Regional Events

UNODC/ROCA and the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan signed Memorandum of Understanding

On 15 May,  the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed betweenUNODC Regional Office for Central Asia  and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Memorandum is build on the existing good working relationships established by UNODC/ ROCA with the Supreme Court as a result of the technical assistance provided to Uzbek  judges within the the framework of the Global Legal Assistance Programme.  ,The Memorandum is designed to deepen cooperation between ROCA and the Supreme Court in strengthening the judicial system of Uzbekistan through, among other activities, development and delivery the training courses aimed at enhancing judicial integrity and improving  justice administration.
Fair and effective criminal justice system that ensure respect for human rights is  a prerequisite for combating crime and for building societies based on the rule of law. Recently, Uzbekistan has undertaken several serious step to reform its criminal justice system. On 1 January 2008, habeas corpus and related amendments to criminal law came into effect. Under the new law all decisions to arrest accused individuals or suspects must be reviewed by a judge, and defendants have the right to legal counsel from the time of arrest. Legislation abolishing the death penalty took effect on 1 January 2008 and replaced it with prison terms ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment. On 12 December 2008, President Karimov signed legislation on joining the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on Abolishing the Death Penalty.
The Memorandum is a further step that is designed to translate into reality the adopted legislation. Enlargement of the librarian pool of the Research Centre under the Supreme Court is one of the commitments of ROCA under this Memorandum. Regional Office handed over to the Research Centre the UN Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as a set of the UN legal instruments and publications in the field of preventing and combating drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism.

Operation TARCET: prevent the smuggling of chemicals to Afghanistan

On 12-13 May 2009, UNODC's Regional Office for Central Asia and the Country Office for Afghanistan convened a High Level Planning Session to launch Operation TARCET II, an anti-trafficking initiative to prevent the smuggling of chemicals to Afghanistan for use in the illicit manufacture of heroin
The aim of the session was to build on the successes achieved during Operation TARCET in 2008, review the results, experiences and lessons learned and launch further joint actions for preventing the smuggling of chemicals to Afghanistan within this operational framework. Specific law enforcement actions and timeframes were agreed to and activities in this regard will commence shortly.. During 2008, operational activities resulted in seizures of over 19 tonnes of acetic anhydride (14 tonnes in Pakistan, 5 tonnes in the Islamic Republic of Iran and 500 kilogrammes in Afghanistan) as well as over 27 tones of other chemicals (6.8 tonnes of sulphuric acid in Kyrgyzstan, 1.6 tonnes of acetic acid in Uzbekistan, 16 tonnes of acetyl chloride in Iran and 3 tonnes of diverse chemicals in Afghanistan). With UNODC providing the platform for activities, financial support was received from Canada, the European Commission and United States through existing UNODC precursor projects in the region and technical assistance was provided by France, Germany, Italy, Russian Federation, Turkey and UNODC/World Customs Organization. The acetic anhydride seized is sufficient to produce more than 9 tones of heroin, with a retail value of over US$600,000,000.00 in illicit European drug markets.
The session was attended by over 60 delegates from 27 countries, international and regional organizations, including Afghanistan, China, Germany, France, India, IR of Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States, as well as EC-BOMCA, CARICC, EC, Europol, Interpol, OSCE and WCO.

Heroin bonfire

Nearly two tons of illicit narcotics were set ablaze in a large scale drug burning ceremony organized by the Uzbek National Security Service. James Callahan, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), took part in the celebration. The drugs, consisting of 501.2 kg of heroin and 1,104 kg of opium, were seized by Uzbek law enforcement agencies throughout 2008. A total of 1,711 kg of drugs were incinerated.

The ceremony follows a record breaking year of seizures by Uzbek law enforcement agencies. A total of 1,472 kg of heroin and 1,062 kg of opium were seized in 2008, doubling the catch in 2007 and beating all previous records for heroin seizures. Marijuana and hashish seizures also increased by 19 per cent (810 kg) and 28 per cent (68 kg) respectively.
Mr. Callahan noted that the size of recent seizures attests both to the increased pressure by traffickers to move stockpiled opiates across the borders to destination markets and to the increasing efficacy of Uzbek law enforcement authorities.
UNODC ROCA currently manages a portfolio of projects aimed to strengthen the capacity of Uzbek law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking. These projects tackle both the material needs of drug law enforcement agencies such as precursor testing kits, radios, night vision goggles and the training needs for effective policing such as search techniques, informant handling, controlled delivery techniques, criminal intelligence analysis.

