Workshop to Develop Guidelines on International Legal Cooperation Instruments in the Area of Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants

Budva , Montenegro, 30 September-2 October 2009

The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Programme Office for South East Europe (RPOSEE) carried out the first Workshop to Develop Guidelines on International Legal Cooperation Instruments in the Area of Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants in Budva, Montenegro from September 30 to 2 October.

The workshop is being organized within the German funded extension of the "Enhancing operational capacity to investigate and disrupt human trafficking activities in the Western Balkans".

The workshop was opened by Mr. Alexander Avanesov, UN Resident Coordinator and the UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro, Ms. Sonja Perisic from the Office of National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator of Montenegro, and Ms. Ela Banaj, UNODC Programme Coordinator.

During the previous UNODC project workshop held in Albania, in February 2009, a new set of recommendations was produced with the aim of strengthening regional law enforcement and judicial cooperation in the area of anti-human trafficking (AHT) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), in particular through the enhanced use of international legal cooperation instruments (mutual legal assistance, extradition, etc.). In order to achieve this objective, the UNODC technical assistance was welcomed by all the participants in the workshop.

Therefore, the aim of the Budva workshop was to initiate the consultative and inclusive process of developing guidelines on international legal cooperation instruments in the area of anti-human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

The Guidelines will cover both legal and law enforcement aspects of regional cooperation instruments. Therefore, the workshop entailed the participation of judges, prosecutors and police officers who regularly deal with cases of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. In addition, National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinators from each of Western Balkan countries/territories were invited to participate.

In order to facilitate the consultative process for the development of the guidelines, two working groups were conducted with the aim of discussing issues and problems in the area of international/regional criminal justice cooperation and sharing ideas and suggestions on how to enhance such cooperation in the region.

The discussions clearly indicated that there are three particular legal aspects that are to be addressed if the international cooperation in the area of AHT and SOM in SEE is to be enhanced. These are: legal framework used for the implementation of the international cooperation; (in)admissibility of evidence in different jurisdictions; joint investigation teams.
From a law enforcement perspective, identified issues concern both formal and informal cooperation. Formal mechanisms are generally working well, though they can be hampered by bureaucratic delays. On the other hand, among law enforcement agencies in the region a good network of informal exchange of information and intelligence has developed. It is based on operational focal points and other personal contacts. Nonetheless, issues and problems which can hamper regional investigations were also identified.
Furthermore, it was highlighted the important role of relevant international/regional organizations in facilitating formal and informal exchange of information and criminal intelligence.
The representatives of other relevant international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative Regional Centre for combating trans-border crime (SECI Centre), the South East Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) and Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) also took part in the discussion.

Read the Meeting Report.

Summer School Risk Groups and Social Support Services, Bucharest, Romania, 21-26 July, 2009

BUCHAREST, 21 July 2009 - The Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, in partnership with the Romanian Harm Reduction Network, with technical and financial assistance from UNODC, launched the first edition of the Summer School "Risk Groups and Social Support Services". The summer school took place in the period 21-26 July 2009 and targeted young students aiming to increase their knowledge and skills in the field of medical and social services for vulnerable groups such as: drug users, sex workers, inmates, street children etc. The summer school was not only an opportunity for sharing information and knowledge on evidence-based approaches, but also for observing direct service delivery, for instance HIV prevention and care (outreach and drop-in), drug treatment, HIV counseling and testing etc. Many of these services were developed and implemented in Romania with technical and financial assistance from UNODC. This initiative is part of a larger Project called "HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care among Injecting Drug Users and in Prison Settings in Romania" (2006-2010).

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Sofia, Bulgaria

26 June 2009

On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the 26th of June, the Regional Programme Office of South Eastern Europe in Sofia has organized a closing event of the international campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs".

The event took place in the 12th High School in Sofia, where students, UNODC staff, the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria, representatives from the Ministry of Education as well as other relevant authorities and journalists had the opportunity to meet, talk about drugs and participate in a number of different activities.

On the opening press conference Ms. Carla Ciavarella, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator for SEE, had the opportunity to share the results of all activities organized by UNODC in Bulgaria in the framework of the international campaign and, following the publication of the 2009 World Drug Report, she outlined some key features of UNODC policy related to drug addiction and drug treatment, with a particular focus on prevention.

The 2009 campaign in Bulgaria has been carried out through a number of raising awareness and information activities. First of all, a raising awareness campaign with street posters and on-line banners with UNODC logo (see pictures attached) has been promoted. Besides, approximately 200 students had the opportunity to voice their opinion on drugs at meetings with representatives of UNODC, doctors and psychiatrists from the National Center for Drug Addictions and journalists taking the role of campaign ambassadors. An on-line nationwide survey "What's your word about drugs?" was addressed to students and parents: questions were related to drug distribution amongst teenagers, sources of information on the different types of drugs, their use and effects they cause. 1300 students and parents took part in the survey.

The results of the on-line survey, presented during the press conference, outlined interesting tendencies and discrepancies related to the perception that parents and children have in relation to drugs prevalence and effects. Just to mention the most telling ones: 73 % of the parents are sure that their kids have never tried drugs but only 27% of the teenagers confirm it. 19% state that their parents have no idea about this. 42% of the students have tried marijuana and 31% of those believe that this is the most harmless drug. Unlike them the parents believe that only 26% of the teenagers smoke marijuana. 17.5 % from the students state that they have a contact with drugs at school, while only 0.6% of the parents share the same opinion. 80 % of the parents state, that they do not know how much the different type of drugs cost and what is the way to buy such.

Following the press conference, approximately 70 students participated in a basketball tournament organized in the school yard and others completed the survey by queuing to voice their opinion in the voting polls. Ms. Carla Ciavarella, addressing students and participants at the presence of the Minister of Education, had the opportunity to read the message of the United Nations General Secterary - Ban Ki-Moon, on the occasion on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Belgrade, Serbia

26 June 2009

This year, the International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was marked in Serbia under the UNODC slogan "Do Drugs Control your Life?" with the participation of UNODC and in partnership with a number of relevant national institutions: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Institute for Addictions, Institute for Public Health "Batut", Belgrade Public Health Council, the Red Cross, Ministries of Interior, Defence, Education, Culture, Labour and Social Policy as well as UNICEF and WHO.

Health Minister, Mr. Tomica Milosavljevic, gave an opening statement at the Press Conference held at the Institute for Public Health "Batut" by presenting the Anti-Drug Strategy and related Action Plan for period 2009-2013.

National institutions convened at a conference of experts to present their latest work in the fight against drug abuse in Serbia, with the aim of exchanging information in the field of drug abuse. The ESPAD study was presented as well as anti-doping report by Ministry of Youth. Ministry of Interior gave their account of efforts in supply reduction and fight against drug trafficking.

An outreach event was also held on 29 June at the Vracar Municipality, which included distribution of brochures and leaflets, T-shirts and caps, with messages conveyed from Ministry of Interior and head of Insitute for Addiction, which was followed by interactive discussions with the youth.

UNODC and Regional Cooperation Council to promote security and justice in South East Europe

21 May 2009

Cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was enhanced today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to build security and the rule of law in South East Europe. A joint priority will be to address the challenges posed by illicit drugs and organized crime in the region.

The Memorandum of Understanding is the basis for technical assistance to strengthen national administrative and institutional capacities, develop legislation and policies, and implement United Nations and European Union standards and principles. The sharing of knowledge and best practices will also be facilitated.

The understanding aims to strengthen national criminal justice systems and the protection of human rights, while promoting the independence and integrity of institutions by tackling corruption. Efforts will be made to address money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as asset recovery. Support will be given to the prevention and treatment of drug-related problems, including the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, Franz Baumann, Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNODC, said : "This will pave the way for closer integration of South East Europe with the rest of the continent".

"With this Memorandum of Understanding both organizations can hope to contribute to strengthening the democratic process, rule of law and human security in South East Europe", said Hido Biščević, Secretary General of the RCC.

Launched in February 2008, the RCC is the successor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Joint activities, such as regional and national projects; training; assessment and research; and awareness campaigns, will be conducted in the countries covered by the Memorandum of Understanding.

A UNODC report published in May 2008 entitled Crime and Its Impact on the Balkans concluded that that South East Europe has become a low-crime region after the conflict and violence of the 1990s. Nevertheless, the region remains vulnerable due to enduring links between business, politics and organized crime.

