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Award of Excellence bestowed to two Port Control Unit female officers
30 October 2017, Tirana, Albania: Two female officers of the Port Control Unit at Durres Port in Albania received the Award of Excellence in a ceremony organized on the occasion of the United Nations Day. The ceremony which took place at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania was attended by the Minister, Ambassador of Sweden in Albania, the UN Resident Coordinator, representatives from the diplomatic corps, ministries, academia, UN agencies and civil society. Two officers were awarded for their outstanding contribution as champion safe-keepers of the Albanian borders.
The award was bestowed to the PCU female officers by the Ambassador of Sweden, who in his remarks stated that he was honoured to give the award to two women who have committed themselves to the fight against organized crime, in particular, to the fight against illicit trafficking in narcotics.
During the ceremony, five other Albanian women were honoured with the award. These women are active in the area of diplomacy and civil society, are survivors of the domestic violence, and women from Roma and Egyptian minority.
This year, in Albania, the UN Day theme was dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 - Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.
The main product of this event was the documentary on women "who work behind the scenes", women who never make it on TV or other media, but who are the "silent heroes" who work across the country, including in law enforcement area, and make a big difference every day. The awards related to UN work in the area of gender equality.
The award is another milestone in the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) where empowerment of the women's role remains a priority. The recent award adds up to the UNODC-WCO efforts in mainstreaming gender in the CCP implementation.
UNODC and WCO support operational cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring countries
26-29 October 2017, land-border crossing point Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Continuing to build cooperation between customs administrations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, joint operational activity focused on prevention of illicit trafficking and other smuggling activities at the land-border Gradiška.
This activity represents continuation of ongoing efforts throughout 2017 aimed to identify illegal activities of organized crime exploiting maritime containers, interception of such consignments and psychical inspection of high-risk containers. During activity, a number of containerized shipments have been inspected on the basis of risk analyses and work conducted jointly by customs officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
In addition to this, activities of joint operations aimed to further develop interagency cooperation, including between and with customs, and cooperation with neighboring countries with the overall objective to increase levels of safety and security of the international supply chain, as well as overall border security.
Implementation of the joint activity took place within the framework of the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme. Under the CCP framework, activities in Bosnia & Herzegovina were launched in 2014 to assist the host government to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, at the same time to build a capacity to improve trade security, facilitation standards and controls at the national borders.
Paris Pact Initiative discusses precursor control
23-24 October 2017, Bucharest, Romania: The Paris Pact Expert Working Group (EWG) on Precursors was organized by UNODC at the Headquarters of the Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC) in Bucharest. The event was attended by more than 60 participants, representing 21 countries and 8 international organizations.
The EWG on Precursors was directly related to the third law enforcement pillar - on precursors - of the Vienna Declaration, adopted at the Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact Partners in February 2012, which serves as the roadmap to guide all partner actions in support to the Initiative and guiding Paris Pact partners' actions throughout its Phase IV.
The EWG meeting reviewed a variety of topics, including the update on latest trends, routes and techniques used to smuggle precursor chemicals destined for use in heroin production, as well as operational elements of work, including international investigations into trafficking of precursors, identification and prevention of diversion of acetic anhydride, information sharing between regional centres, alignment of legal frameworks to improve the use of special investigative techniques, controlled deliveries, exchange of intelligence and parallel/joint investigations, and many others.
The EWG adopted draft recommendations which will be eventually presented for endorsement at the 14 th Policy Consultative Group Meeting (PCGM), tentatively scheduled for February-March 2018.
Further information is available at http://www.selec.org/ and www.paris-pact.net .
UNODC supports Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in firearms tracing through implementation of firearms import marking
23 October 2017 , Vienna, Austria: UNODC's Global Firearms Programme (GFP) organized a study visit for five officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and two officials from Serbia to Vienna Proof-House. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are in the process of developing and implementing procedures for marking of imported firearms, which improves their capacity to conduct domestic tracing. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina has established an inter-departmental Working Group for the implementation of the Law on Marking of Firearms, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior. Currently the Working Group is drafting the regulations, which will implement Law's provisions. Serbia has also initiated the process for drafting a Law on Marking of Firearms and formed a Working Group under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior.
The goal of the visit was to acquire information about the procedures and methods used by Vienna Proof-House to mark firearms, which are imported in Austria. During the course of the visit, the officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia received information about the organization of the marking process, including the responsibilities of the parties involved in the process, the cooperation with industry, the resources and organizational structures required to implement the marking of firearms. Further, the delegations learned about the methods of marking and testing of firearms at the Vienna Proof-House and witnessed several demonstrations. They took note of the various marks applied by the Vienna Proof-House and the procedures for record-keeping of information on marked firearms. The Head of Vienna Proof-House demonstrated the equipment for marking and testing of firearms and provided thorough information on the technical specifications, follow-up modifications and adjustments, which have improved the efficiency of the marking process and have made it cost-effective.
UNODC GFP will follow up on this activity by organizing two workshops in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia to present a report on regulations and best practices of import marking for the purpose of tracing firearms. The report summarizes the national experiences from countries with legislation on import marking, and provides further examples and recommendations. The study visit was organized with the generous support of the Government of Germany.
For more information please refer to: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/firearms-protocol/index.html
UNODC leads the third regional dialogue on cross-border investigation and disrupting illicit financial flows from smuggling of migrants
18-20 October 2017, Split, Croatia: UNODC held the third Regional Expert Group Meeting on smuggling of migrants as it relates to illicit financial flows in South Eastern Europe. The event has gathered representatives of transit and destination countries in the region, Turkey, EU, as well as regional and international organizations.
The primary objective of the meeting was to support a coordinated response to smuggling of migrants across borders within the wider region of South Eastern Europe, and hence to assist in the implementation of the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The specific goal of the event was to raise awareness on parallel and joint investigations, as well as the use of special investigative techniques and financial investigations by mapping the latest trends, identifying the needs, challenges and priorities of the South Eastern European countries and jurisdictions in combating smuggling of migrants.
Criminal justice practitioners, financial investigators and specialised prosecutors tasked with investigating and prosecuting migrant smuggling and organized crime through financial investigations were the main focus group of the event. The participants gained a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the issues involved in preventing and combating the smuggling of migrants in South Eastern Europe through cross-border investigations and prosecutions. They also had an opportunity to review the benefits of a 'joined up' national and regional approach to detecting and intercepting criminal networks behind the migrant smuggling in order to bring them to justice in full compliance with international protection and assistance obligations. Regional cooperation between respective law enforcement agencies and judiciary in the investigation of transnational criminal networks engaged in migrant smuggling was also an important topic of the meeting.
Following the session on regional and international organizations' role and perspectives on cross-border cooperation in combating smuggling of migrants, experts exchanged practical experiences concerning cross-border cooperation and use of special investigative techniques in combating smuggling of migrants. In particular, practitioners from the region provided operational examples of good practices, challenges and lessons learnt in cross-border cooperation and use of special investigative techniques. Given the centrality of the principle "follow the money" for effectively combating the smuggling of migrants as form of organized crime, a session was dedicated to the role of private sector, the role of Hawalas and other similar service providers (HOSSPs) and practical experiences in SEE (concrete cases from Croatia, Bulgaria, France and Serbia) in detecting and disrupting illicit financial flows in combating smuggling of migrants. The last sessions were dedicated to drafting and validating a model of protocol for cooperation in combating smuggling of migrants, which will be prepared by the UNODC as an outcome of three REGMs.
The meeting was implemented by the UNODC's Global Programme against the Smuggling of Migrants with support of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe in cooperation with the State Attorney General's Office of Croatia and with the generous contribution of the Government of France.
Strong Families prevention programme for Afghan refugee families successfully initiated in Serbia
18-20 October 2017, Vranje, Serbia: In partnership with Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, UNODC initiated piloting of "Strong Families" programme for the prevention of drugs, crime and violence on Afghan refugee families currently stranded in refuge reception centers in Republic of Serbia.
The "Strong Families" is a family skills programme developed as part of a global project on prevention of the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section of Drug Prevention and Health Branch for families living in challenged situations (including the refugees, the internally displaced, those in conflict/post conflict situations and those in rural settings).
The programme is designed for families with children aged between 7 and 14 with the aim of improving parenting skills, child well-being and family mental health. More specifically, the pilot programme intends to normalize and manage stress within the families who went through conflict and displacement, to develop positive parenting strategies as well as to improve communication and relationship among family members. As it is designed to be implemented for families in low resource settings, it is composed of three (1 hour) sessions (one pre-session for caregivers only and two additional sessions for the family). "Strong Families" programme is also currently being piloted in Afghanistan and Tanzania.
The "Strong Families" programme pilot in Serbia kicked off with the training of 27 facilitators who will implement with the refugee families in the selected camps. These facilitators were delegated from local organizations who actively support the refugee response on the field: Indigo, Caritas, Belgrade Centar for Migration, SOS Children Villages, Danish Refugee Center and Save the Children. The facilitators will implement the "Strong Families" programme in three refugee reception centers in Bujanovac, Presevo and Vranje. The intervention will last for three weeks (at a rate of one session per week) and will be implemented with the selected group of Afghan families/caregivers and children under their care aged between 7-14.
"Strong Families" programme pilot in Serbia will be closely monitored and assessed at the level of process feasibility and effectiveness. The indicators to assess are on the level of improving family skills outcomes and caregiver mental health, to analyze the extent of families' attendance and to explore the cultural and contextual acceptability of programme for families and practitioners in Serbia. The lessons learned through the Serbia pilot assessment will carry important implementation value for the local Serbian counterparts as well as on the global level for many other interlocutors engaged with families going through similar circumstances.
UNODC mission visits Serbia
16-18 October 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: Chief of the UNODC Regional Section for Europe and West/Central Asia / Regional Representative for South Eastern Europe and delegation visited Serbia for consultations with the national and international counterparts in Belgrade. In particular, the mission met with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering of the Ministry of Finance and other national and international actors.
The mission was focused in particular on the topic of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism and the ongoing and future cooperation between UNODC and the Government of the Republic of Serbia in this field.
Exchanges on the Western Balkans Integrative Internal Security Governance Initiative
11 October 2017, Brussels, Belgium: Chief of the UNODC Regional Section for Europe, West and Central Asia / Regional Representative for South Eastern Europe and Chief of the UNODC Independent Evaluation Unit met in Brussels with the representatives of EU DG NEAR and other partners, including the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) and the German International Cooperation (GIZ). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the innovative partnership UNODC has entered into with the EU (in particular with DG NEAR) within the Western Balkans Integrative Internal Security Governance Initiative (WB IISG) which foresees capacity building activities in the area of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism.
The UNODC involvement also aimed at undertaking formative evaluation of the effectiveness of the approaches of the EU and its partners in the Western Balkan region in order to further improve the delivery of assistance as well as complementarity of actions by different actors, within and outside the EU umbrella.
The meeting was aimed to make the final review of the workplan prior to the technical launch of the WB IISG in Vienna on 1 December 2017.
UNODC and CEPOL will work on financial investigations in the Balkans
6 October 2017, Budapest, Hungary: UNODC and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) held consultations on the implementation details of the joint UNODC-CEPOL action on financial investigations which will take place as of early 2018 under the new EU Western Balkans Integrative Internal Security Governance initiative (WB IISG).
The two agencies met to discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation and to finalize the joint workplan which will be part of the Western Balkan Counter-Serious Crime initiative (WBCSCi) - the second pillar of the WB IISG. This pillar is aimed to respond to the threats of Serious and Organized Crime in the Western Balkan region by merging the efforts of all relevant security actors, EU and international donors of external assistance in this area of policy - in an efficient and sustainable manner.
For more information: http://wb-iisg.com/
UNODC conducts a country visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of reviewing the implementation of UNCAC
5-7 October 2015, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC conducted a country visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in that country (first year of the second review cycle on the implementation of the Convention).
The discussions in the context of this country visit were held in Sarajevo, involving the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Trinidad and Tobago as reviewing States parties and UNODC as the Secretariat of the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of UNCAC.
The objective of the country visit was for the reviewing States parties to engage in direct dialogue on the review of implementation of the Convention (Chapter II on Preventive Measures and Chapter V on Asset Recovery) with the relevant experts and representatives from national institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As a result of the country visit and based on the exchange of information and views between the competent national authorities and the reviewing experts, a country review report will be drafted. The report will identify successes, good practices and challenges and make recommendations for the implementation of the Convention. The executive summary of the report will be translated in all United Nations official languages and will be made available online. The country review may also be published, if the country under review decides to make it available in the public domain.
For more information: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/corruption/implementation-review-mechanism.html
Drug and Precursors Training for Port Control Units Takes Place in Sarajevo
2-4 October 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Advanced Drug and Precursors Training for officers of the Port Control Units (PCUs) in South Eastern Europe was organized within the framework of the UNODC - WCO Container Control Programme. The training objective was to enhance capacities of the PCU officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro to identify and conduct interdiction of drugs and precursors trafficking through the South Eastern European region.
The PCUs' staff received advanced training focused on risk-based profiling of containers and improved information exchange at national, regional and international levels on container crime. A total of 24 officials from customs, border police, anti-narcotic units and other relevant institutions of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro attended the training course.
An interactive training event, led by WCO expert, comprised of lectures and practical exercises, complemented by interactive discussions, was focused on up-to-date identification and interdiction of drugs and precursors trafficking. The participants also discussed on the overall and prevalent drug situation in the region with special emphasis on the diversion of precursor chemicals.
Advanced Drug Precursors Training was organized through the generous support of the Government of United States and France.
UNODC assists Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to identify and interdict the illicit use of cash couriers
27-29 September 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe with support of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the generous contribution of the Government of Turkey organized an interactive workshop on enhancing technical skills of some 30 law enforcement officers in controlling cross-border transportation of cash. The workshop took place in Sarajevo and brought together participants from law enforcement agencies of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brcko District.
This three-day workshop allowed the participants to enhance their technical skills in identification and interdiction of the illicit use of cash couriers and further investigation of illicit cash flows. The officers, analysts and investigators exchanged experience on how to apply risk assessment in creating a profile of cash couriers to perform cash controls at the border. The participants also shared their real-time examples of cash smuggling and learned about the application of the cash seizure procedures.
It is expected that this training will result in an enhanced cooperation between various law enforcement agencies in this area and in an increased number of case-related investigations. In addition, the participants learned about the application of the FATF Recommendation 32 on having a proper system and instruments in place necessary for restraining a cross-border transportation of cash in relation to terrorist financing, money laundering or predicate offences or that is falsely disclosed or declared.
First multi-stakeholder workshop on UN Convention against Corruption in South Eastern Europe
26 September 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC is hosting this week the first multi-stakeholder workshop on the United Nations Convention against Corruption and its Review Mechanism in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As the first such workshop to be held in Southeast Europe, the event aims to develop capacities of around 60 participants across the region to contribute to the implementation of the Convention and its Review Mechanism.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Director of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Coordination of the Fight Against Corruption, underscored the importance of cooperation to tackle this phenomenon worldwide. He said: "Without the help from international partners and civil society, we are blind and cannot do anything in our efforts to fight corruption."
At the first review cycle, approximately 85 per cent of Governments involved civil society organizations in their country visits, building momentum to uphold their treaty obligations. The workshop, in this regard, reiterates the importance of this practice during the second review cycle, especially in the Southeast Europe region. It also aims to promote collaboration between all relevant stakeholders.
Pointing to the 2030 Agenda, UNODC's Civil Society Team Leader, said: "All Sustainable Development Goals can be hampered if corruption prevails. The fight against this peril is deeply rooted in Goal 16, which aims to provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels."
Supported by the Austrian Development Agency through the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, and by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the training will inform participants about the methodology and tools for country reviews and build their capacity to reproduce workshop sessions at the national and regional levels. Participants will engage in a constructive dialogue by sharing their experiences, lessons learned and good practices, as well as undertaking practical exercises.
The UN Convention against Corruption, ratified by 182 States, is the only legally binding, universal, anti-corruption instrument. Its far-reaching approach and the mandatory character of provisions make it a unique tool for developing a comprehensive response to global corruption issues.
To date, 286 civil society organizations from across the world have been trained under the UNODC Civil Society Programme. It aims to provide them with the necessary tools to work with Governments and the private sector in implementing the Convention.
Further Information:
United Nations Convention against Corruption
UNODC works with the Government of Montenegro on anti-human trafficking
24-29 September, Bijela, Montenegro: UNODC delivered a training workshop on combating human trafficking to a group of judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and civil society professionals from Montenegro. The workshop, entitled "In-depth training on identification, investigation and proving of trafficking in persons cases and respect of victims' rights in criminal proceedings", was organized by UNODC in close cooperation with the Office for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings of Montenegro, under the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Montenegro. The workshop was implemented under the UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons with support of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and with the generous contribution of the Government of the USA.
In September 2015, UNODC successfully conducted a Multi-disciplinary training workshop, entitled "Protection of human trafficking victims in criminal proceedings". The workshop took place in Budva, Montenegro and reached 31 professionals and practitioners, from law enforcement, prosecution, courts, diplomatic representation, international organisations and civil society.
In March 2017, UNODC received a request from the Office for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings of Montenegro to conduct a follow-up training on the prosecution of human trafficking cases and the protection of the rights of trafficking victims in Montenegro.
In accordance with the needs and priorities defined by the Office for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings of Montenegro that were addressed to the UNODC, this latest week-long multidisciplinary training workshop for practitioners was held in order to improve efficiency of criminal prosecution and sanctioning of human trafficking in Montenegro.
The multi-disciplinary training workshop was successfully organised for more than 30 professionals and practitioners, from law enforcement, prosecution, courts and civil society with a focus on issues related to protection of victims of trafficking in persons in the criminal proceedings.
At the opening ceremony, the US Ambassador in Montenegro, the General Director of the Directorate for Judiciary of the Ministry of Justice, the National Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking of Montenegro and the UNODC staff delivered welcoming remarks.
The UNODC Anti-human trafficking manual for criminal justice practitioners and the Case Digest on Evidential Issues in Trafficking in Persons Cases were used as a basis for the workshop, as well as the selected cases from the UNODC Human Trafficking Case Law Database.
The Case Digest on Evidential Issues in Trafficking in Persons Cases was translated into Montenegrin language and used for conducting Mock Trial during the training.
Follow up activities to the event will take place in spring 2018.
UNODC, IOM, OSCE zoom into tackling migrant smuggling in the Balkans
19-20 September 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: The third Regional Seminar on "Moving Forward in Addressing Migration-related Crimes in South-Eastern Europe" was jointly organized by the OSCE, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNODC, in co-operation with the OSCE's Office of the Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the Office of the Co-ordinator of the Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Over the past few years, the flow of migrants, originating especially from the Middle East and North Africa, has been a challenge for European States, in particular for Southern European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Considering the complexity and the permanence of the situation, the responsibility placed on countries of origin, transit and destination is immense and entails a substantially pressing obligation to react not only to human rights violations and security challenges, but also to criminal organizations making large profits from migrants' and refugees' vulnerable situation.
The seminar aimed at strengthening co-operation between criminal justice, law enforcement and relevant public and private actors, in order to address irregular migration-related crimes, such as migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, in South Eastern Europe. The objective of the event was to identify gaps, challenges and good practices, as well as to strengthen information sharing networks between countries of origin, transit and destination using a multidisciplinary approach, paying also attention to the issue of vulnerability of migrants.
Specific sessions of the seminar focused on
- recent developments and challenges of human mobility in South Eastern Europe;
- modus operandi of criminal groups operating along migration routes on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings;
- criminal justice co-operation within the region and through Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkan routes to Europe.
- vulnerability of individual migrant or group of migrants, and the resources and capacities needed to resist or recover from their vulnerability, and other topics.
The seminar has also broke into group work and review of case studies on practical aspects of detecting organized criminal groups; related financial investigations; cross-border investigations and prosecutions; and other important topics.
The seminar has issued recommendations and finding which will be basis for the future work in the region and beyond.
UNODC and Serbia focus on sustainable approaches to smuggling of migrants
14-15 September 2017, Vrdnik, Serbia: UNODC organized an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Curriculum Development for the Permanent Task Force on Combating Smuggling of Migrants. The event is part of the UNODC project 'Strengthening the capacity to fight the smuggling of migrants in South Eastern Europe', funded by the Government of the USA, and implemented by UNODC in Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Within this project, UNODC is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Interior and Republic Public Prosecutor's Office/Permanent Task Force on Combating Smuggling of Migrants in Serbia to develop specialized training capacity on smuggling of migrants, using interactive methodologies based on case law and e-learning modules. Through this project, customized training materials will be developed/adapted and made available for multi-disciplinary target groups of criminal justice practitioners. The proposed methodology foresees the use and adaptation of a broad range of existing materials such as the translation of three UNODC e-learning modules on smuggling of migrants, UNODC training manuals, analysis of recent court cases from the two countries (2015-2017), and other relevant materials.
The EGM devoted its attention in particular to:
- mapping the specific needs of Serbian professionals;
- identifying existing training programs that are related to migrant smuggling and organized crime to ensure complementarity;
- analysing court cases and jurisprudence on smuggling of migrants and determining what cases are suitable for training purposes;
- exchanging information on emerging trends, operational tools and instruments.
The process is designed on the basis of a genuine participatory approach. The role of the EGM in defining the training priorities, selecting content, designing materials and ultimately shaping the process that will lead to the development of the smuggling of migrants curriculum. The EGM will be followed by further meetings in the region led by UNODC.
A series of UNODC events is organized in South Eastern Europe on criminal justice responses to foreign terrorist fighters
12-13 September 2017, Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; 20-22 September, Podgorica, Montenegro; 29-31 October, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: The UNODC's Terrorism Prevention Branch held a series of national workshops for some of the countries of the region on normative and administrative challenges related to the foreign terrorist fighter (FTF) threat.