Dramatic increase in seizures effected by uzbek law enforcement agencies

2008 was a successful year for Uzbek law enforcement agencies in the field of countering opiate trafficking. Law enforcement agencies increased the total volume of opiates seized in the first nine months of 2008 nearly three-fold compared with 2007. Heroin seizures increased most dramatically by 489 per cent. In total, 1,151 kg of heroin and 995 kg of opium were seized. Although annual seizure totals are not yet available, UNODC estimates these figures will be over 1 ton for opium and 1.5 tons for heroin. If these estimates prove correct, 2008 will have produced the largest ever total annual heroin seizures and the largest ever total annual opiate seizure (in heroin equivalence).
Uzbek opiate seizures have generally mirrored production in neighboring Afghanistan. Afghan production rose sharply throughout the 1990s and Uzbek seizures followed suit. Continuing this parallel trend, seizures fell sharply in 2001 and 2002, then began increasing slowly. By 2004, opiate seizures in Uzbekistan were once again over half a ton per year. Yet seizures dipped between 2005 and 2007.
One explanation for the declining level of seizures in 2005-2007 had been adjustments in trafficking routes. According to government officials, opiate trafficking patterns were believed to have changed, with traffickers preferring to transport opiates through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, bypassing Uzbekistan. However, the recent increase in seizures indicates that there is still a significant flow of opiates passing though the country.
The success of Uzbek law enforcement agencies is also a credit to the UNODC capacity building projects. UNODC has working in partnership with Uzbek law enforcement agencies to increase their capacity to interdict drugs and precursors. This support includes improving criminal intelligence collection and analysis and forensic laboratories capacity; facilitating regional law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing; strengthening control of precursor chemicals; and providing advanced narcotics training for law enforcement including training in controlled delivery techniques.

CARICC agreements enters into force

On 22 March 2009, the framework agreement on the establishment of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) entered into force, thus opening a new page in the history of the Centre.

The entry in force follows the ratification of the CARICC Agreement by the parliaments of five of the CARICC countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). The fourth ratification instrument was placed with the depository - the MFA of Kazakhstan - on 20 February 2009. This allows CARICC to begin the transition from pilot phase to full fledged functionality.

CARICC is to serve as permanently operating regional information and coordination interstate agency that shall assist in organizing, undertaking and coordinating agreed joint international operations to combat illicit drug trafficking. The Centre shall also ensure the collection, storage, protection, analysis, and exchange of information on trans-border crime associated with illicit drug trafficking.

CARICC's activities are carried out by the staff of the Centre supported by the liaison officers of the member states as well as liaison officers of observers (non-member states and international organisation) seconded to it.

The first meeting of the CARICC Council (management board) was held in Almaty on 26 February 2009. The Council approved CARICC's strategic plan for the next two years and endorsed candidates for the post of CARICC Director and deputy director who are to be approved by the heads of the CARICC member states.

CARICC continues to develop partnerships with non-member states and organisations. France and Interpol were recently granted observer status at CARICC.  Requests of Italy, Finland, and the USA are expected to be considered soon.

CARICC Agreement is open for other states to join either as observer or as a full member.  Thus, CARICC aims at close cooperation with other countries of the wider region such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and China.  The Centre will be closely cooperating with international organisations such as Interpol, Europol, World Customs Organisation and others.

Secure communication platforms "I-24/7" of Interpol and "CENCOMM2" of WCO were made available to CARICC during the pilot phase of operations of the Centre.

CARICC's achievements to date include serving as the regional focal point for operation "TARCET" on precursors and controlled delivery exercises. CARICC's efforts to foster  cooperation and information sharing among the countries resulted, for instance,   in seizure of 41 kg heroin in Azerbaijan and 28 kg of heroin in Turkmenistan in two different operations coordinated with Turkish authorities.  Altogether, the operations initiated by the liaison officers and coordinated through CARICC have resulted in the dismantling of more than 10 drug trafficking groups, the arrest of several traffickers and the seizure of approximately 200 kg of heroin.

NATO-Russia council summarizes 2008 activities.

A coordination meeting on the training of law enforcement officers of the Central Asian states and Afghanistan in the field of countering the illicit drug trafficking was held on December 18 -19, 2008 in Vienna.

