Narkotikabekämpning på global nivå

Efter förhandlingar har jag och min Mexikanska parlamentarikerkollega senator Laura Angélica Rojas Hernándes (som är ordförande i Mexikanska parlamentets utrikesutskott för relationer med internationnella organisationer) tagit ett initiativ inom Interparlamentariska Unionen i syfte att agera mot narkotikaproblematiken på global nivå. Vi är överens om att legalisering inte är någon bra lösning.

Förslaget ska presenteras i morgon då det avgörs hur den fortsatta behandlingen ska gå till. Här nedan finns förslaget i sin helhet.

FORMAL REQUEST FOR A STUDY ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED AND BALANCED STRATEGY TO COUNTER THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM

THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

Proposal submitted by the Mexican and Swedish delegations to the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs as a formal request for a study to be conducted by the IPU

Explanatory text

The drug problem has become an increasingly problematic global phenomenon. Under current circumstances, the principle that everyone, from the individual right up to the State itself, is accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, can not apply. Establishing respect for the rule of law is fundamental to achieving a durable peace and security, to the effective protection of human rights, and to sustained economic progress and development.

The world drug problem, notwithstanding the progress made, continues to pose a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of our citizens. Efforts to counter it have had a high price for society and individuals.

The international community must take responsibility and take action. No country can combat drug trafficking on its own. We are all affected as countries of consumers, suppliers and transit and highly dependent on regional, sub-regional and international cooperation in the fight against drugs and organized crime, a priority area for the United Nations. We Parliamentarians have the responsibility for the legal framework – with regards to public safety, but also to health, education and other related fields – and it is vital that we as representatives of the people safeguard democracy around the world.

The Mexican and Swedish delegations, according to the Statutes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, wishes to present the following study request for inclusion in the research and study agenda of the organization based on the following considerations:

Background

The worrisome dimension of the drug consumption and illicit trade problem are self-evident according to recent data of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). There are approximately 315 million people in the world, between the ages of 15 and 64 years old, who consume drugs on a regular basis. Approximately 190 million persons use cannabis, while 20 million take cocaine and 53 million consume methamphetamines. While the use of traditional drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, seems to be declining in some parts of the world, prescription drug abuse and new psychoactive substance abuse is growing. The number of people with severe problems of drug addiction has increased significantly to reach 39 million.

Problems related to the abuse of drugs are still strongly associated with several diseases of pandemic proportions such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, among others. Young people and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to drugs, especially in economically depressed areas where there is a general lack of education and work opportunities.  These are the primary targets of criminal organizations that take advantage of the illicit drug market.

Drug trafficking is a substantial part of the global illicit trade involving the cultivation, distribution and sale of substances subject to drug prohibition laws. Drug-related violence is one of the most important sources of criminality or instability in several countries and remains a constant concern for the safety and well-being of entire cities and populations. Moreover, it has proved to be an important component of transnational organized crime in terms of providing financial support and facilitating other heinous and fast-growing criminal activities such as human and arms trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, sexual and labour exploitation, and money laundering. As a cornerstone of organized crime networks with transnational dimensions, drug trafficking is not only a regional but also a global problem that needs to be tackled by the international community.

Despite the efforts and progress made by States, increased international cooperation, and the recognition of the principle of common and shared responsibility, unsatisfactory results have triggered the need to find new ways of tackling the problem but also emphasizing the health dimension and protection of the social fabric. In September 2012, the Presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala called on the United Nations General Assembly to organize a Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), through a resolution co-sponsored by 95 other countries. It will take place on 2016.

The main focus of that event, apart from launching a high-level political dialogue, will be to scale up the process of reviewing, and eventually adjusting, the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem, which are currently under assessment by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna. States must reaffirm their commitment to international cooperation, while at the same time conducting a broad, transparent, inclusive and scientific evidence based debate on this important issue.

The context for such a conference to take place cannot be more appropriate.  It comes precisely at a time of growing discussion of the current policies on drugs and calls for drug policy reform, particularly but not exclusively in Latin America and the United States. In addition, other leaders, experts, policymakers, parliamentarians and thinkers, both within and outside the realm of international organizations, have engaged in a particularly fruitful dialogue promoting regional and international debate.

This meeting will be held on the eve of important key events due to take place on the road to UNGASS 2016, such as the presentation of the Hemispheric Review of the Organization of American States on the drug policies to be discussed during special sessions of its General Assembly, the presentation of a report on these matters by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and, more importantly, the meeting of the High-level Segment of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on 13 and 14 March 2014, which has issued a “Joint Ministerial Agreement”.

The world drug problem is much more than a demand and supply issue and that it seems necessary to strengthen policies that take into account the social fabric and human rights considerations in order to minimize its impact on modern societies.

The IPU reaffirms the United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/193, in which it decided to convene, in early 2016, a special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem to review the progress in the implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem, including an assessment of the achievements and challenges in countering the world drug problem, within the framework of the three international drug control conventions and other relevant United Nations instruments.

The IPU also reaffirms the United Nations General Assembly resolution 68/197, which requested the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to engage in the preparatory process for UNGASS, including presentation of proposals to be considered by the General Assembly starting at its sixty-ninth session, and supporting its substantive work to start the compilation of regional, national and local relevant experiences in reducing drugs supply and demand and policies curtailing violence and social vulnerabilities. At the same time, the IPU also calls on all relevant actors to remain engaged in this debate, so that it leads to the strongest possible outcome.

 

Proposal

 
The Mexican and Swedish delegations formally requests and appeals for the approval of a special research exercise, led by appointed Rapporteurs. A review should be carried out on an enhanced role for the IPU in developing an action plan on international cooperation towards an integrated strategy to give the UN-process a parliamentary dimension to counter the world drug problem. The IPU should consider the important debate ahead and the relevant role that parliaments have in the discussion, reform and implementation of meaningful legislation on the subject. This should be one of the studies to be conducted by the IPU during 2014-2015 under the mandate of the fourth Standing Committee.