, had been able to implement a number of positive steps in reducing drug demand and opium poppy cultivation, as well as in enforcing laws and regulations against illicit drug traffickers.  While the implementation of the opium elimination programme was progressing, Laos was still being used as a transit country for illicit drug trafficking, especially amphetamine type stimulants. 

The trafficking of stimulants and the abuse of the drugs continued to worsen, he said.  That abuse had also expanded from urban areas to the traditional opium producing and consuming provinces, with damaging effect on socio-economic development efforts.  To address the problem, drug demand reduction programmes were being developed, focusing in particular on preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation, and the strengthening of law enforcement. 

ANDREI POPKOV (Belarus) said the problems of increasing transnational organized crime, such as the trafficking of human beings and drugs, were of utmost concern to his Government.  There was a need for a universal recognition of the United Nations’ legal norms and standards in fighting crime, with particular emphasis on technical assistance and training.  Belarus had deposited its ratification instruments for the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol against Trafficking in Human Beings, and was particularly concerned about the trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  A number of legislative mechanisms had therefore been enacted, including attempts to strengthen law enforcement.

The Government of Belarus was acting through joint programmes on the international drug problem, with other States in the region, and the European Union had played an important role in supporting such cooperation, he said.  Cooperation was particularly important since criminal groups had been using Belarus as a transit corridor for the shipment of heroin to Western Europe.  Another source of concern to the Government was the increased trafficking and spread of amphetamine type stimulants in the region.

NISAR AHMED MEMON (Pakistan) said the United Nations had a central role to play in the international fight against organized crime, and his country welcomed the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in this effort.  It also appreciated the work of UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch.  Terrorism was a complex phenomenon, with political and legal dimensions that were the preserve of the Security Council and the General Assembly.  The Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee was mandated to oversee the implementations of Member States’ obligations to prevent terrorism.

Combating money laundering and criminal economies constituted a major element of strategies against organized crime, he said.  He called on Member States to examine the desirability of a stand-alone instrument against money laundering negotiated under the aegis of the United Nations.

Regarding narcotics, he noted Pakistan’s achievements in eliminating illicit crops through law enforcement and alternative development initiatives.  As a result, Pakistan had been a zero poppy-cultivation country for the past several years.  His country was located along one of the most popular routes for smuggling opium, and had attracted much attention in the context of drug trafficking.  Pakistan had strengthened its drug law enforcement capacity to reduce drug trafficking through and within the country.  He emphasized that solutions to the global drug problem, along the fight against terrorism, money laundering and violent crimes, required sustained efforts at both national and international levels.

OCTAVIAN STAMATE (Romania) said drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings were among the outstanding challenges that confronted the international community today.  Those crimes not only affected numerous lives, but, through their links to terrorism and other transnational criminal activities such as money laundering and corruption, represented threats to national and regional security and stability in various areas of the world.  The control of drug trafficking was a problem that could be addressed only through coordinated actions undertaken at national, regional and international levels. 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime must preserve its central role in global coordination of counter narcotics activities, he said.  Acknowledging the potential danger posed by trafficking and illegal consumption of narcotics in countries in transition throughout Central and Eastern Europe, the Romanian authorities had adopted legislation and had established institutions aiming to prevent and contain that scourge. 

The Romanian Government was fully aware that efforts undertaken at national levels to contain and control trafficking in human beings would not bear fruit unless all the members of the international community committed all their available material, human and financial resources to implement integrated policies and foster common approaches with regional partners.  All countries involved -– countries of origin, transit and destination –- were to be held responsible for this modern form of slavery, he said.  Romania therefore took a proactive stand in the effort to combat human trafficking, particularly trafficking in women, through the development of joint projects with its neighbours. 

PHAM THI KIM ANH (Viet Nam) said her country was concerned that while traditional crimes had changed in scope, new forms of criminal behaviour were emerging.  Intensive regional and international cooperation were essential in fighting these new crimes, particularly the trafficking of women and children.