UNODC reported to donors and member states on the project implementation outputs in 2008, including the findings of the recently conducted independent interim project evaluation.  In 2008, all twenty six Russia-NATO Council member states acted as project donors. In the course of the meeting, representatives from the beneficiary states reported on the project's positive impact on employees performance indicators, and noted that all large seizures of narcotic drugs carried out in the region had been initiated or conducted by officers trained in the framework of the project. One of Tajikistan's DCA employees was awarded a high government decoration which can be considered one of the qualitative indicators of the specialists' retraining.

Experience obtained during fixed site and mobile training courses was discussed at the meeting. The parties discussed the challenges they had faced implementing the project as well as the positive experiences. A work plan for 2009 was developed with the involvement of donors and member states. In particular, eight training courses for law enforcement personnel from the Central Asian countries and Afghanistan are supposed to be conducted this year on the basis of International Interagency Training Centre of the All-Russia Institute of Advanced Training MI Russia (contribution to the project budget amounted $800,000). Turkey expressed its readiness to conduct sixteen training courses in 2009-2010 with a total budget $600,000; Hungary expressed its willingness to conduct two training courses in Afghanistan with the budget $20,000; other countries, including US, expressed their readiness to participate in the seminars as well.

The meeting participants agreed upon the general criteria of the project performance evaluation which was positively assessed by the donors.

Join operations: trying out the regional cooperation mechanisms

In October 2008 field exercises were conducted in the framework of several UNODC projects coordinated by the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC). The purpose of these exercises was to strengthen the capacity for implementing international operational activities among law enforcement agencies and to try out the regional mechanisms for conducting joint comprehensive operational interventions with the assistance of the network of authorized representatives (liaison officers) seconded to CARICC.

The idea for the practical exercise arose during a training for the antinarcotics units' heads of the law enforcement agencies of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. In May, the itineraries and tactics of the field exercises were agreed upon.

Arranging and conducting the package of operational and investigative activities with the participation of the competent authorities of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan under coordination by CARICC was the key component of the field exercises. The cooperation mechanisms of the competent authorities of the member states were tried out, including the channels for information exchange among the competent authorities and CARICC. The exercise also highlighted the issues of capacity of the competent authorities of the region in detection of transnational drug related crime, the sources and destinations of trafficked drugs and international drug trafficking routes as well.

The event participants recognized CARICC's positive role in facilitating, conducting and coordinating the field exercises. CARICC was also evaluated favorably regarding the efficiency of information exchange among the competent authorities of the member states facilitated by CARICC.

The second stage of field exercises, scheduled for early 2009, will involve Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Prevention of drug use: concepts, strategies and ways forward

The International Conference on the on the same title was held on 3-5 December 2008 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The conference, hosted jointly by UNODC and the Government of Uzbekistan with financial support from UNESCO and UNICEF, sought to introduce new dimensions of and concepts for prevention to practitioners from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The conference familiarized practitioners with international best practices in five areas of prevention: parenting and family skills education; life skills education in schools and community settings; workplace-based prevention; healthy alternatives and life skills development; and the role of the media in prevention. The conference produced lively discussion and was successful in highlighting the importance and need for introducing evidence based prevention programs as part of a comprehensive strategy for prevention of drug use. On the final day of the conference, participants were divided into expert-led working groups in which they produced an action plans for the introduction of prevention programs in their home countries.

OPERATION TARCET DEBRIEFING

On 21-23 October 2008, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Regional Office for Central Asia together with the Afghanistan Country Office convened the Operation TARCET Debriefing which was hosted by th e Turkish National Police in Izmir, Turkey.

Participants from 16 countries and seven international/regional organisations (CARICC, EC, Europol, INCB, ISAF and SECI) reviewed the results of the operation and provided recommendations for subsequent joint actions addressing the illicit flow of precursors used for the manufacture of heroin to Afghanistan.

Operation TARCET was conducted in Afghanistan, I.R. of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with the technical support of Paris Pact Partners, including France, Ge rmany, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Kingdom, and donor support of Canada, EC and the United States. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 19 tonnes of acetic anhydride, a key chemical in illicit heroin manufacture, including 14 tonnes in Pakistan, 5 tonnes in I.R. of Iran, 500 kg in Afghanistan and 156 kg in Tajikistan. If diverted, that amount of acetic anhydride is sufficient to manufacture nearly ten tonnes of heroin. In addition, authorities in the Kyrgyz Republic seized 6 tonnes of sulphuric acid, Uzbek authorities seized 1,600 liters of acetic acid and Iranian authorities seized 16 tonnes of acetyl chloride during the operational timeframe.

