AUC Statement on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking / “Think Health, Not Drugs”
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 28, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 26 June 2010, the African Union commission issued a statement on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Below is the complete message of the African Union Commission at this occasion:
“As the World celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26 June 2010, we are reminded of the twin drug challenges associated with drugs in the continent: drug abuse and crime.
In recent years, Africa has emerged as a hub for drug trafficking to European markets – cocaine via West Africa and heroin through East Africa; and synthetic drug laboratories mushrooming.
Trafficking of cocaine, heroin, hashish and synthetic drugs are now common along routes traditionally used to smuggle cigarettes, arms and illegal migrants.
This proverbial new market-place and trafficking venue is not only a bonus for criminal groups, but also a lucrative source of funding for rebels, anti-government forces, and terrorists. Some profits from drug trade are being reinvested and used to generate new illicit business. For example, secondary trade seem to be picking up along parts of these routes, with cannabis, amphetamines, arms, and sex trafficking becoming important activities.
Alarmingly, drug abuse is on the rise posing significant health challenges such as drug related HIV infection, increased financial volatility and opportunistic corruption.
As this year’s theme stresses, it is time to “Think Health, Not Drugs”.
The illicit drug trade also undermines governance, institutions and societal cohesion. Drug traffickers typically seek routes where the rule of law is weak. In turn, drug-related crime deepens vulnerability to instability and poverty, and impedes development. Recent worrying trends, particularly in parts of West Africa show how drug trafficking can threaten the security, and even the sovereignty, of states.
The effect of the above has fully been recognized by the African Union, the ECOSOCC and its functional Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, resulting to the launch of the Africa Union Plan of Action for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2007-2012) in January 2008 with two fundamental objectives, namely to:
reverse the current trends of drug abuse and trafficking organised crime, corruption, terrorism and related challenges to socio-economic development and human security, and to
Achieve tangible improvement in the social and personal well-being of the people of Africa and their communities.
The AU Plan of Action has 7 (seven) priority areas which will inter alia address the issue of effective continental, regional and national policy formulation and coordination of implementation in the domains of drug control and crime prevention, with the objective to strengthen the capacities of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities and Member States for drug control and crime prevention policy development and coordination of implementation.
The Africa Union joins the United Nations in putting a stronger emphasis on enhancing justice and fighting crime in peace-building and peace-keeping operations.
The Africa Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities and Member States are therefore called upon to renew their commitments to the full implementation of the Africa Union Plan of Action for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2007-2012). In addition, on the 2010 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, our commitment to the shared responsibility to work towards drug and crime free communities, are to be reaffirmed. In particular, Member States are encouraged to forge and sustain partnerships with the media, Civil Society Organisations such as non-Governmental Organisations, Faith-based Organisations and Community Based Organisations, as well as with the private sector.”
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