The global problem of drugs continued to pose a major challenge, threatening public health, causing crime and undermining efforts to reduce poverty and foster economic growth.  Viet Nam was pleased about the sizeable reduction of opium and coca cultivation in Asia noted by Mr. Costa, she said.  Her country had drastically reduced illicit cultivation of opium and poppy crops, and in 2003 had narrowed them down to 500 hectares.  It had also carried out socio-economic programmes to stabilize living standards in order to discourage the recultivation of illicit crops.  While reducing the supply of illicit drugs was an essential component in tackling the drug problem, reducing demand was equally critical and required integrated strategies and international cooperation.

MAURICIO A. SOLORZANO (Nicaragua) said corruption negatively affected democracy and the enjoyment of human rights.  In Nicaragua, corruption was a serious problem, and the Government was doing its utmost to fight it, in addition to attempting to assure the return of money laundered funds to the country.  In this context, Nicaragua welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the draft Convention against Corruption.  It was hoped that this new instrument would strengthen efforts to fight money laundering and ensure the return of assets.  The Government followed a policy of zero tolerance toward corruption in order to ensure the economic and social development of the country, and to develop a culture of honesty.

Concerning international drug control, he stressed that combating this scourge must be one of all States’ main concerns.  Studies and statistics pointed to the complexity of dealing with organized crime groups.  Due to its location, the country was being used both for cultivation and trafficking.  It was hoped that, in the not too distant future, Nicaragua and the world would be drug free.

CONNIE TARACENA-SECAIRA (Guatemala) said that, as a transit country, Guatemala had faced delays in the building of social peace, and a weakening of its aspirations for development.  The production, transport, distribution, consumption and trafficking of drugs had given rise to grave social and economic problems.  To combat this scourge, Guatemala had undertaken legislative and law enforcement measures to eradicate poppy and marijuana crops.  It had arrested nearly 100 presumed drug lords, and had arrested a similar number of presumed offenders.  It was also making efforts to prevent money laundering, and was examining a bill to suppress the financing of terrorists.

At the regional level, Guatemala was cooperating with its neighbours in efforts to combat the production and transit of illicit drugs, she said.  Guatemala was working to strengthen its legal framework to continue that fight, and was counting on the support of donor countries and the United Nations system.

GERALDO SARANGA (Mozambique) said his country’s political will and commitment to the global fight against transnational organized crime had been highlighted by its accession to one of the most important international legal instruments on organized crime, namely the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols.  At the subregional level, Mozambique had signed and ratified the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Corruption, while at the international level, it was considering acceding to the Protocol on Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms.  Mozambique had actively participated in the drafting of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.  That Convention represented a landmark in efforts to build up a global and effective response against international organized crime and corruption.

The political will demonstrated at the international level by the Government of Mozambique was being translated internally into concrete measures to combat corruption.  In this regard, the Government was in the process of enacting a new law against corrupt behaviour.  Mozambique had recently hosted a meeting of Southern African Regional Police Chiefs, which had discussed the root causes of illicit drug trade, firearms, trafficking in persons and immigration and customs policies.  The meeting had concluded that Member States should improve and enhance cooperation among themselves, and harmonize their work methods in combating transboundary crimes.

CELESTINO MIGLIORE, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, said his delegation was especially concerned about the ever more obvious links between the illicit drug trade and other human tragedies, such as trafficking of human beings, the proliferation of illicit small arms, organized crime and terrorism.  Developing countries were particularly vulnerable to the destructive effects of the drug trade as easy trafficking points or inexpensive cultivators of illicit crops.  For this reason, the Holy See welcomed development projects that offered farmers profitable and viable alternatives to drug cultivation.

The Holy See was also concerned about the alarming upward trends in the production and abuse of synthetic drugs, especially by young people.  Much research had shown the link between strong family bonds and the prevention of drug abuse by children, he said.  It was therefore important to highlight the role of the family in the effective prevention of drug abuse, and efforts to combat dependence on psychotropic substances should target family relationships.  In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, his delegation encouraged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to work with the Social Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to explore the central role of the family in drug prevention.

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