The acetic anhydride seizures made during the operation are an important development in the region as no such seizures have been affected in the countries surrounding Afghanistan since 2001. Effective information exchange also led to the launch of backtracking investigations into the origins of intercepted consignments.  These investigations resulted in the identification and dismantling of an international organized crime group that was responsible for the initial diversions and further seizures of acetic anhydride.

OPENING OF BORDER POST FACILITIES AT SARI GOR

On September 12, an international delegation led by James Callahan, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Necia Quast, with the Chief of Staff for Tajikistan's Border Guard Forces Major General Sharaf Faizulloev, Head of Construction Major Mirov, Deputy Head of the International Department Captain Zarif Khakimov traveled to remote southern Tajikistan to dedicate the opening of the reconstructed border post facility at Sari Gor. This international cooperative project, one in a series, will help the Tajik border guards interdict the flow of illegal narcotics and enhance the overall security of Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan.
In March 1999, the UNODC has launched a project "Strengthening Control along the Tajik/Afghan border" with the aim of strengthening the capacity of selected border outposts, border control units and checkpoints in various sections of Tajik-Afghan border The project also envisaged providing training and border control equipment to strengthen investigative and analytical capacities of agencies involved in border control, in particular of the Tajik Border Forces, as well as improving cross border cooperation mechanisms of the agencies at the Tajik-Afghan Border.
Since 2006, the project has been primarily focusing on upgrading of the border outposts, development of the intelligence analysis and information sharing along the Tajik-Afghan border.
By September 2008, three (Bog, Bakhorak and Sari-Gor) border outposts in Shurabad area of Tajik-Afghan border were refurbished, furnished and equipped and the outposts were also provided vehicles, power generators, computers, specialized search and investigation related equipment.
During the dedication ceremony, Ms. Quast expressed support for and confidence in the Border Guards, since "They are the first line defense for Tajikistan." The U.S. Embassy's Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) provided $425,000 in funding and UNODC managed the renovation.: "The border forces in Tajikistan,- said Mr.James Callahan, UNODC Regional Representative - have one of the most difficult assignments of any law enforcement agency, protecting the borders in extremely difficult terrain and enduring many hardships and dangers.  UNODC is proud of our partnership with the border services and the work that we are doing with the support of our donors to improve the living conditions for the border guards at Sari-Gor and other posts on the border with Afghanistan."
In the coming two years, from October 2008 to September 2010, the project plans to improve the infrastructure of Shogun, Yol and Yakchipun Border Outposts of the Tajik Afghan Border with renovated soldiers' barracks, officers' houses and other facilities and to procure specialized equipment (night vision devices, binoculars, search and inspection and drug testing equipment) and some required furniture. Around USD 1, 400,000.00 are budgeted for this particular type of job. Moreover, the project envisages series of additional trainings to improve investigative and analytical capacities of agencies involved in border control.

Intelligence analysis training in CARICC

On 8 - 19 September  within the framework of the UNODC Project AD/RER/H22 Intelligence analysis training was organized for the staff of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC).  The liaison officers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, who are on secondment to CARICC, also participated in training.

The training was provided by Mr. M. Prljevic, intelligence analysis trainer from the UNODC project office in Belgrade.

The major purpose of the training was to provide the trainees with knowledge and basic practical skills on use of intelligence analysis techniques and methods developed by ANACAPA Sciences Inc.

The courses on link analysis, flow charting, events charting, activity charting, telephone links analysis, development of inferences etc were in the focus during the sessions.

After commencement of its operations within so called "Pilot Phase", CARICC had started, as a part of its main functions, collection, collation, storing and analysis of information.  Thus, ability and capacity to provide analysis and derive conclusions and recommendations based on this analysis were of a major practical need for the Centre.

The Centre sees development of its capacities in intelligence analysis, both strategic and tactical, as one of the most important endeavors.

DONOR COORDINATION MEETING

UNODC Project Office in Kyrgyzstan partnered with EC BOMCA/CADAP in organising a donor coordination meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 17 September 2008.

The meeting had border control, illicit drug trafficking and prison reform issues in its Agenda. Accordingly it joined together international organisations, as well as bilateral donors who are providing assistance in these areas to the Government of Kyrgyzstan. Representatives of EC, IOM, OSCE, GTZ, US and German Embassies, others expressed their views on relevant trends in Kyrgyzstan in line with the findings of the assessment missions carried out by different organisations and briefed on ongoing and planned assistance to the Government of Kyrgyzstan. Discussion was useful in sharing information on priorities of different international partners working in the country and in identifying areas for possible cooperation. It was agreed that assessment mission findings would be shared with all interested agencies/donors in Kyrgyzstan so to ensure continuous information exchange among international partners.

Ms. T. Kernisalo, Attache, EC Office in Kyrgyzstan, briefed participants on relevant EC programmes that are carried out within the framework of the Strategy for new partnership between EU and Central Asia (2007-2013). She informed, in particular, on EC's support to prison reform (Development and Co-operation instrument) that will be implemented by UNODC over three years.

Mr. T. Kiss, Chief Technical Advisor in Kyrgyzstan, BOMCA/CADAP, provided overview of BOMCA/CADAP activities in the Region and in Kyrgyzstan with focus on border management issues. He outlined BOMCA/CADAP target zones in the Region, main interventions and new initiatives for Kyrgyzstan

Ms. Z. Akisheva, UNODC Programme Manager for Central Asia, provided update on latest developments in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, their implication to Central Asia with focus on drug trafficking trends in Kyrgyzstan. Reference was made to the findings of the joint OSCE/UNODC assessment mission which was carried out in September 2007 in Kyrgyzstan. She also informed participants on UNODC ongoing and pipeline assistance projects for Kyrgyzstan, which include three ongoing national projects aimed at strengthening the Drug Control Agency in Kyrgyzstan (to be completed by end 2008), supporting the inter-agency mobile units, strengthening capacity of the General-Prosecutors office in investigation of corruption cases and two pipeline projects. Kyrgyzstan also benefits from regional projects, some which demonstrate good example of partnership and cooperation with other international organisations and programmes.

UNODC promotes the most effective HIV prevention method among IDUs in Central Asia and Azerbaijan

On August 1-5, 2008 UNODC conducted the Regional workshop in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan Republic) on the Legal and Managerial Aspects of th e Implementation of Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) in Central Asia and Azerbaijan with joint support from CARHAP/DFID, CAPA CITY/USAID, GFATM, OSCE, UNDP and WHO. 
The aim of the workshop was to initiate the process of implementation of OST in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and advocate for scaling up the access to OST in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Its objective was to raise awareness of decision makers of legal and managerial issues of OST introduction/scaling up, its effectiveness as a method of drug dependence treatment as regards medical status and social domains of life of individual drug users, their families and communities.  

There were about 80 participants from five Central Asia countries and Azerbaijan with representatives of local ministries of health, drug control agencies, ministries of interior, ministries of justice/penitentiary system, heads of national AIDS centers and drug treatment facilities, heads of medical institutes and universities, health managers, social workers, representatives of NGOs, and PLWHA/drug users community from Kyrgyzstan.

The workshop has covered the following aspects: 1) legal and human rights framework of OST; 2) the universal access to drug dependence treatment (where countries stand); 3) country experiences of OST introduction (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan); 4) evidence of OST effectiveness, its place in treatment of drug dependence and HIV prevention; 5) country road maps for introduction of OST or scaling up the access to OST.

The workshop sessions were led by Dr. Nina Kerimi, UNODC Regional Project Coordinator, Mr. Mirzak hid Sultanov, UNODC Regional Adviser on HIV, and Dr. Sergii Dvoriak, International Consultant from Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy.
The understanding of OST and its benefits was varying among participants at the beginning of the workshop. Majority of participants had already known that OST is one of the effective methods of drug dependence treatment and HIV preventions among injecting drug users, however, there were some participants who expressed doubts or negative opinions with regards to OST as the method of treatment of drug dependence. In the course of the workshop the evidence of OST effectiveness presented by the UNODC Consultant and speakers from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as open discussions led with participation of patients enrolled in OST programmes in Kyrgyzstan, allowed those hesitated to accept the advantages of OST. During the group work all participants actively took part in the development of countries' roadmaps for the introduction/scaling up of OST.

