Paris Pact Initiative
A partnership of more than 80 countries and international organizations, the Paris Pact Initiative is one of the most important frameworks in the fight against opiates originating in Afghanistan. It aims at the reduction of illicit traffic in opiates including opium poppy cultivation, production and global consumption of heroin and other opiates, and at the establishment of a broad international coalition to combat illicit traffic in opiates.
Despite continued efforts by the international community and major achievements, the problem of illicit traffic in opiates continues to be of serious concern. Illicit traffic in opiates, including heroin, is a growing problem, generating illicit financial flows, fuelling corruption, and organized crime and in some cases funding terrorist activities and insurgency.
Efforts under the aegis of the Paris Pact Initiative are aimed at the strengthening of international and regional cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to support its sustained efforts, including on a national level, to address illicit traffic in opiates, recognizing the threat they pose to international peace and stability in different regions of the world and the important role played by UNODC in these efforts.
At the Ministerial Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe held in Paris in May 2003 (Paris Statement), the international community subscribed to the principle of common and shared responsibility in the fight against opium and heroin trafficking from Afghanistan. The commitment became known as the "Paris Pact", focussing on enhanced border control and law enforcement among countries affected by the trafficking of opiates from Afghanistan. A second Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan was held in Moscow on 26-28 June 2006 (Moscow Statement), which further promoted the Paris Pact process and recommended effective countermeasures against drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
The Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact Partners on Combatting Illicit Traffic in Opiates Originating in Afghanistan was held at Hofburg Palace in Vienna on 16 February 2012. The conference was attended by 500 participants from 58 countries and 16 organizations, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, and 12 Ministers. The statements made by Ministers and other heads of delegation focused on the four main areas in which Paris Pact partners agreed cooperation should be strengthened: regional initiatives; financial flows linked to illicit traffic in opiates; preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals; and reducing drug abuse and dependence. Affirming their "common and shared responsibility", the Paris Pact partners adopted the Vienna Declaration, a statement of international commitment to act in a "balanced and comprehensive manner" against the menace of illicit Afghan opiates. "We recognize that the narcotics problem is a global challenge which also requires a global response, including addressing the demand and supply sides", the Declaration states.
The Paris Pact Initiative consists of three main components:
1. A two-pronged Consultative Mechanism that facilitates periodical consultations at the expert and policy level between partners, in order to jointly discuss, identify and set in motion concrete measures to stem the increasing level of opiates trafficked from Afghanistan.
2. The Automated Donor Assistance Mechanism (ADAM), an internet-based tool which provides Paris Pact partners with essential information to coordinate counter narcotics technical assistance in countries along the main opium trafficking routes from Afghanistan.
3. To further strengthen counter narcotics data collection and analytical capacity, a network of 10 Research and Liaison Officers cover key Paris Pact partner countries in their work, such as the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, the Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
For more information on Paris Pact Initiative you can visit www.paris-pact.net