The events brought together judges, prosecutors, representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Justice, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. Experts from the region as well as from other countries, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the European Union and INTERPOL shared their experiences relevant to cases involving or related to FTFs. The events aimed to respond to one of the needs identified during the first regional event for South Eastern Europe organized in Vienna in February 2017, to efficiently investigate and prosecute FTF cases.
The workshops provided a platform that facilitated an important exchange of ideas as well as a debate on practical solutions to common challenges faced by different national institutions in investigating and prosecuting FTF cases. By the end of 2017, UNODC will have carried out similar tailor-made workshops in other South Eastern European jurisdictions.
The workshops were organized with the support of the national Governments and members of the Steering Committee of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe.
The workshops were implemented within the framework of UNODC's Initiative on Strengthening the Legal Regime against Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Middle East, North Africa and South Eastern Europe, funded by the European Union. The project aims to assist beneficiaries in improving their criminal justice responses to FTFs, in compliance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 68/276 and United Nations Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014).
UNODC organizes national consultations on foreign terrorist fighters in Bosnia and Herzegovina
6-7 September 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Within the UNODC project supported by the USA Government, the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch organized a national workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 'Investigation and Adjudication of Cases Involving Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF)'. The workshop was organized with the Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Public Institution Center for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of the Republika Srpska and the Judicial Commission of the Brcko District. The workshop was the final in the series of events in all jurisdictions of South Eastern Europe in 2017.
The objectives of the workshop included the following:
i) Discuss the Manual for Judicial Training Institutes in South Eastern Europe on FTF, which UNODC is developing within the project in questions;
ii) Enhance the understanding of the international and regional legal framework dealing with FTFs;
iii) Familiarize participants with and discuss the criminal offenses under CETS dealing with FTF;
iv) Discuss special investigative techniques in FTF cases;
v) Review the financial components of FTF related investigations;
vi) Analyse online investigations and collection of e-evidence;
vii) Promote and support the use of rule of law-based strategies and compliance with international human rights standards to strengthen the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism related offences.
The event brought together national officials representing the relevant institutions, including (the police, prosecutorial services and judges as well as international representatives, including the staff of the Embassies of the USA in the region). The workshop included discussions of several topics included in the Manual for Judicial Training Institutes in South Eastern Europe on FTF. The workshop covered FTF related offences, the international and European legal framework, the collection of e-evidence and financing of terrorism investigation in FTF related cases, as well as case studies based on a real investigations conducted. The event generated an important exchange of ideas among the participants and gave rise to a valuable debate in terms of practical solutions to key practical challenges faced by criminal justice officers when investigating and prosecuting FTF related cases.
The Manual for Judicial Training Institutes in South Eastern Europe on FTF will be launched in Vienna in late October 2017.
Container Control mentorship support to Albania and Montenegro
28 August - 5 September 2017, Durres, Albania, and Bar, Montenegro: Throughout its implementation in South Eastern Europe, the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) has established mentorship missions primarily staffed with experts who help to ensure that CCP introduced techniques and methods are applied effectively.
For two weeks, the Port Control Units (PCUs) at the Port of Durres, Albania, and the Port of Bar, Montenegro, hosted mentorship missions which encompassed exchange of ideas, monitoring of the day-to-day practices, including applied search techniques, creation of risk profiles, information on new trends of illicit trafficking and smuggling through containerized shipments; use of open and confidential sources of information, etc.
The missions offered a hands-on combination of international and local expertise ensuring that efficient container control methodologies are put in place and applied.
UNODC holds consultations to address dirty money in the Balkans
11-14 September 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC held consultations with the national and international counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regard to the work in the priority area of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe - anti-money laundering/counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).
The Regional AML/CFT Advisor based in Sarajevo servicing entire South Eastern Europe, provides policy advice, technical guidance and specializes tailored support to further improve the effectiveness of the UNODC work in this important area, benefitting from the global good practices and contemporary methods of tackling challenges related to money laundering and terrorism financing.
UNODC is working in this thematic area on a basis of a multi-year workplan with support of the EU, Turkey, Russia and other donors.
Ministers of the Western Balkans launch an innovative EU initiative - the IISG
8 September 2017, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia: The Board of the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG), the highest-level monitoring body within the initiative's implementation process, was convened for the first time in the framework of the hosting Brdo Process, a regional ministerial-level initiative led by the Slovenian Ministry of the Interior.
The Ministers of the Western Balkan countries and other Brdo Process members expressed their full support and endorsed the establishment of the IISG framework together with the Terms of Reference to guide its operation and division of tasks. Mr. Rajko Kozmelj, Programme Manager at DCAF Ljubljana was appointed Chair of the IISG Support Group upon the proposal of the European Commission. The IISG Support Group involving Lead Partners and other Partners in the respective IISG Pillars will be hosted by DCAF Ljubljana. The director of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) Ambassador Thomas Gürber has expressed a full commitment to the task of hosting the IISG Support Group and gratitude for the trust vested on part of the countries and the international community. Regional, EU and international IISG Partners expressed their strong support for the IISG and DCAF as the hosting actor.
The IISG Board also appointed Lead Partner functions in Pillar I (Western Balkan Counter-Terrorism Initiative), Pillar II (Western Balkan Counter-Serious Crime Initiative) and Pillar III (Western Balkan Border Security Initiative). The Lead Partners are to act as the "first among equals" and are taking over the task of continuous coordination of activities within each Pillar and the implementation of the respective multi-annual comprehensive Integrated Plans of Action (iPAs).
UNODC is an active member of the IISG, in particular its Pillar II.
UNODC joins the 17 th PCC SEE Committee of Ministers
7 September 2017, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia: The Committee of Ministers of the Police Cooperation Convention for South Eastern Europe (PCC SEE) met in Brdo pri Kranju for the 17 th time in its statutory capacity of the highest PCC SEE decision-making body. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Serbian PCC SEE Chairmanship-in-Office, in cooperation with the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the PCC SEE Secretariat as co-chairs, and the Slovenian Ministry of Interior as the host.
Ministers of home affairs and authorised representatives from the Contracting Parties acknowledged the new strategic alignment of the PCC SEE implementation process - PCC SEE Plus, which paves the way for the implementation of the five PCC SEE core clusters dedicated to data protection, information exchange, operational cooperation, countering terrorism, and automated exchange of data.
The presented strategic document with concrete action plans is set to be a living document, updated regularly following the progress and identification of needs by the Contracting Parties.
The Committee of Ministers further discussed the steps ahead in the establishment of an EU Prüm-inspired framework in the PCC SEE region, which is seen to bring a new dimension to the Contracting Parties' fight against serious and organised cross-border crime, as well as terrorism. By utilising EU Prüm methodology in the PCC SEE region, the Contracting Parties will be enabled to implement automated exchange of data years before all Contracting Parties will become EU Member States. In view of timely starting with the official negotiations of this future framework, the Committee of Ministers supported to kick-off the process with a dedicated preparatory meeting by the end of 2017. The Contracting Parties also expressed their expectations as to which of the three data fields - DNA, dactyloscopic, vehicle registration data - they consider to first achieve the practical implementation of automated exchange of data. In this regard, the PCC SEE Secretariat will support the building of necessary capacities, following the specific progress, priorities and needs of the Contracting Parties.
For more information: http://www.pccseesecretariat.si/
The Second Public - Private Partnership Consultation held in Bosnia and Herzegovina
6 July 2017, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Further facilitating cooperation with the private sector stakeholders, the Second Public-Private Partnership Workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme framework was organized jointly by the Indirect Taxation Authority and UNODC.
The Workshop gathered representatives of the forwarding agents and other private sector subjects following activities initiated in 2016 and ongoing effort to support the legitimate trade supply chain.
Containerized shipments represent an important part of the growing international trade supply chain, measuring up to approximately 90% of the world's cargo. The roles of private actors as well as law enforcement agencies in establishing effective trade security and is vital. The Workshop aimed to continue building relationships with key private sector stakeholders in particular forwarding agents and transport operators. In addition, the Workshop discussed ongoing plans of the Indirect Taxation Authority, such as establishment of the National Cargo Transit System (NCTS) that should further facilitate trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently in the phase of preparation, the NCTS should be implemented at the beginning of 2018. The Workshop also looked into risk analyses and pre-arrival information and provided recommendations for the future work of the Indirect Taxation Authority.
The Public-Private Partnership initiative will be continued throughout 2017 within the Container Control Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Afghan officials visit South Eastern Europe
5-15 July 2017, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro: Fourteen officials from the Afghanistan Port Control Units attended an eight-day study visit to South Eastern Europe (SEE) as part of the implementation of the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP). The goal of the visit which included the Port of Durres, Albania, Port of Bar, Montenegro, and the Border Crossing Point of Bijaca (BCP), Bosnia and Herzegovina, was to enhance sharing of best practices on security related systems and processes, commercial operations, automation, management models and other trade enforcement activities.
The CCP is closely working with the Governments of the three countries in SEE and the Government of Afghanistan to build the capacity of customs and border police through several initiatives, including the establishment Port Control Units. Regional and inter-regional initiatives are also an important element of the CCP.
The visit offered a range of sites and meetings with senior officials from the three countries of SEE. These meetings gave the participants first-hand experience on customs control cargo and vehicle at the Ports and BCP and demonstrated the possibilities for improvement and modernization of customs practices in particular when it comes to export, import and transit procedures. The meetings also familiarized the Afghan officials with the customs risk management and investigation techniques; electronic clearance methodologies, best practices in detecting and managing the movement of illegal goods; import and export restrictions.
Particular attention during the meetings was paid to strengthening the cooperation between border authorities, trust building and establishment of a more effective information exchange at national and regional level aiming at keeping a good balance between security and trade facilitation.
Seizures in Afghanistan (several shipments of ammonium nitrate) and in SEE countries (various types of drugs and IPR) are a clear indication of the interdiction efforts contributing to the improved safety of the borders in the respective countries.
The visit presented a good experience in sharing of knowledge and lessons learned through effective coordinating mechanisms between Port Control Units and achieving the CCP goals globally.
UNODC joins the dialogue on arms control in Bosnia and Herzegovina
4-6 July, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC delegation visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess possibilities to engage the authorities in activities related to regulating, preventing and combatting illicit trafficking in firearms, as well as to attend the Arms Symposium in South Eastern Europe organized by the Centre for Security Cooperation in South East Europe (RACVIAC).
The main focus of the mission was to identify areas of cooperation and counterparts among Bosnian authorities for the implementation of UNODC activities in regulating, preventing and combatting illicit trafficking in firearms, as well as raise awareness among the regional member states about the work of UNODC in arms control. In particular, meetings were held with senior representatives of the Ministry of Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.