Exchange of experience and cooperation between the Albanian and Bulgarian customs officers and border police officers during a visit/training on Kapitan Andreevo under project for Strengthening border control capacities in Albania

13-15 April 2009  

The efficient struggle against drug and human trafficking requires extensive exchange of experience and information on a national and regional level as well as good cooperation and collaboration between the Customs and Border Police Officers especially in the Balkans which is a drugs transit road.

The visit of the Albanian delegation to Kapitan Andreevo took place in the period 13-15 April 2009. Meetings with the Chief of Checkpoint Kapitan Andreevo - Mr. Marin Ivanov, the Director of Customs - Mr. Nikolay Karaivanov, and the Director of the Anti-Drug Unit in Kapitan Andreevo - Mr. Stanislav Taushanov were held.

All Bulgarian counterparties were very helpful and cooperative sharing lots of theoretical and practical information and sharing their long years of experience. A short tour of Kpaitan Andreevo checkpoint was organized; a presentation containing general information for the checkpoint and important data was made; the structure and subordination system of the Customs and Border Police was explained; information on all computer systems used by the Bulgarian customs and border police officers was provided along with many practical examples, pictures and video clips.

The meetings were very useful to all participants and ended with the promise for ongoing cooperation and joint actions against drug and human trafficking.

UNOD C launches Blue Heart campaign against human trafficking

VIENNA, 5 March (UNODC). Today at the Women's World Awards in Vienna, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, launched the Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking.

"There is a lot of ignorance about modern slavery. There is also a lot of good will to fight it", said Mr. Costa. "The blue heart will raise awareness about a crime that shames us all. It shows solidarity with the victims" he said.

The Blue Heart represents the sadness of trafficking victims, the cold-heartedness of the perpetrators and the commitment of the United Nations to fight this crime.

To take advantage of social networking, the campaign is encouraging members of the public to change their Facebook profile picture to a blue heart, upload the Blue Heart to their web page, spread the word through Twitter and watch video about human trafficking on YouTube.

Mr. Costa called on participants of the Women's World Awards, held in Vienna on 5 March, to join the campaign "to free our sisters and brothers from exploitation". At the Women's World Congress, which took place in Vienna on 4 March, he described human trafficking as "the worst kind of violence against women, made even more repulsive by the fact that people make money from it".
While poverty makes people vulnerable to human trafficking, gender discrimination and sexism are also to blame. "Whether it's burkas or bikinis, the humiliation of women as property or sex objects is an affront to human dignity. It creates a market for women and girls who are traded like commodities", said the head of UNODC. Recalling the United Nations Secretary-General's campaign "Unite to end violence against women", and looking ahead to International Women's Day on 8 March, Mr. Costa called on people all over the world to join the Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking "in order to end enslavement, and achieve women's equality".

UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons ( http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html) offers the first global assessment of the scope of human trafficking and what is being done to fight it.

Materials and more information on the Blue Heart campaign can be found at www.unodc.org/blueheart

Fourth Meeting of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project: "Enhancing Operational Capacity to Investigate and Disrupt Human Trafficking Activities in the Western Balkans".

23 - 25 February 2009

The UNODC Regional Programme Office for South East Europe (RPOSEE) organized the fourth meeting of the Project: "Enhancing Operational Capacity to Investigate and Disrupt Human Trafficking Activities in the Western Balkans", which was held in Tirana, Albania from 23 to 25 February 2009.
This meeting followed other regional meetings that were held in Belgrade, Serbia on 15 November 2007, Ohrid, FYR of Macedonia on 6 and 7 May 2008, and Stubičke Toplice, Croatia on 17 and 18 November 2008.

The project is funded by the Governments of Germany and the United Kingdom.

The meeting was opened by Ms. Carla Ciavarella, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator for South Eastern Europe, with the presence of Ms. Iva Zajmi, Deputy Minister of Interior and Anti-Human Trafficking National Coordinator of the Government of Albania, Ms. Sheila Bramley, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the United Kingdom in Albania, Mr. Rainer Harms, Liaison Officer, representing the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Albania.

The aim of the meeting, along with the overall objective of the project, was to strengthen the law enforcement cooperation of Western Balkan countries in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
The meeting aimed also at discussing the recommendations made at the previous meeting in Croatia and the draft Phase II of the Project with a view to finalising the Phase II Project Idea and subsequently seeking the formal backing of the proposed Project Beneficiary Countries.