enerally, as the results of the workshop participants have expanded their knowledge of legal and human-rights aspects of drug dependence treatment (with focus on OST)  and HIV prevention among drug users including in prisons; come to common understanding of the concept of  the universal access of HIV prevention and treatment, and its practical application in countries of the region; learned an international experience of OST  implementation; acquired/increased knowledge of basic management and practical arrangements of OST; understanding of the necessity of integration of preventive and curative TB and HIV  services; developed roadmaps (draft five-year plans) for the OST  introduction  in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and scaling up the access to OST in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. UNODC will be using the decisions made at the workshop and the country road maps for  assisting countries to finalize  relevant country-specific action plans for OST introduction/scaling up in respective target countries.  These plans could become  an integral part of the national programmes on HIV prevention.

[Story by Nina Kerimi and Akmal Rustamov ]

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DISCUSSED HUMAN    TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS

The workshop «Promoting Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation among Source, Transit and Destination Countries to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling to and from Central Asia» was held in Tashkent in May. About 70 participants, representing law enforcement, migration, judicial authorities and/or NGOs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Thailand Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, Israel, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA as well as senior experts of the IOM, UNODC, OSCE (including ODIHR), UNHCR, UNICEF and CSTO took part in the workshop.

The workshop - jointly organized by UNODC and OSCE - served as a forum for strengthening cooperation among prosecutors, law enforcement and migration officers from five countries of Central Asia and their counterparts from the destination countries, i.e. the Russian Federation, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and Thailand, to effectively investigate transnational offences on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. The participants were given an opportunity to learn about the UN legal instruments and best practices in these areas, and to discuss the actual casework practice of each participating county, including USA. The workshop also facilitated the establishment of the direct contacts between the law enforcement officers and the NGOs from the source, transit and destination countries which provided assistance to the victims of human trafficking.  The UNODC and OSCE working tools and practical manuals in the areas of prevention and combating human trafficking and smuggling of migrants - translated into the Russian language - were given to the participants in both electronic and hard copies. The participants gave a high evaluation of the workshop having stressed its practical value and usefulness.

Counteracting human trafficking in Uzbekistan

Seminar "Counteracting human trafficking in the Republic of Uzbekistan" was held on 30-31 May in Tashkent. The event has been organized by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Central Asia with support of the Uzbek government.

The seminar is directed on further improvement of national legislation, strengthening interaction of state structures and non-governmental organizations in Uzbekistan in the field of fight human trafficking, and studying international experience in this sphere.

Among participants were representatives of the Ministry of Internal Relations, National Security Service, Office of Public Prosecutor, Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, National Human Rights Center of Uzbekistan and local NGOs.  Representatives of International Organization for Migration (Mission in Kazakhstan), UNODC headquarters and department of fighting human trafficking (Vienna) and other international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan took part in the workshop..

The seminar were discussed issues concerning establishment of the opportunities of stable mechanism of interaction of state structures, law enforcement bodies and non-governmental organizations in the field of counteraction against human trafficking, and prospective ways of forces coordination.

Special attention was paid to acquaintance and study of participants with international experience, existing legal  Instruments of the UN and working out recommendations for strengthening national legal basis for effective fight against human trafficking. UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was signed by Uzbekistan on 13 December 2000 and ratified on 9 December 2003. Protocol on prevention of human trafficking, especially women and children and its punishment supplementing this Convention, was signed by Uzbekistan on 28 June 2001. The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On counteracting human trafficking" was adopted on 21 April 2008.

The seminar was held in the framework of UNODC Project "Improvement of criminal justice system in the field of fighting illegal human trafficking in Uzbekistan" which was approved by the Uzbek government in 2007 and  being realized nowadays.

UNODC's Satellite Session at the HIV/AIDS Conference in Moscow

The Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference (EECAAC) took place in Moscow, Russia, on 3-5 May 2008. The conference invited more than 2000 people and provided unprecedented opportunity for dialogue and interaction among political and community leaders, scientists and other researchers, people living with HIV and representatives of civil society from across the region in response to the challenges of the AIDS crisis. Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for All" was adopted as the official motto of the conference.

The Satellite Session on the topic "Towards the Universal Access to HIV  Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support: Overcoming Legal Barriers" was organized jointly by UNODC ROCA and the Legal Clinic Adilet (a renowned NGO from Kyrgyzstan) with the aim to present results of the legislation analysis   related to the access to HIV services for  injecting drug users (IDU's) and prison inmates, and proposed amendments to national laws and bylaws. The analysis was made in the frame of the UNODC-supported project "Effective HIV Prevention and Care  among Vulnerable Populations in Central Asia and Azerbaijan (2006-2010).