In addition to that, UNODC presented the synergies between the Arms Trade Treaty, the Firearms Protocol and other international instruments that contribute to countering illicit trafficking in firearms, at the Arms Symposium organized by RACVIAC. Special focus was made on the issue of the criminal justice response to illicit trafficking - a topic which is not covered regularly in this forum and therefore was well received by the participants. The issue of end user certificates was highlighted as one of the main challenges, particularly enforcing their legal use.
UNODC will step-up its cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of arms control in the course of 2017.
Hands-on support to countering illicit trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina
3-5 July 2017, Land-border Bijača, Bosnia and Herzegovina: UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the IVth Mentorship visit to the Port Control Unit (PCU) working within the framework of the Programme. The mentorship visit activity is designed to address challenges faced by the Unit in implementation of the daily work at the CCP designated land-border site Bijača.
Working closely with the PCU staff, a UNODC Mentor considered standard and other practices of the PCU composed of law enforcement officers from Indirect Taxation Authority and Border Police working on profiling of high-risk cargo containers to minimize risk of exploiting them for smuggling of narcotic drugs, weapons, precursor chemicals and other organized crime activities.
During the three-day mentorship visit the PCU members presented to the Mentor different tools and practices used to conduct profiling and risk assessment of the cargo containers, both for goods and persons involved in the trade supply chain. Particular attention was given to the existing Indirect Taxation Authority and Border Police databases as well as to the use of open sources of information used to complement the profiling process. Additionally, mentorship discussed existing legal and other challenges tackling the work of the Unit and possible solutions that might contribute to improving particular circumstances.
"Mentorship visits are essential to improving the Unit's knowledge and practice in daily work," said the PCU Coordinator, "It is a great opportunity for the Unit's staff to test own knowledge and discuss particular challenges faced individually and by the Unit as a whole", he said.
Implementation of the UNODC-WCO CCP in Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched in 2014 to assist the host government create sustainable inter-agency PCU to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black market activity. As well, CCP's mission is to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a capacity to improve trade security, facilitation standards and controls at the national borders.
Guidelines on Gender Mainstreaming in the Container Control Programme in South Eastern Europe launched
3 July 2017, Tirana, Albania: UNODC launched the Guidelines on Gender Mainstreaming in the WCO-UNODC Container Control Programme (CCP) in South Eastern Europe (SEE).
In its implementation in SEE, the CCP is paying particular attention to the gender aspect of law enforcement professions, including the work of the Port Control Units (PCUs). The programme has set up the CCP Women's network which brings together the gender focal points operating within the Customs and Police structures, PCU female officers, female senior managers from law enforcement authorities and CCP staff.
Furthermore, UNODC and WCO developed the Guidelines on Gender Mainstreaming in the CCP making SEE the first region to undertake such an initiative on country specific level. The aim of the Guidelines is to assist SEE countries in the CCP network to effectively integrate the gender perspective into all aspects of work, from planning strategic tools, developing normative standards, designing and delivering thematic and regional programmes and working through the project cycle.
During the launch meeting which was attended by the gender focal points of the Albanian State Police, Customs administration, PCU female officers, UNDP and UNWOMEN, a UNODC-WCO consultant offered gender analysis focused on examining public policies and their outcomes through a gender lens; the disaggregated data; recommendations and proposed activities to promote women's role in the container control area.
The stakeholders' inputs were an integral part of the Guidelines drafting process. It enabled an UNODC-WCO assessment from a view point of those who are responsible for, as well as those who are affected by the policy decisions, practices or design of services. These inputs were obtained through focus groups, interviews and surveys as part of the approved methodology.
In line with the National Strategies on Gender Equality which call for gender-mainstreaming structures within all ministries, departments and agencies as mechanisms to implement and monitor national laws and policies and regional and global commitments for gender equality and women's empowerment, the newly approved Guidelines are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is expected that the Guidelines will contribute to improve the design, delivery and implementation of gender oriented policies in the law enforcement area and shift the targets from the designers of gender-oriented policies to operational managers and female staff who are the actual actors in question.
The CCP gender related activities in SEE, including the drafting of the Guidelines, are generously supported by One UN - Albania.
UNODC results in South Eastern Europe presented to over 30,000 people in the Lions Clubs Centennial convention
1-4 July 2017, Chicago, USA: The results of the UNODC and LCIF partnership under the global programme for prevention and its significant impact in preventing substance use as documented through clinical trials in South Eastern Europe was presentedto the Lions Clubs Centennial convention. The event represented an important scientific and political occasion to highlight the UNODC efforts in the field of prevention of drug use, as well as the excellent cooperation with the Governments in South Eastern Europe.
The results of the UNODC-LCIF pilots of Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence were presented in a special session during the convention, which included an intervention by Dr. Yamada (outgoing President of the Lions Clubs International) commending the positive collaboration with UNODC. Further to this session, several meetings were held with the Lions Clubs representatives of countries engaged in this collaboration, the Lions Clubs liaisons to the United Nations and more importantly with the leadership of Lions Clubs International.
UNODC was invited to attend a meeting of the Lions Clubs liaison to the UN discussing 2016 results and planning for the Lions Clubs UN-days to come, the collaboration with UNODC was presented as a model to present in Lions UN Days (in the presence of Bob Corlew president elect to Lions Clubs International) .
The convention was attended by well over 30,000 Lions Clubs members and the plenary session featured several high level key note speakers including the former US VP Al Gore, the former UN SG Ban Ki Moon and many others.
Most valuably a video of the partnership with UNODC (produced by UNODC) was featured in the plenary session when Mr. Ban Ki Moon was speaking. The outcomes of this collaboration continue to be positively received.
UNODC continues to implement the partnership programme with the LCIF in South Eastern Europe.
Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of Europe meet in Vienna
27-30 June 2017, Vienna, Austria: The Twelfth Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of the countries in Europe has taken place in Vienna. The meetings of HONLEA European Region take place once every two years. Membership is open to any State that is a member of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Other United Nations Members States may be invited as observers at their request. HONLEA European Region was established by an ECOSOC resolution and is a subsidiary body of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The documents for the session are available at https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/Subsidiary_Bodies/HONEUR/HONEUR_12-documentation.html
The Secretariat has, inter alia, prepared a comprehensive report on drug trafficking trends in Europe and worldwide. According to this report, one of the main developments of the two recent years for the region of South Eastern Europe is that here seizures of amphetamine and "ecstasy"-type substances reached record levels in 2015.
Europe accounts for significant proportions of global seizures of cannabis resin, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and "ecstasy"-type substances. While cannabis resin and cocaine seizures within the region are almost exclusively concentrated in Western and Central Europe, South Eastern Europe represents between 30 and 50 per cent of European seizures of cannabis herb and amphetamine-type stimulants. This sub-region also accounted for over 50 per cent of heroin seizures that took place in Europe in 2015. East Europe represented between 10 and 20 per cent of cannabis herb and heroin European seizures in 2015.
Compared with seizures of opium and illicit morphine, heroin seizures occur in a much wider range of countries, in particular around the larger markets in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Each of these three markets is mostly supplied by a different producing region. While East and South East Asia are supplied in the main by production in Myanmar and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, most of Europe is supplied by Afghan heroin through the "Balkan route" and the "southern route" through Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan and, increasingly, countries in Africa. In South Eastern Europe, heroin seizures declined sharply in 2015, while remaining stable in Eastern Europe.
The Secretariat has also prepared a report on current situation with respect to regional and sub-regional cooperation. The report points out that in South Eastern and Eastern Europe, recent developments such as the active integration processes in the region, advances in technology, transport and travel and the on-going emergence of new psychoactive substances can, as a side effect, pose new challenges and facilitate cross-border crime, requiring new approaches. A robust response is needed to counter the serious challenges posed by the links between drug trafficking, corruption and other forms of organized crime, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Current UNODC approaches are interdisciplinary and dynamic and aim to provide consistency in the objectives, policy approaches and management arrangements across UNODC. Emphasis is placed on integrated, multi-component programmes that are fully aligned with Governments' priorities, on more effective and transparent cooperation and planning, involving other UN entities, and on leading the effective mainstreaming of UNODC mandate areas within the UN system.
The report describes the efforts of UNODC with its Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and the cooperation with the jurisdictions in the region, as well as their vigorous efforts in countering contemporary challenges and threats.
UNODC initiates training workshop on treatment of drug use disorders on the occasion of the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Montenegro
26-27 June, Podgorica, Montenegro: United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime is annually marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with tactically developed campaign drawing the attention of the general public to the importance of evidence based interventions and strategies in terms of reducing the drug supply and demand. This year's theme of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is "Listen First - Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe" focusing the campaign attention to evidence based drug use prevention as the integrative and crucial segment of the comprehensive and systematic drug response.
The International campaign is fundamentally supported with the analytically produced World Drug Report 2017 ( https://www.unodc.org/wdr2017/) on the new trends and facts related to the illicit drug use, burden of disease from drug use, drug market developments and policy implications. This year Report estimates a quarter of a billion people, or around 5 per cent of the global adult population to used drugs at least once in 2015 with 29.5 million of persons with drug use disorders. 12 million people inject drugs with reported fatal and no fatal consequences such as HIV and Hepatitis C infection with reported 6,1 million of people who live with Hepatitis C, 1,6 Million who live with HIV and 1,3 million of people who live both with Hepatitis C and HIV. These worrisome data are showing a clear picture on a heavy burden of the disease from drug use, furthermore additionally challenging fact is that only 1 in 6 persons with drug use disorders globally is able to receive the necessary treatment.
Following the intention and dedication of the Government of Montenegro - Ministry of Health - to support and mark the International campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking a two-day seminar for national experts on treatment of drug use disorders and associated co-morbidity was organized in Podgorica with 26 psychiatrists from various treatment facilities across the country. National professionals discussed the diagnostic therapeutic protocols both for the drug use disorders and associated co-morbidities and had a chance to be acquainted with the state of the art drug use disorders treatment modalities and best practice studies. Prior the onset of the expert part of the training workshop, the main facts on statistics and trends of the World Drug Report 2017 along with the list of recommendations and policy implications were showcased to the group.
The training workshop was officially opened by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Health of Montenegro underlining the necessity and importance of the application of evidence based interventions and strategies in line with the International Standards and developed practices.
UNODC joins INTERPOL's work to address smuggling of migrants
26 June 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: UNODC took part in a INTERPOL Specialized Operational Network against People Smuggling (ISON) Specialized Training under an INTERPOL Project to Support Regional Counter-Migrant Smuggling Capacity Building Programs which took place in Belgrade on 26-30 June 2017. The activity included several countries in the region of South Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia), as well as ISON members from associated countries and presenters from regional and international organizations and institutions.
A UNODC expert delivered a training session on 26 June entitled "Bringing Smuggling Cases to Court" which focused on the following topics:
- international legal framework surrounding the smuggling of migrants;
- protection and assistance issues and determining the victim's status;
- witness protection and assistance and the role of the UNODC Smuggling of Migrants Knowledge Portal https://www.unodc.org/cld/en/v3/som/
UNODC and INTERPOL actively cooperate in the field of smuggling of migrants and areas of their respective mandates in the region and will continue this partnership in the future.
