With the support of the European Union in Bolivia, UNODC held the second Meeting of the Thematic Group on Drugs (TGD) in 2020 with representatives of the international cooperation in La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, December 15th, 2020 (United Nations).-  With funding from the European Union in Bolivia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held the second Meeting of the Group Thematic on Drugs (TGD) of 2020 with representatives of the international cooperation in La Paz. 

Ms. Susana Sottoli, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Bolivia, inaugurated the meeting by greeting and thanking the presence of the international community and emphasizing the importance of the TGD for the development of a culture of peace. The Officer in Charge of UNODC in Bolivia, Antonio Valverde, opened the meeting by referring to the fact that the drug problem affects all countries in different ways to a greater or lesser extent in terms of production, trafficking and consumption. He pointed out that on this occasion the TGD meeting provided a space for the Bolivian authorities to present the Government's guidelines for the fight against illicit drug trafficking and control of surplus coca crops, facilitating dialogue with the international community in line with the objectives of the TGD.

On this occasion, the TGD had the presence of Mr. Carlos Eduardo del Castillo del Carpio, Minister of Government and Mr. Jaime Mamani Espíndola, Vice Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances. During his speech, the Minister of Government made a contextualization of the anti-drug model inherited by Bolivia before 2006, as well as the creation of the Bolivian Model based on the nationalization of the fight against drug trafficking. In this model, eradication is implemented through consultation with the communities themselves and members of the producer unions. Subsequently, he presented the guidelines of the 2021 - 2025 strategy, which is characterized by the following components: 1) Control of illicit traffic of Controlled Substances, 2) Control of the expansion of coca leaf crops, 3) Prevention of consumption, 4 ) Regionalization of the fight against illicit drug trafficking and 5) Environment, gender and human rights, which will be incorporated in a transversal manner.

This meeting was attended in person by representatives of the Embassies of Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Spain, the United States, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Switzerland and members of the Delegation of the European Union (EU). Diego Zurdo, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union, stressed that the Bolivian model presented is characterized by its pragmatism, since it has provided effective solutions for reducing the coca surface and keeping it at levels close to the target. Also, he compromised the continuity of the support of the European Union to this task.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides support and technical assistance to the Bolivian Government, civil society organizations and academic institutions, among others, to strengthen responses against criminal organizations, within their national borders and between regions, both in areas of prevention and in the fight against drugs and organized crime since 1985.