The satellite session was chaired by Mr. Mirzakhid Sultanov, HIV/AIDS Regional Advisor, and Mr. Eric Iriskulbekov,  Project Coordinator, Adilet. Ms. Nina Kerimi, UNODC Project Coordinator made the first presentation describing the project outline, its concept, operational modalities and key achievements. It was followed by the UNODC international consultant Ms. Leah Utyasheva's communication on the summary of the results of legislation analyses in six project countries and suggested recommendations for elaboration of national legislations. National experts, representatives of the expert groups, who actually made these analyses gave their comments on particularities of the work in their respective countries. About 60 people were present at the satellite, mostly members of the official national delegations from Central Asian countries, and those involved in development assistance in Central Asia (UN and other international and bilateral organizations). Participants of the session were highly interested in the topics discussed; many of them were looking forward to the availability of the final report of the legal analyses.

Introductory Workshop for Mobile Deployment Team Officers

UNODC conducted introductory workshop on operative search activities for the newly established Mobile Deployment Team at the Anti-drug Smuggling Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Tajikistan. Experts from the UNODC, DCA and Russian Border Guards shared experience in operational search activities along the border areas. Border control, corruption prevention, description of drugs and precursor and intelligence analysis topics were in the focus.
Positive and negative experience of the DCA, RBFG was learned as well as methods of informants' recruitment and possible ways of incentives. The topic on measures for corruption prevention and corruption risk analysis was thoroughly described during the workshop.

Intelligence Analysis Training for the Border Forces

20 officers from the Tajik Border Forces were trained during Intelligence Analysis workshop organized by UNODC on 28-30 April in Dushanbe.. How to organize an information-analytical activities in the Border Forces, what are main principles and criteria of effectiveness of information-analytical activities and its assessment; current, perspective and target planning of analytical activities; how to forecast situation development on the border, data collection and information analysis methods were discussed during the training.
Main goal of the workshop was to strengthen border control related investigative and intelligence analysis capacities of border guards at selected arias  of the Tajik-Afghan border.

A briefing on implementation of CARICC pilot phase was held at UNODC Office for Central Asia

CARICC officials made a briefing on implementation of the project pilot phase.

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 23 April 2008 (UNODC) - The Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) will continue promoting the exchange of criminal intelligence and effective cross-border operations.

A special meeting of CARICC with its partners and donors, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), governments of France, Germany, Turkey, Russia, the UK and the USA was held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) on April 23, 2008 where the reappointed director of CARICC, Beksultan Sarsekov made a short briefing on implementation of the project pilot phase in Central Asia.

"Though its pilot phase, the project enabled to deal with the problem more actively and effectively through coordination of regional law enforcement activities and information exchange," said Mr. Sarsekov.

"CARICC staff is also working on collection and analysis of relevant information related to drugs and organized crime. Each of liaison officer has on-line access to the databases of  similar organizations as the Interpol, for example" said Tofik Murshudlu, UNODC Senior Project Coordinator.

Due to the implementation of the pilot phase and obvious future prospect, the project is getting high-level support in all participating states, donor countries and competent international organizations. The foundation Agreement establishing CARICC has been already signed by the presidents of six member states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and ratified by the Parliament of Turkmenistan. Now it requires signature of Russia and Parliamentary ratification of all the states that will make the CARICC full scale operation body.

After, it is expected that the CARICC will be more competent to coordinate the efforts undertaken by the member-states against illicit drug turnover, organize joint operations on suppression drug trafficking channels, establishing mechanisms for interaction between competent authorities and intelligence exchange.


NATO-Russian Council Heads of State agree to make UNODC-implemented Project Permanent

On 14-15 April the donor Nations and the UNODC held an expert meeting on counter-narcotics training techniques and methodologies. Senior counter-narcotics experts and UNODC officials gathered in Brussels to review the NRC Project on Counter-Narcotics Training of Afghan and Central Asian Personnel activities and to plan and coordinate the Project's training courses, curricula, an overall strategy for the coming years.