Serbian forensic expertise shared with Kyrgyzstan
19-23 June 2017, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Ujice, Goc - Serbia: Representatives of the Kyrgyz State Forensic Centre under the Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan visited facilities of the Forensic Centre of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia.
The main goal of the visit was to exchange experience in the international accreditation process according to the ISO 17025 standard, and to review the work of five laboratories in Serbia - on the expertise of drugs, luminescent substances, ballistics, documents and handwriting. The Kyrgyz delegation also visited the Training Centre for Remediation of Clandestine Drug Laboratories in Goc used by the Serbian Interior Ministry to train its staff on identification of illegal drug laboratories. Additionally, an agreement on bilateral cooperation was discussed.
The study visit was organized in the framework of a project on strengthening the State Forensic Centre under the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic implemented by the UNODC Programme Office in Bishkek, with support of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe.
The Serbian Forensic Centre was chosen to be visited due to their membership in the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes and membership in the Networks Working Groups developing standards for forensic institutes all over the world.
The Kyrgyz delegation had a chance to get acquainted with the work of different laboratories and was introduced to the Quality Management System that is being used by their Serbian colleagues. The partners from both countries exchanged experience in conducting expertise and shared contacts which will allow them to cooperate on a daily basis in the future.
According to the Deputy Head of the Forensic Centre in Belgrade, based on the good results of the visit, further cooperation between the Kyrgyz State Forensic Centre and the Serbian National Criminalistic-Technical Centre is expected, as well as between UNODC and NCTC. The members of the Kyrgyz delegation were very satisfied and the study visit reached its goals.
The activity is in line with the UNODC Concerted Approach to Europe, West and Central Asia.
UNODC work in Europe, West and Central Asia presented to Member States
16 June 2017, Vienna, Austria: Within the annual UNODC Field Representatives Meeting, the heads of UNODC Field Offices reported to the member states about the progress achieved and challenges met in the past year. Within the respective regional briefing, the work in Europe and West/Central Asia was presented with a particular emphasis on the integrated and concerted interregional approach that UNODC is executing. More about this approach under the link: http://www.unodc.org/documents/rpanc/Brochure_One_UNODC_Concerted_Apparoach.pdf
911 kg of marijuana and cannabis herb seized in Albania
7-9 June 2017, Durres, Albania: The Port Control Unit at Durres Port, Albania, seized 911 kg of Marijuana in two separate events.
The first seizure (7 June 2017) occurred when a Macedonian citizen arrived at the ferry terminal, second line of control, for further inspection. The behavior of the driver made the officers take the truck to the scanner area whose images alerted to an area of the truck where bags containing green, leafy substances which tested positive to marijuana. The drugs of 705 kg were heading to Bari, Italy, with the final destination in Holland.
The second seizure of Cannabis Herb took place on 9 June 2017 when a bus with tourists was referred for additional inquiries about their planned visit to Florence, Italy. 206 kg of Cannabis Herb were found by the PCU officers during the inspection of the bus.
Both cases were turned over to the Prosecution Office for further investigation.
The seizures were a result of the hard work by the PCU officers utilizing good interviewing techniques in identification items forbidden from entering and leaving the country. The PCU at Durres Port has demonstrated continued vigilance.
HazMatID 360 donated to Durres Port Control Unit
5 June 2017, Durres, Albania: The handover ceremony of HazMatID 360 equipment, a donation of the US Embassy in Tirana (EXBS Programme), officially marked the transfer of the useful equipment to the Port Control Unit operating at the Durres Port. The Export Control and Border Security Programme (EXBS) is a strong supporter of UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme in the last three years of its implementation in South Eastern Europe. The equipment worth USD 65,000 Is the latest version of portable and rugged HazMatID chemical identification system, which provides fast and comprehensive in-field analysis of unknown solids, gels and liquids, including illicit narcotics.
At the ceremony, which was attended by the Deputy Director General of Customs Administration, Director of Border Police and Migration Department of Durres district, Head of Durres Customs, EXBS Advisor to Albania and UNODC it was underlined that integrated border management remains a priority for Albania. Satisfaction was expressed over the increased coordination between border control entities in the country in the fight against drug trafficking.
It is expected that donation of this modern equipment will enhance the performance of the PCU officers to an up-to-date level. It is a new and concrete step towards a more integrated approach in the common fight of the concerned law enforcement agencies. Training opportunities on the use of the equipment will be offered by UNODC-WCO so as to enhance officers' knowledge, minimize risks or mistakes, and help duty-specific skills and knowledge.
The Port Control Unit at Durres Port is established through the assistance of the UNODC -WCO Container Control Programme for South Eastern Europe.
UNODC organizes a series of national events on Foreign Terrorist Fighters in South Eastern Europe
27-28 April 2017, Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; 17-18 May, Pristina, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244; 1-2 June 2017, Durres, Albania; 22-23 June, Podgorica, Montenegro: UNODC organized a series of National Workshops on the 'Investigation and Adjudication of Cases Involving Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) in South Eastern Europe'. The events were organized as part of a regional project supported by the Government of the USA.
The events were typically attended by the heads and experts from the national academies for judges and public prosecutors, representatives of the US Embassies as the donor country, and UNODC experts. The workshops included a detailed review of the international legal framework on the FTF topic, FTF offences and their investigation, including financial components, as well as foreign financial intelligence and information, mutual legal assistance, analysing financial information and evidence, and parallel financing of terrorism investigations. They typically gathered around 25 practitioners in each jurisdiction, including prosecutors, judges and magistrates and other specialists.
The objectives of the workshops included the following:
i) Discuss the Manual for Judicial Training Institutes in South Eastern Europe on FTF;
ii) Enhance the understanding of the international and regional legal framework dealing with FTFs;
iii) Familiarize participants with and discuss the criminal offenses under CETS dealing with FTF;
iv) Discuss special investigative techniques in FTF cases;
v) Review the financial components of FTF related investigations;
vi) Analyse online investigations and collection of e-evidence;
vii) Promote and support the use of rule of law-based strategies and compliance with international human rights standards to strengthen the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism related offences.
The workshops were concluding with a review session in which the participants applied what they learnt during the event by discussing a case study based on a real investigation. The workshop generated an important exchange of ideas among the participants and gave rise to a valuable debate in terms of practical solutions to key practical challenges faced by criminal justice officers when investigating and prosecuting FTF related cases.
The project will continue until the end of October 2017 and will produce a training module on FTF for all jurisdictions in the region.
UNODC joins an EU-led talk on terrorism and violent extremism
17-18 May 2017, Ljubljana, Slovenia: UNODC participated in the "Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Regional Conference" for countries of the EU-led Western Balkans Counter Terrorism Initiative (WBCTi), organized by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), the George C. Marschall European Center for Security Studies, and the Slovenian Police.
The conference included an active exchange of views and presentations by representatives of participating states and academics, interactive plenary discussions, and small-group breakout sessions. The latter sessions served as a forum to discuss counter-terrorism and prevention/countering of violent extremism policy options for individual countries in Western Balkans and the region as a whole, as well as cooperation with the civil society.
The event provided an opportunity to inform participating delegations of the UNODC work in the region, in particular with respect to addressing the topic of foreign terrorism fighters.
Government of the Republic of Serbia and the UN Country Team in Serbia launch new country Development Partnership Framework 2016 - 2020
30 May 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Karla Robin Hershey, signed today the Development Partnership Framework between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the United Nations Country Team for the period 2016 to 2020. This document presents a comprehensive basis for the cooperation and assistance of the UN system, including 19 UN agencies, funds and programmes, aimed at encouraging and improving the overall economic, social and environmental development of the Republic of Serbia. The Development Partnership Framework is fully aligned with the national development priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, as well as with the process of accession negotiations of the Republic of Serbia and the European Union and the UN Agenda for sustainable development by 2030. Estimated value of the programme activities for a five-year period covered by the Development Partnership Framework, amounts 170 million dollars (USD).
With its five pillars and nine outcomes to be achieved by 2020, Development Partnership Framework is a kind of road map for the further promotion of good governance and the rule of law, development of social and human resources, economic development, growth and employment, environmental protection, fight against climate change and building resilient communities, and integrating culture into the overall process of sustainable development. At the signing ceremony, both sides have expressed expectations that the five-year Development Partnership Framework will give a new impetus to the joint efforts to further promote cooperation between the Republic of Serbia with the UN system.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic thanked the UNCT, represented by the Resident Coordinator Karla Robin Hershey, for the persistent and dedicated work on the Development Partnership Framework, as well as the expectation that through the joint work of our ministries, offices and agencies of the UN system, Framework will be successfully put into practice in the interest of the prosperity of all citizens of the Republic of Serbia.
For more information please refer to: http://rs.one.un.org/content/unct/serbia/en/home/presscenter/government-of-the-republic-of-serbia-and-un-country-team-in-serb.html
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia work jointly on smuggling prevention in maritime containers
29-31 May 2017, Land-border crossing Gradiska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Officers of the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Customs Administration of Croatia conducted joint operational activity focused on prevention of illicit drug trafficking and other smuggling activities that exploit maritime containers transported to Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as through the region.
Joint efforts of the customs and other offices of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia aimed to identify criminal activities exploiting maritime containers, intercept such consignments and psychically inspect high-risk containers. Furthermore, activities of this joint operation focused on establishing functional exchange of information between law enforcement agencies, primarily customs, contributing to increased levels of the safety and security of the international supply chain as well as overall border security. Furthermore, this activity contributed to the facilitation of cooperation between the custom and police agencies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia building upon ongoing cooperation.
Implementation of the joint activity was supported by UNODC within the framework of the UNODC-WCO (World Customs Organization) Container Control Programme (CCP) which was launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014 to assist the government in creating sustainable inter-agency Port Control Unit (PCU) to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black market activity. As well, CCP's mission is to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a capacity to improve trade security, facilitation standards and controls at the national borders. In 2017, CCP continues to support implementing agencies - Indirect taxation Authority and Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementation of activities within the Programme's framework and agreed Work Plan.
UNODC supported the treatment quality standard assessment in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
26 May 2017, Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: In collaboration with the Inter-ministerial state commission for combating illegal production, trafficking and abuse of drugs of the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, UNODC supported the execution of Treatment Quality Standards Assessment in the period of August - December 2016.
The Assessment measured the quality of treatment and care for people with drug use disorders by applying the internationally recognized methodology closely in line with the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders. The aim of the Assessment was to identify the available drug dependence treatment and care services along with the acknowledgement of strengths and weaknesses in order to formulate future supportive strategies and recommendations.
The methodological approach applied during the Assessment was based on the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data from treatment facilities and institutions across the country. Data was collected using the structured interviews, focus groups, observation, and further analysis of available resources.
The results of the Assessment were reported against the seven basic principles of the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders which makes the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the first country in the South Eastern European region to field-test the recently published International Standards and benefit from the offered guidelines.
