ACTION TO COMBAT THE CONSUMPTION AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS AND ORGANISED CRIME

Resolution unanimously adopted by the 100th Inter-Parliamentary Conference
(Moscow, 11 September 1998)

The 100th Inter-Parliamentary Conference,

Considering that the production, trafficking, marketing and consumption of drugs constitute a world problem which poses a serious threat to individuals, especially youth, to peoples and to States, and requires effective and practical concerted action since, together with terrorism and corruption, it is a major obstacle to the fulfilment of the aspirations of individuals and peoples to development, peace and well-being,

Recognising that this problem cannot be resolved solely by repressive measures, whether applied to supply or demand; on the contrary, it calls for an overall approach designed to overcome poverty and promote the development of peoples, while preserving the natural and environmental resources that are seriously threatened both by the production process and by the repressive measures that are used or proposed,

Recalling the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, which reaffirmed the need for international co-operation and co-ordination as an effective means of combating these problems, and aware that action to combat the demand for, production of and illicit trafficking in drugs and associated organised crime can succeed only if all countries and their governments co-operate and intensify their efforts in this regard,

1. Demands that States and the international community devote greater attention to solving the world drug problem;
2. Recommends that States, recognising their shared responsibility in this matter, co-operate at the multilateral, regional and subregional levels to achieve this goal;
3. Recommends to the United Nations General Assembly and regional, subregional and continental organisations that multilateral procedures should be set up as soon as possible to evaluate the progress of national strategies on the world drug problem, while fully respecting international rules and agreements, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and their cultural specificities;
4. Recommends to the community of nations a comprehensive approach to the drug problem, including effective policies to combat the illicit use of drugs, recognising that demand and action to combat it are a basic element of this problem;
5. Recommends the development of drug control strategies that reduce the demand for drugs through education, prevention, treatment, public awareness and community anti-drug coalitions and campaigns;
6. Recommends that the countries which produce plant raw materials adopt an overall approach to the elimination of the illicit crops used for the production of drugs, within the framework of alternative development strategies, and calls for international co-operation to support programmes for the conversion of economies that depend on the production of such raw materials;
7. Recommends that all countries which produce chemical precursors implement more effective control and monitoring policies to prevent their illicit use, export and diversion for illegal purposes, and that the countries which produce plant raw materials improve their border control systems, in co-ordination with the specialised services of the police and the armed forces;
8. Demands that countries engage in special efforts to combat the laundering of proceeds from illicit drug trafficking and other related and unlawful activities, such as arms trafficking, organised crime, terrorism and corruption, by strengthening international co-operation in all areas at both regional and subregional levels, and for this purpose calls on all countries to sign the relevant international conventions and enact, within the framework of their respective constitutions, legislation requiring the demonstration of the lawful origin of the money in respect of single significant financial transactions;
9. Recommends that States, governments and international organisations provide the human, technical and financial resources that are needed to combat the supply of and demand for illicit drugs, and offer treatment and rehabilitation to addicts in order to facilitate their social reintegration;
10. Recognises the legitimate efforts being made by transit countries which are combating the transit of illegal drugs, and recommends that those efforts be supported by a combination of assistance and incentives where appropriate;
11. Demands that no country serve as a safe haven for persons accused of organised crime, money laundering, drug trafficking or terrorism, or wanted for such crimes, and that all countries refrain from helping such persons to evade the consequences of their crimes, and take all necessary action to bring them to justice, while respecting the sovereignty of States;
12. Recommends that countries study the effectiveness of current domestic laws, enforcement practices and legal penalties in reducing domestic drug demand;
13. Urges Member Parliaments of the Union to take legislative action that contributes to the application of the above-mentioned principles and report back on the action taken to the 101st Inter-Parliamentary Conference.

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