Director General/Executive Director
18 April 2013
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me thank the Permanent Council for inviting me to address the subject of how UNODC and the OSCE can develop our future cooperation.
The word "cooperation" has been chosen carefully as it has considerable importance for both our organizations.
UNODC estimates that the total cost of transnational organized crime globally is around US$870 billion annually.
Whether human trafficking, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering, wildlife crime, cyber-crime, fraudulent medicines, corruption, these crimes take place throughout the world.
No country is immune. No country or region is powerful enough to solve these challenges alone.
"Cooperation" is, therefore, not a word chosen for the purposes of polite diplomacy.
It offers a means for us to deliver added value against these multifaceted challenges.
But to have a practical effect, it must also be supported by true commitment.
I am glad that UNODC and the OSCE are building together a history of such commitment.
By renewing our Joint Action Plan, which I am pleased to say was renewed yesterday, we are sending a strong message to Member States and donors that we are enhancing our comparative advantages.
UNODC's own value may be seen in its global provision of technical assistance in combatting drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism, while the OSCE offers value by using its field network as a platform for regional dialogue.
The Joint Action Plan will allow us to develop coordinated activities in many areas of mutual interest.
Concerning counter-terrorism, this September, UNODC and OSCE will organize workshops on this issue in Spain.
Later, in December , a r egional training workshop on extradition and mutual legal assistance will be organized in the context of UNODC's project in Central Asia.
UNODC's Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism works closely with the OSCE on a range of items under the Joint Action Plan related to anti-money laundering and asset confiscation/forfeiture.
We are also seeking to expand our cooperation into areas such as Container Control and Supply Chain Security, as well as Border Security and Management.
UNODC's delivery mechanism is its 7 integrated Regional Programmes. Three more, in the Caribbean, Southern Africa and South Asia, will be introduced later this year.
The Regional Programmes offer a platform for UNODC's activities, but also those of our partners within the UN system and beyond.
Our South Eastern Europe Regional Programme, which is also closely linked to the Paris Pact Initiative, is an excellent partner for the OSCE's own activities in the Balkans.
The programme has achieved much in its first year, but it can do more. I hope there will be many opportunities for us to work together in this region in the future.
Our SEE programme is also closely linked to UNODC's Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries and our country programme for Afghanistan.
As 2014 approaches, the Afghan government will need more help fighting illicit drugs. We need to prepare for the transition by building capacity in the field of counter narcotics.
UNODC is promoting a strategic inter-regional approach that connects UNODC programmes and initiatives at the country, regional and inter-regional levels.
In the future, the OSCE can help these efforts by bringing the issue of counter narcotics to the centre of the debate, especially at international events such as the Tokyo, Istanbul and Kabul processes.
In West and Central Asia, last year UNODC jointly organized with the OSCE a workshop on "International Co-operation in Criminal Matters: Information Exchange in the Fight against Organized Crime and Terrorism" in Almaty.
But our cooperation and coordination must go still further. We can learn from each other on how to better integrate the rule of law and justice, human rights and gender into our joint programmes and projects.
The sharing of information between law enforcement agencies is essential when tackling all types of crime.
These activities can be developed at both the expert level, and during our annual UNODC/OSCE meetings which set the future course of our cooperation.
In the area of organized crime, UNODC is promoting criminal intelligence led policing, while helping to develop the capacities of Member States in the areas of law enforcement, investigation and prosecution.
Criminal intelligence is the lifeblood that sustains the fight against transnational organized crime. No pro-active law enforcement operation can take place without it.
Training is another area where we can and do cooperate. Earlier this year, we discussed the development of joint training materials and guidelines to support our criminal intelligence led approach.
But if the criminal intelligence led approach is a key element, the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols is the solid legal foundation for all our work.
Next week sees the start of the 22nd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, where Member States formulate the decisions guiding our work in this area.
I am pleased that the OSCE is holding a side-event on human trafficking at this year's event.
UNODC enjoys a close working relationship with the OSCE in this area.
The OSCE is a UNGIFT partner agency, and we are both supporting a training seminar for judges in Israel on human trafficking. Both organizations are also in discussions regarding future cooperation in the field of Migrant Smuggling.
I would also encourage the OSCE to participate in our fundraising initiative in support of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking to be held later this year.
The implementation of UNTOC can also lay the foundation for cooperation across borders, and UNODC has an important role building the capacity of states in these areas.
As part of this global approach, UNODC is promoting a "Networking the Networks" initiative aimed at creating a criminal intelligence and law enforcement cooperation network.
The network includes CARICC in Almaty, the Joint Planning Cell in Tehran, the Gulf Council Intelligence Centre in Doha, SELEC in Bucharest, Europol, INTERPOL, World Customs Organisation, as well as other law enforcement cooperation organisations.
There is a meeting planned on this subject tentatively for later this year, where we would like the OSCE to take an active role.
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cooperation is an important word, but it must be cemented by deeds.
Both UNODC and OSCE understand the integrated and multidisciplinary nature of illicit drugs and crime.
Together we have strong Regional Programmes that are the platforms for our activities on the ground.
And just as importantly, we have the experience and knowledge in a number of thematic areas that can enable us to fully support Member States.
Given these strengths, we must continue to leverage our Joint Action Plan by developing joint project ideas and undertaking joint fund raising.
In these times of financial crisis, when resources are scarce, we need to reinforce the message to Member States that we are delivering effectively and efficiently on our unique mandates.
Thank you.