The Treatment Quality Standards Assessment was acknowledged by national stakeholders as the first assessment in the country with such a broadly set research framework that gathered variety of information on drug dependence treatment and care, not only from the health care system but also from other relevant sectors. The inter-sectoral approach of the Assessment produces precise networking strategies aimed at strengthening the multidisciplinary approach in drug dependence treatment and may ensure the continuum of care of persons with substance use disorders.
Presentation of the results was organized by UNODC together with the Inter-ministerial state commission for combating illegal production, trafficking and abuse of drugs and the Ministry of Health of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with the participation of high governmental and UN representatives.
The General Assembly of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) held in Sarajevo
23 May 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: The General Assembly meeting of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) was hosted by the Federal Police Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which currently chairs the Association. The Assembly meeting was successfully completed during which the Republic of Moldova officially joined the Association.
In addition, the members of SEPCA agreed upon the guidelines for future activities of the Association, and adopted conclusions. Activities to strengthen the position of strategic central points in the field of police and security cooperation in Southeast Europe have been agreed, with the aim of effectively combatting terrorism, radicalism, violent extremism, migration, human trafficking, organised crime and other security challenges with the intention of continuous strengthening and improvement of relations, coordination and joint work.
The importance of the MIS (Management Information System) necessary for the development of the strategic document SEPCA has been highlighted and activities to be undertaken in the coming period for the development of the strategic document have been specified. In addition, with the support of international partners SEPCA will launch an initiative for the establishment of a single database of forensic data in the coming period.
UNODC presented current programmatic activities implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Eastern Europe underlining very good cooperation with police authorities and other law enforcement agencies in the region at all levels. UNODC also expressed support to SEPCA forum conclusions on improving operational cooperation and information exchange among the agencies of participating countries.
Parliamentarians working to fight human trafficking in the Western Balkans
17 -18 May 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: The Human Trafficking Foundation United Kingdom, in partnership with the Committee of Human and Minority Rights of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, has invited UNODC to participate as a panellist at the international workshop "European Parliamentarians working in Cooperation to fight Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans", which was held at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
The aim of the workshop was to promote more comprehensive and effective fight against human trafficking by gathering Members of Parliament from UK, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, with attendance from the representatives of national institutions (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Human and Minority Rights Office, Ombusman etc.) and NGOs representatives.
The workshop was also aiming to encourage parliamentarians of the region for collaboration and to take steps to address the problem by establishing a sub-committee on trafficking in their own parliaments to help improve the national response. A similar meeting was hosted in Romania in 2016. The dialogue will also continue in the future. UNODC maintains working contacts with the UK counterparts on the UK's Modern Slavery Act 2015 and other topics related to human trafficking.
Additional round of Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" training organized in Bosnia and Herzegovina
15-17 May 2107; 18-20 May 2017; 22-24 May 2017, Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Advancing the Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" programme implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, additional training workshops for educators and trainers were organized in Bijeljina. The workshops were held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Government of Republic of Srpska in close coordination with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The training workshops are the initial capacity development step for further implementation of Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" programme in the selected elementary schools with group of students of 10-14 years of age. With the inclusion of 12 schools from Bijeljina, the project is now reaching 27 elementary schools across Bosnia and Herzegovina and has provided skills and relevant knowledge to over 85 teachers to directly implement the programme in the following two academic years in their settings.
The pilot programme delivery in elementary schools is aiming to field-test the programme material, acknowledge working modalities in schools and report on potential challenges during the piloting phase. The programme implementation will be closely monitored with the organization of several follow up sessions where all teachers who are actively engaged in the programme delivery shall contribute with their suggestions and recommendations to further enhancement of the programme material and the implementation modality.
Prior to commencing the pilot phase, a selected group of students (both case and control group) will be interviewed to acquire information on substance use, normative beliefs, refusal skills and intention to use substances which will be contrasted with the post-test results thus assessing changes for the set of indicators and obtaining more information on the efficiency of the implemented intervention.
The pilot programme will commence in Bijeljina in Republic of Srpska in September 2017 with the expected duration until June 2019.
UNODC and EMCDDA mapped substance use treatment facilities in South Eastern Europe
3-5 May 2017, Tirana, Albania: As part of the UNODC-WHO Drug Dependence Treatment and Care Programme in collaboration with the UNODC Regional Programme for South East Europe, a substance abuse treatment facility mapping exercise was conducted in Serbia with the aim to assist the national counterpart to map the available resources for the treatment of substance use disorders. The substance abuse treatment facility questionnaire is comprised of five sections, which aim to collect administrative details, background information about the facilities and the treatment services provided in addition to details of the facility's resources.
In parallel, European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) initiated the European Facility Survey Questionnaire - EFSQ in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 with the same objective.
The intent of the Tirana meeting was to discuss the similarities among collected data, the reporting templates and further presentation of the results. What regards the obtained data, it was acknowledged that both surveys have respectively acquired valuable information which would serve relevant national institutions to better understand substance use trends and available physical and human resources.
In agreement with EMCDDA, further presentation of the survey results from Serbia would be showcased using the agreed EFSQ reporting format which would allow additional comparison of the results among the countries of the South Eastern Europe region.
UNODC will further explore the presentation of the survey results together with the Ministry of Health of Serbia using the web platform which would enable national professionals, clinicians and decision makers to explore available resources and substance use treatment trends.
The next EMCDDA meeting is scheduled for September 2017 in Bosnia and Herzegovina where final country reports on survey results will be presented.
Port Control Unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina Seized 10.5 kg Marijuana
3 May 2017, Bijača, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Port Control Unit (PCU) in Bosnia and Herzegovina seized 10.5 kg of lab-grown marijuana implementing its regular activities within the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme.
Marijuana was discovered in a private vehicle coming from Montenegro, crossing Bijača intending to enter Croatia. The persons involved in the attempted smuggling were citizens of Montenegro. The drugs were intended for EU market.
Suspicious behaviour of the driver and passenger led the PCU to the use of the specialized search equipment for preliminary search of the vehicle. Traces of alterations made in the vehicle undercarriage were discovered leading further to full physical search of the vehicle and discovery of concealed marijuana. The total of 10.5 kg was discovered divided to 36 hermetically sealed packs.
PCU in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to successfully contribute to further strengthening of the country's security through application of the specialized profiling techniques and methodologies, focusing on risk analysis, data profiling and analyses of pre-arrival information of containers and other means of transportation in the legal trade supply.
UNODC Alternative Development Mission Visits Albania
2-4 May 2017, Tirana, Albania: Following a request of the Government of Albania, the UNODC Sustainable Livelihoods Unit, with the support of the UNODC Programme Office in Albania, conducted a mission to Albania to assess the possibility to provide assistance to the Albanian authorities in shaping a new long-term vision and developing a focused drug control strategy.
The mission included meetings with the Albanian Minister of Interior, members of the diplomatic community, local authorities and a visit to a cannabis producing site.
Based on the information received during the mission, the UNODC team will draft a report to the Government of Albania based on international best practices and the UN Guiding Principles on Alternative Development as related to the specifics of the situation in Albania.
Academia reviews opportunities of prevention of financing and recruitment of terrorism
1-5 May 2017, Dubrovnik, Croatia: The University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Programme, Architectur des Sichercheits and Max-Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law organized a seminar on the topic "Fight against terrorism through prevention of financing and recruitment". The academia representatives from around the wide region as well as experts from international and regional organizations exchanged views on a variety of topics related to the theme of the seminar, including preventing radicalization, de-radicalization, rehabilitation, fair trial, the role of social media, cybercrime, as well as human rights. Different approaches to addressing these topics in countries across the region were discussed and examined along with good practices and challenges.
A UNODC expert presented the International framework for foreign terrorism fighters, including its implementation and challenges associated with it. UNODC is currently implementing two regional programmes addressing the phenomenon of foreign terrorism fighters, within the overall context of the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe.
Follow the Money: Experts Meet in the Balkans to Address the Financial Profits from Migrant Smuggling
26-28 April 2017, Budva, Montenegro: UNODC conducted a Regional Expert Meeting that gathered law enforcement practitioners and prosecutors from 14 countries, together with experts from civil society organisations, regional and international organisations. This meeting, the second of the kind under the Global Programme against the Smuggling of Migrants, within the framework of the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe, aimed at discussing and share experience related to the use of special investigative techniques and financial investigations in cross-border investigations in the area of smuggling of migrants.
The opening of the meeting was an opportunity for the Special State Prosecutor of Montenegro, the National Anti-human trafficking Coordinator of Montenegro, the Ambassador of France and UNODC to highlight the importance of cooperation as a prerequisite for dismantling the organized crime groups and networks that often are behind the smuggling of migrants to remind participants of the vulnerability of smuggled migrant to being trafficked. Emphasizing that it takes a network to fight a network, the role of informal networks and strong inter-institutional cooperation in this endeavour was repeatedly referred to.
Practitioners around the room shared their direct experience in investigating and prosecuting migrant smuggling in the region through concrete cases which illustrated the importance, yet difficulty to follow the money by removing the profit from the crime, breaking the business model of smugglers by seizing, freezing and confiscating the assets and proceeds of crime. Representatives of specialized agencies from France such as TRACFIN (Financial Intelligence Unit) and AGRASC (Agency for the Recovery and Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets) as well as the private sector: MoneyGram and Western Union, shared examples of good practices which could help in pursuing these efforts. Yet, migrant smuggling being largely a cash based crime, experts also emphasized the challenges posed by the detection of the illicit financial flows and why it was essential to use a financial analysis at the beginning of the investigation to trace the destination of the proceeds from these criminal activities.
Participants supported the format of the meeting which allowed for a hands on exchange of experience, including on ways and means to address smuggling networks in South Eastern Europe with the tools available to tackle organized crime, such as special investigative techniques. The third Regional Expert Meeting, to take place in the autumn 2017, will be supported by the Government of France which has accompanied UNODC in project since the first meeting in the region in November 2016.
Regional Steering Group on SALW holds its annual meeting
24 April 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: The Regional Steering Group (RSG) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) held its annual meeting with the participation of over 50 experts, including SALW focal points or their representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as SEESAC's partners (including UNODC) and representatives of the donor community, co-chaired by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The goal of the annual meetings is to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the SEE Regional Implementation Plan on Combatting the Proliferation of SALW.
SEESAC Coordinator presented its results from 2014 to 2016 and shared plans for the next phase covering 2017 to 2019. SEESAC promotes regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and information-sharing, leading to evidence based, effective and efficient arms control polices. RSG meetings are an essential part of the SEESAC governance structure. SEESAC receives its political and strategic guidance and key indigenous support from the RSG which is composed of representatives of the governments from the states concerned, the EU, the RCC, UNDP, and observers from relevant international and regional institutions and civil society.
SEESAC - the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons - was launched on 8 May 2002 and was given a mandate by the UNDP and the Stability Pact for South East Europe (later succeeded by the RCC) to function as a component of the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating Proliferation of SALW formulated and adopted by the Stability Pact in November 2001 and revised in 2006 and in 2014.
