UNODC and the Brazilian Attorney General's Office (PGR) discuss a partnership to combat drugs and organized crime

Brasilia, 14 November 2017 - The importance of ensuring a differentiated treatment for drug users and drug traffickers. This was one of the issues discussed during the meeting held on Monday (13) between the Brazilian attorney general,  Raquel Dodge, and the regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Rafael Franzini. It also addressed the possibility of a partnership in actions in Brazil and Latin America, in areas such as the fight against organized crime, trafficking in persons and corruption, as well as issues related to preserving the environment.

Regarding drug dealing, the Brazilian attorney general pointed out that the Ministry of Justice works on the preparation of a resolution that will provide objective parameters to ensure the differentiation between users and traffickers, in compliance with a decision of the Federal Supreme Court.

According to Raquel Dodge, the measure will be fundamental to guide the performance of judges, prosecutors and the police in the treatment of the matter in Brazil. In addition, it will help reduce the rate of incarceration in the country. Data from the National Survey of Penitentiary Information indicate that 30% of people arrested in Brazil were due to the crime of drug trafficking. Among women, this rate rises to 68%. "It will be a reference document for the subject in Brazil and it seems to us the safe way to strengthen a policy of treatment of health to the users and the criminal treatment to the drug trafficker," she said.

 In addition to this differentiation, the UNODC representative said it was essential to sensitize the Brazilian authorities for a less punitive look at the issue, especially when it comes to users who need medical treatment.

Training courses - Rafael Franzini said that UNODC is at the disposal of the Ministério Público Federal (MPF) 'the Federal Public Ministry" and the Brazilian authorities to assist in training courses and in the development of multidisciplinary anti-drug projects. As a positive example, he cited the performance of drug courts in the United States, which conduct rehabilitation programmes for individuals charged with small offenses related to the use of illegal substances.

 At the meeting, Raquel Dodge also spoke about the efforts being made by MPF, in partnership with other bodies, to combat organized crime in Rio de Janeiro. She explained that the Strategic Group was created in October at the MPF, which will focus on fighting federal crimes, such as international drug trafficking, arms and ammunition, as well as money laundering resulting from these criminal activities. The group will prepare a diagnosis of the situation and propose structural solutions to improve the public service provided to the population.

Also attending the meeting were Luciano Mariz Maia, Deputy Attorney General, as well as representatives of the Secretariat of International Cooperation of the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR) "the Brazilian Attorney General's Office" and the Criminal, Cultural and Cultural Heritage Chambers (4CCR), Combating Corruption (5CCR) ), and External Control of Police Activity and Prison System (7CCR) of MPF. The UNODC representative undertook to forward to the PGR information on the programmes already developed by the institution in the fight against drug, people and arms trafficking, as well as actions for the preservation of fauna and flora. He also proposed to work together with the MPF on projects of interest to both institutions.

We thank our UN Online Volunteer, Juliana Nogueira, for her contribution to the translation of this article. Juliana is an online volunteer mobilised through www.onlinevolunteering.org"

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