Lessons learned from courses in the previous two years were examined.  The recommendations of an independent evaluation commissioned by the UNODC, as well as the results from the two high-level steering sessions held with the Project beneficiary countries in 2006 and 2007 were also considered. The overall purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the Project responds most effectively to the beneficiary countries' counter-narcotics training needs, as the Project's post-pilot phase evolves. The meeting welcomed the Project's newest contributor, Bulgaria, which became the Project's 17th donor. To date, 419 trainees from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been trained through this NRC initiative.  Russian Foreign Minister S.V. Lavrov commented at the NRC Summit that the project, implemented by UNODC's Regional Office for Central Asia, is "developing very well."

ROCA organized press events to launch INCB Annual Report

On 4 and 5 March press conferences devoted to the INCB Annual Report launch were organized by UNODC jointly with partners in five Central Asian countries. In Kazakhstan with Drug Control Committee, donor's representatives - Ambassador of the USA, Ambassador of Italy took part in it. In Kyrgyzstan with Drug Control Agency and Ministry of the Interior, Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, In Uzbekistan with Drug Control Committee. In Tajikistan with Drug Control Agency. In Turkmenistan - the UN RC Mr. Young giving an overview on the role and function of the INCB. Representatives of 20 foreign embassies took part in the press conference in Turkmenistan. Level of representation of national partners were very high -heads of the Ministries/Committees /DCA. Journalists were presented also Results of Winter Opium Survey in Afghanistan as well as CARRIC pilot face activities (in Kazakhstan).Around 30-35  journalists from both local and international mass media took part in the event in each country. Among international media were  -  BBC, France Press, Associated Press, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, REUTERS ,TRT Turkey , CNN Turkey, Turkish International Agency . Main national print media as well as TV and radio took part in the press conference. Journalists were interested in a range of problems, including the situation with opium cultivation in Afghanistan, illicit drug trafficking and its negative impact on Central Asian countries as a whole.

UNODC organised a AML/CFT Workshop in Ashgabat

On 4-5 March, 2008 UNODC jointly with World Bank, OSCE, EAG and IMF organized a multi-donor workshop on "The Role and Function of the Financial Intelligence Unit" for relevant Turkmen officials at the President Hotel in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.  The Agenda for this workshop included AML/CFT experts from various countries who  presented their experiences in building an AML/CFT Framework and FIU in their countries. The workshop was a useful platform to enhance professional skills of enforcement specialist and to apply AML/CFT  best practices and lessons learned in Turkmenistan.

UNODC ROCA hosted a Law Enforcement Donor Coordination Meeting in Turkmenistan

On 25 February 2008, ROCA organized a Law Enforcement Donor Coordination Meeting in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to review year-end results of technical assistance provided by various donors and coordinate future activities. The meeting was attended by the representative of the Russian Federation, Turkey, British, USA Embassies; the UNHCR, IOM, OSCE,WB,TICA, BOMCA-CADAP program. The participants exchanged views on utilizing trainings or workshops being conducted by other counterparts while the national law enforcement officials have been brought together from the same or different agencies. The idea was welcomed by discussing the potential benefits and risks of this approach. The agreed outcome was to inform the donor community members' in advance on upcoming events and leave the integration of the programs or human resources to the bilateral discussion among the interested parties. The participants also discussed the practical means and ways to increase the exchange of information and cooperation among the community besides which elements would be included into the application. As a practical instrument, the establishment and utilization of an e-mail network system was found useful and the information/data on programs/projects, training and equipment were identified as examples for the practice. The meeting resulted in the establishment of the e-mail network as an instrument to exchange of information and data. As an immediate action, the list of the ongoing projects, training and procurement plan for the year 2008 will be exchanged.

UNODC participated at the NATO-Russia Council meeting

On 14 January 2008, UNODC Regional Representative (RR) for Central Asia participated at the NATO-Russia Council's (NRC) Executive Steering Meeting to review the NRC report on the results of the first phase of the XAC/I97 project and plans for the project extension which will cover 2008-2009. All participants expressed satisfaction with UNODC's management of project implementation. It was announced that Hungary will join the project as an observer and may provide trainers, while Bulgaria is also considering. Representatives of Canada and Turkey highly praised the project and noted that NRC report places the project in the larger strategic context of UNODC's atrategy for the region. During this mission RR also met with officials from the European Commission in regard to criminal justice (prison reform) programming in Kyrgyzstan.

See also

Archive 2007
Archive 2006
Archive 2004-2005
Archive 2000-2003