For more information: http://www.seesac.org/News_1/Regional-Steering-Group-on-SALW-holds-its-annual-meeting_1/
Talks in Skopje on the Curriculum for smuggling migrants
10-12 April 2017, Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: A UNODC delegation visited Skopje to discuss with the national authorities migration policies, related to them human rights and countering migrant smuggling, with special focus on criminal justice systems. The primary goal of the UNODC mission was to promote compliance with the Protocol against smuggling of migrants to the UN Transnational Organized Crime Convention and to help the visited country in its efforts towards the effective implementation of the Protocol. In particular, the mission focused on the preparation of a new Curriculum for smuggling migrants.
The UNODC delegation met with a large group of counterparts in Skopje, including the Director and other officials of the Academy for judges and public prosecutors, a judge from Primary Court, visited the National Coordination Centre for Integrated border management and met with the National Coordinator for IBM, as well as with the National Coordinator for the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration. The delegation also met with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and public prosecutors from the Primary Public Prosecutor's Office for prosecution of organized crime and corruption.
As a result of this fact finding mission, in partnership with the Judicial Academy, priorities were identified and modalities for the development of the Curriculum for smuggling migrants have been laid forward. It was agreed to nominate a team of national experts to assist the Academy and UNODC in developing and piloting the national Curriculum.
Balkan and Russian law enforcers review financial investigations of money laundering and terrorism financing
3-7 April 2017, Moscow, Russian Federation: The Federal Financial Monitoring Service of the Russian Federation - International Training and Methodology Centre for Financial Monitoring - in cooperation with the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe, held an Advanced training for representatives of national systems of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) of the partner countries of the Russian Federation from South Eastern Europe. The training was entitled "Analytical methods and special techniques of financial investigations in the field of combating money laundering and financing of terrorism".
The goal of the training was to improve qualifications of the personnel of the FIUs and law enforcement agencies of the countries of South Eastern Europe in the field of analytical methods and technologies of financial investigations, as well as to strengthening inter-regional cooperation in the field of AML/CFT. The participants of the training were 19 representatives of FIUs and law enforcement agencies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
In the course of the training, the following topics were reviewed:
- Russian system of AML/CFT and international cooperation in the field of AML/CFT;
- financial investigations of cases of ML;
- the use of companies registered in offshore jurisdictions to layer and integrate proceeds of crime;
- ML typologies;
- the use of electronic payment systems in drugs payments schemes;
- inter-agency cooperation with regard to identification and investigation of financing of international terrorist organizations; and others.
As part of the training, a specialized Round table was held on the topic "Exchange of experience towards improving the effectiveness of international cooperation against illicit production and trafficking in drugs" with the participation of the representatives of other Russian law enforcement agencies.
It is foreseen to continue active cooperation with the Russian Federation in the AML/CFT field.
Parliamentarians form the Middle East, North Africa and South Eastern Europe review implementation of UNSC resolutions on terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters
30-31 March 2017, Rome, Italy: UNODC and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) organized in close consultation with the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and upon the generous contribution of the European Union (EU), the conference entitled "Evaluation of implementation by national parliaments of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Terrorism and Foreign Terrorist Fighters". The conference was generously hosted by the Italian Senate.
The conference was organised within the framework of the EU-funded UNODC - EU joint Initiative aimed at Strengthening the Legal Regime against Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) and South Eastern Europe.
This initiative follows and complements the activities jointly organized by UNODC and PAM in recent years, notably the seminar "The oversight of law enforcement and security services in the fight against terrorism" (Rome, Italy, 26-27 February 2015) and the "Workshop on the challenges posed by a preventative criminal justice response to terrorism and to Foreign Terrorist Fighters" (Bucharest, Romania, 8-9 October 2015). More recently, UNODC has also organised, with IPU and in cooperation with PAM, the conference on "The challenges posed by extremism leading to terrorism and preventive criminal justice responses" (Aswan, Egypt, 31 January - 2 February 2017).
The purpose of the present conference was to discuss the status of the implementation of the relevant UNSC Resolutions by national parliaments, and national Counter-Terrorism strategies along with the lessons learned and present best practices in order to facilitate the smooth implementation by all PAM Member parliaments. At the request of CTED, the national parliaments of the Central Asian states were invited to join the national parliaments of the PAM region for this important discussion, as the present event fell immediately after the Parliamentary conference on combating international terrorism organised jointly by the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly on 28 March 2017 in St. Petersburg. The event also welcomed representatives of South Eastern European and several Western European parliaments.
Container Control Programme continues to support Bosnia and Herzegovina
30 March 2017, Bijaca, Bosnia and Herzegovina: In 2017, UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) continues to support the national authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to enhance its capacities to fight against illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black market activity in selected land-ports. CCP maintains its support to sustainable inter-agency Port Control Units (PCUs) in selected sea and dry ports to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illegal activities.
Regular monitoring visits (latest on the above date) to the Port Control Unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting of Indirect Taxation Authority and Border Police officers, aim to help stakeholders and beneficiaries to reflect on and learn from their actions and practice and to help inform the development of good practice in support to the Programme implementation.
The Port Control Unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina is operational since January 2015 and regularly engages in risk analyses and profiling of all risky containerized shipments imported/exported to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
UNODC supports national capacities of Serbia to address challenges related to foreign terrorist fighters
22-23 March 2017, Belgrade, Serbia: UNODC held a National Workshop on the "Investigation and Adjudication of Cases Involving Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) in South Eastern Europe". The Workshop is part of the UNODC project "Strengthening the Legal Regime Against Emerging Terrorist Threats, Including FTF in South Eastern Europe (Training Module Development)".
The objective of the project is to support specialized training modules on the prosecution of FTFs for criminal justice sector practitioners from the jurisdictions in the region. Among the goals of the project are:
- strengthening the capacity of national jurisdictions in light of the increasing flow of international recruits to terrorist organizations, as identified by the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council;
- development of the capacity of criminal justice training institutions in the region to provide training on the specific legal and technical aspects related to countering FTF at the national and regional levels through the tailor-made FTF training modules which include best practices and key practical case-law resources;
- enhancing regional and sub-regional cooperation concerning specialized counter-terrorism aspects related to FTF between and among national jurisdictions in the region, especially through the support to the relevant training institutions.
In sum, the project, funded with the generous contribution of the US Government, aims at addressing the FTF phenomenon and its global and regional risks by developing a training curriculum to enhance counter-terrorism criminal justice capacity of beneficiary jurisdictions to counter the FTF phenomenon in compliance with the rule of law.
The Belgrade Workshop included reviews of the relevant international legal frameworks as well as an expert discussion on recruitment of FTFs, their training, travelling, financing and organizing. Special investigative techniques, analysis of financial information, evidence and e-evidence were also addressed.
Similar workshops will be undertaken in all jurisdictions of the region by the end of 2017.
Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" training for trainers and educators organized in Bosnia and Herzegovina
20-22 March 2107, Tuzla; 23-25 March 2017, Sarajevo; 27-29 March 2017, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Following the programme inception meeting organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo in December 2016, first project activities have started in Tuzla, Sarajevo and Mostar.
In particular, trainings for trainers and educators were successfully organized with a group of nominated experts from 15 elementary schools from Tuzla, Mostar and Sarajevo with the aim to capacitate the schools' teachers with the comprehension on the programme material and suggested implementation mechanism in order to continue with the direct project implementation in their schools. The trainings were organized with the support of Ministry for Security and local cantonal and federal Ministries for Education and supervised by the Lions Quest international trainer coach.
Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" programme is an evidence based programme targeting school population by means of addressing the developmental factors with groups of adolescents. It addresses the strengthening of the social emotional skills with groups of students in order to develop the resiliency to rebuff and delay the onset of drug use. The programme implementation in South Eastern Europe is an outcome of the cooperation of UNODC with the Lions Club International Foundation with tangible results already achieved with large groups of students in Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro in terms of reduction of substance use, supporting refusal skills and strengthening normative beliefs and intention to use them.
The programme will continue with the organization of the trainings of trainers in Bjeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in May 2017, involving 15 additional schools and thus allowing the expansion of the programme across the different parts of the country. The programme will result in the developed national capacities by having 90 teachers from 30 elementary schools and 4 trainers educated on programme material who will serve further to assist the programme expansion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The programme will extend its reach to Albania in the second half of 2017, consequently involving all countries of South Eastern Europe in its implementation.
UNODC and partners from South Eastern Europe unite in the efforts to prevent drug use
14 March 2017, Vienna, Austria: On the occasion of the 60 th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), UNODC organised a special side event on prevention of drug use articulated in two back to back panels.
The first panel was entitled "New Initiative in Prevention: Strengthening the Global Prevention Response" co-sponsored by the governments of Singapore, France and Norway, the UNODC Justice Section and the Vienna and New York NGO Committees.
The second panel was entitled "Schools as Valuable Social Institutions for Prevention and to Build Socio-emotional Skills" and it was co-organised with Lions Clubs International Foundation and co-sponsored by the Governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, as well as UNESCO and the Vienna and New York NGO Committees.
This special event was opened by the Chair of the 60 th session of the CND and UNODC deputy Executive Director in presence of over 150 senior and expert level representatives of different governmental and non-governmental delegations to the CND.
The panel on schools featured the collaboration between UNODC and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), particularly in adapting and piloting Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence (LQSFA) in South East Europe. LQSFA is a programme that focuses on strengthening socio-emotional skills in youth aged 12-15 years. The programme is in line with UNODC International Standards on Drug Use Prevention.
The panel podium covered interventions from UNODC and LCIF as well as from delegations from South Eastern Europe highlighting:
- the positive value and impact of the programme that has been piloted on 5,000 students (intervention and comparison groups), so far, in over 80 elementary schools from Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro, showing a significant impact on substance use initiation (alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana), as well as skills to refuse and to challenge the normative belief and to alter the perception of harm of these 3 substances;
- the plans of expansion of this initiative to cover during the coming year Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- the high level of satisfaction and affinity on the positive and added value of the programme on the ongoing positive expansion and strengthening of evidence based prevention interventions in South Eastern Europe.
As schools are one of the most common, and one of the most effective, settings for prevention (including substance use prevention), applying evidence based prevention in schools carries several benefits. On the one hand, preventing substance use tackles a serious threat to well-functioning schools and, on the other hand, evidence based prevention that addresses vulnerabilities linked to substance use initiation, leads to the improved academic performance and functioning of the schools in general (over and beyond preventing substance use).
This experience in South Eastern Europe was presented as an exemplary model for other countries to follow, particularly within the context of the recently developed UNODC-WHO-UNESCO guidance document on prevention for the education sector entitled "Education sector responses to the Use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs" that was presented during the event, and on the same podium by UNESCO.
UNODC Training on Cash Couriers: How to Detect Cash Smugglers, Investigate Money Laundering, and Destroy Criminal Networks
13-15 March 2017, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: The UNODC Regional Program for South Eastern Europe together with the UNODC Global Programme against Money Laundering organized a training course in Sarajevo for 32 national customs officers, police investigators and anti-money laundering analysts from 15 different authorities on combatting cash smuggling.
During the first day of the event, UNODC and national experts visited the airport of Sarajevo and reviewed the existing cash control procedures in order to ensure that the training course fully corresponds to the needs of practitioners.
The following two training days focused on the practical skills. The practitioners met in the Council of Ministers' building to share their personal experiences and specific expertise on cash couriers. They learnt the latest international and regional trends of cash smuggling, applied crime mapping skills, analyzed cash flows and practiced the methods of control, detection and seizure of cash. The training was highly interactive and included multiple practical exercises. The participants actively contributed to the discussions, provided their real-life examples of cash smuggling, and tested the new skills in realistic scenarios. The UNODC experts from Germany and Hungary illustrated the course with their own experience with regard to countering cash smuggling involving several countries and provided a regional perspective. In view of the fact that combating cash couriers and money laundering requires cooperation of all law enforcement agencies, the training paid significant attention to the interagency cooperation.
Feedback of one of the senior Bosnian counterparts on the outcome of the training is as follows: "I had the pleasure of participating at the UNODC workshop on cash couriers held in Sarajevo. The workshop fully met my expectations and expanded my knowledge on the subject."
The training is a part of a long-term strategic partnership between UNODC and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina identified combating cash smuggling as one of the top priorities in 2015 in its statement to the Council of Europe and the FATF. Criminals move cash across the borders to pay for drugs and other illegal goods, to hide criminal profits, launder money, and to finance terrorism.
UNODC commenced Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence programme in Albania
23 February 2017 Tirana, Albania: Scaling up the results of the prolific cooperation with the Lions Club International Foundation on the piloting of the Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" programme in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, UNODC has embarked on the programme expansion mission extending the programme offer to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within the scope of the International Standards on drug use prevention and following the outstanding results with the implementation of the Strengthening Family Programme 10-14 in the South East European region, additional evidence based drug use prevention programme was presented to Ministry of Education and Sport of the Government of Albania for its further piloting and evaluating its effectiveness as one of the anticipated results of the pilot programme.
The Lions Quest "Skills for Adolescence" is a school-based life skill programme targeting young people to develop skills, to accept the responsibility, to learn how to communicate effectively and make health decisions, as well as to resist pressure to use alcohol and drugs.
The inception meeting was conveyed together with the Ministry of Education and Sport of Albania inviting the representatives of relevant institutions engaged in the drug use prevention to discuss the programme material and the suggested programme implementation outline.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Institute of public health, local communities from Tirana and representatives from the 'Save the children' organization and local Lions Clubs actively contributed to the dialog with their comments and suggestions in view of the national adaptation of the programme implementation mechanism.
The Programme would commence in the next months with the organization of the training sessions for the educators who will continue with the direct implementation of the programme in the nominated elementary schools across the country.
Illicit drug challenge remains "formidable", UNODC Chief tells Tehran audience
28 February 2017, Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran: The value of opiates trafficked out of Afghanistan is "staggering", UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, told an audience at a high-level conference in Tehran, on 27 February.
Taking the Balkans route as an example, the illicit proceeds of trafficked Afghan opiates amounts to $28 billion said the UNODC Chief. This figure exceeded not just the gross domestic product of Afghanistan, but it was also only one of the three main trafficking routes flowing out of the country. Mr. Fedotov told the audience that a UNODC report on opium grown in Afghanistan published in 2016 showed that poppy cultivation had increased by 10 per cent to 201,000 hectares. Production, driven by the high opium yield, had risen also by 43 per cent to 4,800 tonnes.
UNODC was responding, Mr. Fedotov said, by working with regional and international partners to build greater cooperation against transnational organized crime and terrorism threats, as well as refining regional drug control coordination. Known as the "One UNODC Concerted Approach for Europe, West and Central Asia", activities included efforts under the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries, and South Eastern Europe, the Programme for Central Asia, and the Country Programmes for Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Underpinning these activities were a number of other integrated initiatives. One such programme, the Triangular Initiative, brought together Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to share information and good practices on law enforcement, and to conduct joint operations against the traffickers founded on the intelligence of a Tehran-based Joint Planning Cell. Mr. Fedotov said UNODC was planning to complement these activities by setting up a regional anti-money laundering network in Tehran to counter regional terrorism financing.
Another important activity within the "One UNODC approach" is the Networking the Networks initiative to build bridges between law enforcement bodies along the major opiate trafficking routes. Organizations involved in this process included: the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) , the Joint Planning Cell and the Doha-based Gulf Criminal Information Centre for Combatting Drugs, among others.
The broad range of UNODC's activities in the region, Mr. Fedotov said, were undertaken to also support the outcome document of last April's UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem (UNGASS 2016). He stressed that last October's Brussel's Conference on Afghanistan had also reinforced the need to focus on illicit drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism in the region. But, Mr. Fedotov said, "high level political commitment and pledges must be backed by the required support, including financial resources."
Mr. Fedotov was speaking at the Tehran International Conference on Cooperation against Illicit Drugs and related Organized Crime, which brought together Ministers, ambassadors, experts and others from Central Asia and beyond to discuss drugs and crime.
At the end of the conference, organizers issued conclusions commending UNODC and recognizing that "Afghanistan and the transit countries in the region continue to face multifaceted challenges, and reaffirm[ing] the continuing need for cooperation and support, including the provision of technical assistance to, inter alia, enhance their capacities to effectively address and counter the drug problem".
Commenting on the conclusions, Mr. Fedotov said, "The Conference's conclusions are useful inputs for the forthcoming 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the ongoing post-UNGASS 2016 implementation efforts." As part of his overall mission to Tehran, the UNODC Executive Director also met with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Minister of Interior and Secretary General of Drug Control Headquarters.
Further Information:
One UNODC Concerted Approach for Europe, West and Central Asia
UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem
UNODC Promotes International and Regional Cooperation in Criminal Matters involving Foreign Terrorist Fighters in South Eastern Europe
14-16 February 2017, Vienna, Austria: UNODC's Terrorism Prevention Branch organized a regional workshop for South Eastern Europe on strengthening international and regional cooperation in criminal matters related to terrorism, with a focus on foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). The event was funded by the European Union in the context of the EU-UNODC Global Initiative on Strengthening the Legal Regime against Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Middle East, North Africa and South Eastern Europe.
The workshop brought together senior level criminal justice officials, including judges and prosecutors, from the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo under United Nations Security Council resolution 1244), as well as representatives from Italy, Spain, the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), INTERPOL, OSCE, Secretariat of the Police Cooperation Convention for South East Europe (PCC SEE), Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
Participants exchanged experiences, challenges, lessons learned and good practices on strengthening international and regional cooperation in criminal matters related to terrorism, with a focus on FTFs. The event provided a forum to present real cases participants had dealt with in their respective jurisdictions, and to have in-depth discussions on relevant national legislation and the implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The sessions generated a rich debate on how the challenges faced by South Eastern Europe in this field have been addressed and how the existing good cooperation could be further enhanced.
Paris Pact Initiative supports the review of the situation at Afghan opiates trafficking routes, including the Balkan route
1-2 February 2017, Vienna, Austria: The UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe presented the results of work in the region at the 13 th Policy Consultative Group Meeting (PCMG) of the Paris Pact Initiative. The event, attended by senior representatives and experts from the vast region where Paris Pact is operating, was, inter alia, debriefed on the Expert Working Groups (EWGs) that took place since the last PCMG, including their recommendations and conclusions. These were:
- Expert Working Group on Law Enforcement Training in Support to Cross-border Cooperation (INTERPOL General Secretariat, Lyon, 8-9 November 2016) - in support of Pillar I of the Vienna Declaration;
- Expert Working Group on Illicit Financial Flows Deriving from the Trafficking of Opiates Origination in Afghanistan (UNODC Vienna, 17-18 January 2017) - in support of Pillar II of the Vienna Declaration;
- Expert Working Group on Precursors (EUROPOL HQ, The Hague, 1-2 December 2016) - in support of Pillar III of the Vienna Declaration;
- Expert Working Group on Integrating Drug Dependence Treatment and Care in the Public Health System (OSCE Mission to Serbia, Belgrade, 10-11 October 2016) - in support of Pillar IV of the Vienna Declaration.
It was particularly stressed that the latter was the first Paris Pact EWG that took place in South Eastern Europe, and the support and cooperation of the OSCE Mission to Serbia was underscored in this regard.
For more information:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/paris-pact-initiative.html
Port Control Unit at Durres Port seizes 430 kg of Cannabis herb
30 January 2017, Durres, Albania: A major haul of contraband, 430 kg of Cannabis herb, worth Euro 645,000 was seized from a truck in Durres Port.
The Port Control Unit (PCU) succeeded in seizing the consignment of the narcotics as they exercised a routine control and interviewing techniques to the driver of the truck.
The truck was filled with empty fruit cases and belonged to an Albanian company doing fruit business with the province of Trento in Italy. The PCU officers carefully examined the vehicle, undertaken scanner control, and followed with further examination, having eventually detected that the sides of the empty cases were filled with Cannabis herb. The driver of the truck, the company owner and the manger were detained and more details are expected to be cleared after the continuation of the investigation. A case under relevant sections of Durres Anti-Narcotic Section has been registered in this connection.
The PCU at Durres Port is established in the framework of the implementation of the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme in South Eastern Europe. Since its establishment, the PCU has succeeded in seizing around 8 tons of Cannabis herb (2013-2016).
UNODC participates at the Lions Quest Europe meeting in Finland
12-15 January 2017, Hyvinkää, Finland: Resulting from the cooperation with the Lions Club International Foundation, UNODC has piloted the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence programme in the South East European (SEE) region: first in Serbia in 2014, later in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro. Currently, the outstanding results of the programme are expanding to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence programme is a school based social emotional learning intervention which is strongly scientifically evaluated as the efficient drug use prevention programme.
The Lions Club International Foundation together with the local Lions Clubs are annually organizing Lions Quest European meetings with the aim to discuss the best practices observed in the European region as a result of the implementation of various Lions Quest programmes (Skills for growing, Skills for Adolescence and Skills for Action). Furthermore, new social emotional learning programmes developed for the specific target groups such as refugee groups and sport society at large are presented as anticipated interventions for further development and piloting.
The topic of the Lions Quest European meeting was strongly focused on the evaluation of the efficiency of the implemented programmes whereby UNODC actively contributed with the presentation of the evaluation results of the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence programme from three countries in the SEE region. The results were decisive in presenting the positive changes in view of the four indicators evaluated: substance use, intention to use substances, refusal skills and normative beliefs among the targeted the groups of the students in more than 80 elementary schools who were exposed to the programme.
The meeting was well attended with the participation of the Lions Club Country Directors and Senior trainers from 24 European countries.
The next Lions Quest European meeting is scheduled for January 2018 in Georgia.
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