Representatives of both the law enforcement and judiciary (prosecutors and judges) from each country/entity in South East Europe participating in the project attended the meeting.

The meeting also entailed the participation of representatives of third countries' national institutions (Ministries of Interior of Norway and Romania), and representatives of relevant International Organizations, such as the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Police Assistance Mission of the European Community to Albania (PAMECA), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative Regional Center for combating trans-border crime (SECI Center), the South Eastern Europe Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG), the South East Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) etc.

UNODC staff highlighted the work of the Organization in the area of anti-human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and the tools developed by UNODC in strengthening international and regional cooperation, such as the mutual legal assistance and extradition requests writer tools. The meeting was also an occasion to present the "UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons" which was launched on 12 February in New York. The study was conducted within the framework of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). Based on data gathered from 155 countries, the report offers the first global assessment of the scope of human trafficking and what is being done to fight it. It includes: an overview of trafficking patterns; legal steps taken in response; and country-specific information on reported cases of trafficking in persons, victims, and prosecutions.

At the end of the meeting, a new set of recommendations was produced with the aim of strengthening law enforcement and judicial cooperation in the region, in particular through the enhanced use of mutual legal assistance instruments.

As the custodian of the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols, UNODC's primary goal is to promote global adherence to such legal instruments and to assist States in their efforts to effectively implement them. In particular, UNODC focuses its work on assisting States in bringing their domestic legislation in line with the Protocols and in developing effective criminal justice responses to human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

Sofia, 9th December 2008

Inter-Regional Conference on "Anti-Corruption Policies and Practices in South Eastern Europe" took place at Boyana Conference Center, Sofia.

The conference has been dedicated to the International day against corruption.

The international forum was under the Patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Programme Office for South Eastern Europe (UNODC RPOSEE), based in Sofia is organizing the conference. Partners and co-organizers are the Regional Cooperation Council, the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, and the Bulgarian Center for the Study of Democracy.

Members of parliament, representatives of the government and NGOs, diplomatic bodies and representatives of international organizations took part in the conference. The event was arranged with the intention to share the results achieved so far in the area of anti-corruption measures taken by the relevant institutions of South Eastern Europe in order to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption acts, to promote inter-regional cooperation, to ensure technical assistance and information exchange among these countries, where the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which entered into force on 14 of Dec 2005, has been signed and ratified by all countries of this region.

The agenda provided an itinerary able to make a mapping exercise through the experiences that all relevant institutions have made in the area of anti-corruption measures. In particular, discussion about policies and infrastructure established during these years as matter of implementation of principles stipulated by the convention, discussion on the regional cooperation as an important tool in the fight against corruption.
From the forum during the day, several summary conclusions are considered:
- All countries in the region have developed and introduced a consistent legislative frame work able (in principles) to be used as effective tool for countering corruption acts.
- All countries have established several different Commissions and/or bodies at different level and in different institutions (either with MoI or with MoF or under the supervision of their respective government ) in order to " ensure " a coordinative "independent" function in preventing, investigating, prosecuting and sentencing corruption crimes. Most of them have drafted and approved a National anti corruption strategy.
- Despite all concrete actions taken, still there are not significant results in prosecuting and sentencing crimes related to corruption acts.
- During the very accurate presentations proposed by RAI National Focal Points it has been pointed and described with a lot of details, all significant work done during the last years in order to be in compliance with EU accession requirements .
- There is in general a good level of knowledge on anti corruptions matters all over the region, but not satisfactory result in concrete.

"We would like to show the problems in a constructive manner and to outline ways for solving them", said Ms Ciavarella, Regional Programme Coordinator of UNODC RPOSEE. "I think that more and more people in South Eastern Europe feel the corruption as a sophisticated economic, social and political phenomenon, which concerns all parties, compromise the democratic institutions, slows down the economic development and causes political instability."

UNODC RPOSEE objective was to draw the public attention and vigilance to the problem CORRUPTION in all its forms. Media partners in the initiative of UNODC RPOSEE are the Bulgarian National Television and BTV broadcasting free of charge promotional video "Decision"against corruption.

On the conference were invited almost all media representatives in Bulgaria, most of them came at Boyana Center and many publications appeared afterwards as on the newspapers, on-line medias, radios and TV news.