Economic and Social Council, Resolution 2004/32

Implementation of technical assistance projects in Africa by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:

The Economic and Social Council:
Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in which heads of State and Government pledged to support the consolidation of democracy in Africa and to assist Africans in their struggle for lasting peace, poverty eradication and sustainable development, thereby bringing Africa into the mainstream of the world economy;

Concerned at the fact that Africa has in recent years become a significant zone of transit, trafficking and abuse of drugs and trafficking in firearms and human beings, and bearing in mind that a number of African countries are facing post-conflict instability;

Welcoming the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, entitled “Development, security and justice for all”, which underlined that drug abuse and trafficking, organized crime, corruption, terrorism and the spread of HIV/AIDS have all impeded sustainable development in Africa;

Mindful of the difficulties encountered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the implementation of its projects in Africa;

1. Reaffirms that recent developments in Africa call for particular attention, especially in the fight against drugs and crime;

2. Expresses its appreciation to donor countries that have supported projects related to drug and crime issues on the African continent through their voluntary contributions to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and invites them to continue their efforts, and invites other potential donor countries to provide similar support;

3. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to improve the implementation of its projects in Africa, both at headquarters and in the field, and encourages the Office to continue those efforts;

4. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to produce a concept paper to analyse the current situation with respect to major drug and crime issues affecting the African continent and to propose policy directives, strategies and priority focus to gain support for assistance to Africa;

5. Also requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with the African Union and interested Member States and subject to the availability of extra-budgetary resources to promote an exchange of views, based on the results of the concept paper, by organizing an appropriate special event among interested Member States, relevant agencies and institutes providing technical assistance to Africa as well as those promoting South-South cooperation, in order:

(a) To discuss ways of reducing impediments to economic growth and sustainable development caused by widespread criminality, such as drug trafficking, organized crime and corruption;

(b) To ensure that appropriate responses to drug and crime issues are incorporated as core elements within bilateral and multilateral development assistance policies in the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and other relevant initiatives;

(c) To explore ways of maximizing existing resources, including official development assistance, that could lead to improvements in the tackling of drugs and crime issues and to the strengthening of criminal justice institutions;

6. Requests Member States in the African region where projects are being implemented to mobilize national stakeholders and to make every effort to facilitate the implementation of such projects;

7. Invites Member States to promote synergies between technical assistance provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and bilateral and regional cooperation activities in the African region, in particular in the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution.