Pubdate: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 Source: Standard Times Press (Sierra Leone) Copyright: 2008 Standard Times Press Contact: http://standardtimespress.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4836 DRUG TRAFFICKING IN WEST AFRICA..ECOWAS EXPERTS DISCUSSED Experts on drug and drug-related matters from the 15 ECOWAS Member States began a two-day meeting today Sunday, 26th October 2008 in Praia, Cape Verde to review the threats and challenges posed by the drug scourge in West Africa and consider means to help strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and related organized crime in the region. The experts include those working on drug policy development and implementation, drug enforcement and those active in social development. Members of civil society organizations active in drug and drug-related issues in West Africa are also participating in the conference which theme is "Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat to West Africa". The meeting, which is being organized by ECOWAS in collaboration with the Government of Cape Verde and in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), precedes a ministerial one of similar nature that will take place on 28th and 29th October 2008, also in Praia. It is expected to help increase the level of awareness of the experts on the dimension of the negative consequences of the drug challenge in the region and help them make appropriate recommendations to the ministers. In doing this, the experts will specifically consider two draft documents which the ministers are expected to adopt. These are the draft Political Declaration, which is expected to provide the much needed political commitment by the governments of Member States as well as the draft Regional Response Action Plan against Drug Trafficking and Related Organized Crime in West Africa. The response plan is in fulfillment of a directive by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that the Commission takes immediate steps to respond effectively to the challenge. It assigns responsibilities to different stakeholders and defines the timeframe within which to expect tangible results to determined projects and tasks. As a mark of their commitment to the anti-drug war, civil society organizations from Member States, including their umbrella body - the West Africa Civil Society Forum, met on 16th October 2008 in Abuja to enrich the two documents. At the experts meeting in Praia, participants are being treated to some ECOWAS presentations including "Building a strong drug control coordination mechanism in ECOWAS: The role of the ECOWAS Commission" as well as "Drug trafficking and related organized crime and the challenges of rebuilding and stabilization of post-war countries". The UNODC will make a presentation "National integrated programme framework strategy and cooperation with UN agencies and development partners. At the opening, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Gender and Human Development, Dr. Adrienne Yande Diop, while recalling that the meeting was convened in response to a directive by ECOWAS political leaders, stated that it would serve to redefine the focus within the regional and global contexts in order to engender strategies for a common fight against drug trafficking, abuse and organized crime. She tasked the participants to help facilitate the adoption, by regional leaders, of the Political Declaration against Drug Trafficking and an implementable and dynamic Response Plan that would help stem the activities of drug criminals. In his statement, the UNODC representative, Mr. Francis Maertens, recalled the negative effects of the drug trade and noted that West Africa has unfortunately become a transit region for the traffic of illicit drugs. He underscored the UNODC's readiness to provide the necessary assistance to law enforcement agencies in ECOWAS Member States towards the development of concrete measures to contain the drug scourge in the region. Mr. Maertens called for a firm and sustainable support from the international community and a robust partnership that engages the United Nations, ECOWAS Member States and other international organizations in the fight against drug trafficking. Speaking in a similar vein, the UNOWA representative, Mr. Leandre Bassole, reiterated UNOWA's mandate which is to facilitate the maintenance of peace and stability in West Africa. He expressed concern over the increasing wave of trans-border criminality and the need for ECOWAS, with the support of its partners, to mobilize relevant expertise for a coordinated fight against drug trafficking. In her welcome address, the Minister of Justice of Cape Verde, Dr. Marisa dos Nascimento Morais, reiterated the fact that drug trafficking is a major threat to national defence and security of the region and that a committed, coherent and coordinated combat against the offence is an imperative to ensuring stability and socio-economic development of the region. Dr. Morais disclosed that Cape Verde has begun a national drug control programme which, among others, addresses preventive action on the use of illegal drugs, treatment of users, enhanced efficiency in drug control as well as special border control at sea and air ports. This, she added, has helped to strengthen international cooperation within Cape Verdean territory. She expressed that hope that after the Praia meetings, the fight against drug trafficking will go into a new and stronger phase with the adoption of the Political Declaration and Regional Response Plan which she described as fundamental instruments that will strengthen the region's anti-drug trafficking measures. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin