ODCCP Eastern Horizons News on the fi ght against drugs and crime No. 8 in East Asia and the Pacifi c December 2001

Cambodia Prepares For New Fight: The Intellectual War Against Drugs And Crime

Myanmar Stars Against Drugs

International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Traffi cking

A Time For Leadership In The Fight Against The HIV Epidemic

Business And Labour Responds To HIV/AIDS

Targetting Illicit Profi ts Goes To Scale

The Marginalisation Of Substance-abusing Street Children FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS Cambodia Prepares for New Fight: THE INTELLECTUAL WAR Against Drugs and Crime

P.M. Hun Sen met ODCCP delegation on 26 September Following the terrorist attacks of 4 to the deep-sea port of Sihanoukville and September 11, 2001, in the U.S.A., the Road Number 5 to Northwest Cambodia borders of Afghanistan have been closed and onwards to Thailand, are all likely to to all forms of trade, both legal and see a dramatic increase in illicit drug move- illegal. Consequently, it is possible that ments in the coming months as the impact the production and traffi cking of illicit of Afghanistan’s isolation hits hard on the drugs in the Golden Crescent, which drug production and traffi cking gangs. The includes Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, on-going rehabilitation of the road linking will move to other areas of the world, in Phnom Penh with Koh Kong and the Thai particular to the Golden Triangle. Province of Trat is also certain to see a large increase in the fl ow of drugs. he Golden Triangle, which encom- passes Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and At a meeting held in Phnom Penh with the Yunnan Province of China, has UNDCP Representative for East Asia and T used with permission. Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps, already undertaken efforts – with the assis- the Pacifi c, Dr. Sandro Calvani, on Septem- tance of the UNDCP – to clamp down on ment and judiciary. All the indicators point ber 26, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen both drug production and traffi cking. Due to the likely attempt by drug traffi ckers stated unequivocally that the Cambodian to such efforts to increase interdiction, to try to increasingly use Cambodia as a Government is committed to doing ‘what- especially in Thailand, it is clear that the major highway for their deadly cargo. The ever it takes’ to stop the drug traffi ckers. transnational organized crime gangs will River Mekong and Road Number 7 that seek easier routes to get their illegal prod- run down the eastern side of Cambodia to Hun Sen noted that many and varied ucts to market, both within the region and Phnom Penh, the capital, are considered resources were required to beat the drug globally. as one of the most likely routes for a sub- traffi ckers in this ‘intellectual war’. Dr. Cal- stantial increase in drug traffi cking in the vani gave the Prime Minister his assurance Cambodia has, for some time, been near future. that the ODCCP, having now established regarded as the ‘weak link’ amongst the an offi ce within the country, would be an countries of South East Asia due to its lack Well established traffi cking routes down active partner to help the development of human and fi nancial resources as well Cambodia’s Road Number 1 from Phnom of the National Authority for Combating as endemic corruption in its law enforce- Penh to Southern Vietnam, Road Number Drugs (NACD) and in establishing an effec- “ Cambodian Government is committed to doing “whatever it takes” to stop the drug traffi ckers ” 2 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS MOVING FROM TALK TO ACTION Parliamentarians’ Drug Control Summit TO BE HELD IN JAPAN IN 2002

The Federation of Japanese one was held in Bolivia in February 2001. standing of the situation, to exchange views Parliamentarians, the Government of At the Bolivia meeting Japan expressed its and experiences, and to discuss action Japan, and UNDCP are jointly intention to host the 2002 meeting. to be taken. Each subject will be intro- organizing the International Drug duced by legislative or executive experts Control Summit in Tokyo in April 2002. The 2002 Conference will be the fi rst one after which national legislators explore the to be held in Asia. The conference will topics through open dialogue. his will be the fi fth drug control duly focus on the mounting problem to the summit organized for parliamentar- region and to the world: the increase in the It is hoped that the conference will be an Tians. The fi rst International Drug supply and the demand of Amphetamine- opportunity for parliamentarians to start Control Summit took place in Scotland, type Stimulants (ATS) and other synthetic taking appropriate, concrete steps. Their United Kingdom initiated by members of drugs. action in their capacity as advocates and the European Parliament in 1998. The legislatures is critical to address the bottle- second conference took place in Austria, The conference will gather parliamentari- necks which prevent the implementation and the third in the United States. For ans and members of congress and drug of previously agreed action and to tackle the fi rst time a delegation of Japanese control policymakers/offi cials of executive the problems of ATS which threaten human parliamentarians attended the Washington offi ces from East Asia, as well as partici- security in the region and elsewhere. meeting, after which the Federation of Jap- pants from Europe and the Americas and anese Parliamentarians’ desire to tackle international organizations. The aim of the –Narumi Yamada, UNDCP, Bangkok the drug problems was awakened. The last conference will be to increase the under- tive drug control programme throughout Cambodia. Getting to Know the Laws Dr. Calvani also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the NACD, Sar Kheng, at which the Cambodian Govern- THE UNDCP/LAS LEGAL BRIEF ment’s priorities were further outlined. The As of 1996, the UNDCP Legal previous quarter, organized alphabeti- top priority is that of demand reduction edu- Advisory Section (LAS) in Vienna cally in a columnar format which offers an cation, awareness and prevention activities circulates a noteworthy newsletter easy overview. A compilation of the Legal followed by the development of an effec- named “The Legal Brief”. Brief issues produced between 1996 and tive and effi cient law enforcement capabil- 1999 was prepared and distributed in ity. The third priority of the Government is f you want to read about all the latest early October 2001. that of creating operational drug treatment in the Law of Drugs in a simple, lay lan- and rehabilitation facilities in the country. Iguage, this is what you have to look for. It is hoped that the Legal Brief will be The Legal Brief contains summaries of available online in early 2002. In the In his discussions, Dr. Calvani noted that the legislation enacted by Governments meantime, electronic (Word 97) and hard the Cambodian Government’s priorities in the fi eld of drug control. copies can be obtained via the ODCCP and those of the ODCCP were very similar Headquarters in Vienna. and that this bodes well for a cooperative The Legal Brief started as an internal partnership over the coming years. The information tool for UNDCP/ODCCP staff. There is, moreover, an online legal library, Cambodian Government has, through its It has, however, gone beyond its original which contains electronic national legisla- unequivocal statements at the very high- goal and is now shared with interna- tion published in the E/NL series from 1990 est levels, declared war on those who seek tional, inter-governmental organizations, to 1999. Still in force legislation published to use Cambodia as a route for the traffi ck- research institutions, etc., with an inter- prior to 1990 is currently being added. The ing of drugs and also against those who est in drug-control matters. Library is available at the Treaty and Legal are already trying to infl ict suffering upon Affairs/Legilsation link at ODCCP’s web site: the people of Cambodia through the pro- For the moment, The Legal Brief is only http://www.odccp.org duction and sale of illicit drugs, especially issued in English, on a quarterly basis. Methamphetamine, within the country. Such regular quarterly issues contain – Gerassimos Fourlanos, UNDCP, Bangkok national legislation published during the –Graham Shaw, UN/ODCCP, Phnom Penh

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 3 FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS

Responding on the fact that drugs are making their ugly entry intro the Myanmar society and that drug abuse Myanmar STARS is on the rise, is not an easy task. They are called opium and heroin, but also “yaba” and have already created havoc in neighbouring countries. Myanmar, Against Drugs a major drug producer, will not much longer continue to escape the global drug-consumption trends. What do concerned citizens do to prevent the spread of drug use? How does the society react to this increasingly alarming phenomenon?

ecently, in a bid to give an answer to these and other questions the RUnited Nations International Drug Control Programme launched a new initia- tive by the name of “Stars against Drugs”. Youth is the most vulnerable group. But, at the same time, this group is also subject to the strong power of persuasion emanating from its idols.

With the support of popular national celeb- rities and in the presence of over 25 national and international media repre- Launch of the campaign “Stars against Drugs” sentatives, this launching ceremony was designed to have a strong anti-drug mes- a self-selected core group, comprising admired singer, a legendary actress, the sage delivered by those who are regarded celebrities such as a popular rock star, an energetic manager of one of the most as role models by the youngsters. acclaimed fi lm director, a celebrated writer, famous national model agencies, a well- a renowned former athlete, the members liked singer turned painting artist, and Thanks to the profound commitment of of a fast upcoming rap band, a young media-sector representatives, nothing Community Participation: A Buzzword WITH CONTENT

t is impossible to deny it, “community on community participation. The training participation” is a buzzword. How- guide on community participation in AD Iever, it is a buzzword with a content projects is available from the Regional and more importantly the concept of Centre’s new AD website http:// community participation is applied in www.undcp.un.or.th/ad. The AD website projects across the region. A recent was launched on the fi rst of November and workshop held in Phonsavan, the cap- additional information about this new AD ital of Xiengkhouang Province, in Laos website is available elsewhere in this issue trained the participants in how to apply of Eastern Horizons. The workshop seemed community participation in alternative to have hit a nerve among AD practitioners, development (AD) projects. since the less than forty people invited to participate in the workshop turned out to The main goals of the workshop were be almost 70 participants. to share experiences of how community participation was applied by AD projects The workshop also included a fi eld trip to across Laos and to introduce the partic- Certifi cates were given to the praticipants at the the UN Nonghet Project which gave the ipants to a new UNDCP training guide end of the workshop. participants the possibility to see some of

4 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS

short but 38 stars and 12 famous sport people gathered at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar’s capital. International Day

The evidence of their determination in promoting a healthy and sound life style Against DRUG among youth was witnessed by the sig- nature of an offi cial pledge to “support a society free of drugs in the Union of Myan- mar”. This launch is the fi rst of many “Stars ABUSE and ILLICIT against Drugs” activities, especially focus- sing on young people, such as a soccer match between movie and media stars TRAFFICKING against sport stars, free-of charge music events, hype audio video clips, street post- ers with celebrities’ faces, etc.

The “Stars against Drugs” fi ts within a broader UNDCP initiative to mobilize the civil society against drugs. A second drive is to be launched soon, establishing a trust fund for non-governmental organizations active in the drug demand reduction fi eld, sponsored by the private sector.

Time has come to publicly challenge one of the biggest cancers of any society, and a strong response comes straight from the members of the Myanmar’s civil soci- ety. Its stars join their hands to say “no” to drugs.

–Press and Analysis Unit, UNDCP, Yangon

In observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffi cking, the results AD projects are capable of and as part of UNHCR effort to mobilise the Myanmar refugee camp population achieving. Additionally, the participants particularly young adults, in the prevention and reduction of drug abuse among also had the opportunity to talk to the them, UNHCR in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s camp commander, most important persons in community organised a drug awareness campaign in Mae La camp on 26 June 2001. participation - the villagers - and heard their evaluation of how the concept of he activity aimed to raise public money to buy more drugs and eventually community participation was applied to awareness and to mobilise partici- become dealer themselves. The refugee a specifi c project. Tpation of the refugee community in leader focussed on responsibilities of the combating against illicit drugs within the refugee community to behave under Thai – Peter Lunding, UNDCP, Bangkok camp. Mae La camp was targeted since it domestic laws, camp rules and regula- is the most populous camp in the prov- tions. ince of Tak, and since drug consumption among young people has been reported. UNHCR provided funds of baht 5,000 for the day to cover activities such as poster The campaign began with a procession, painting competition with drug preven- starting from zone A to zone B (5kms) and tion as theme, football sport competition ending up at the communal sport fi eld in between Thai military soldiers and refu- zone C. A series of speeches were delivered gee youths, and games between children to over 4,000 refugee audience partici- under 14 years old. The UNHCR’s funds pating in the activity. The military com- were mainly disbursed for the procure- mander of the Infantry Unit 53 focussed ment of prizes for winners, food and drink on the provisions of Thai Law in relation for players and for the printing of large Where is the opium? Enthusiastic participants to illegal procession of narcotic. The MOI banners. see new crops in former opium fi elds camp commander emphasised that drug addicts tend to commit illegal act to get –Information provided by UNHCR, Bangkok

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 5 FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS STEPPING UP The Fight Against THE MR BIGS

he heads of drug law enforcement mastermind and fi nance drug traffi cking; agencies across the Asia Pacifi c • National action to prevent the traffi ck- Tregion have agreed to a coordinated ing and abuse of new drugs such as ketamine plan to counter the threat posed by amphet- and other members of the ATS family, includ- amine type stimulants (ATS) and to tackle ing placing them under national control; the Mr Bigs behind the drug trade. The plan • Greater cooperation at the opera- comes out of a four day meeting involving 140 delegates from 45 countries under the auspices of the UN sponsored Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agen- cies Meeting (HONLEA). Australia recently hosted in Sydney the 25th meeting.

Key parts of the plan involve: • The international community sup- porting a balanced approach in the eradi- cation of illicit poppy crops in the Myanmar / Laos border area; • Looking at ways to work with law en- forcement authorities in West Africa whose nationals were found to be most commonly involved in drug traffi cking within the region to disrupt the operation of these groups; tional level both nationally and regionally • Encouraging lawmakers to recognise • The development of specialist investiga- to meet the new trends in traffi cking of the need to provide the necessary legal tive skills, supported by legislation and agency stimulants and their precursors; basis to conduct joint operational activities powers, to undertake successful investiga- • The placement of drug liaison offi cers across jurisdictional boundaries; tions targeting the major crime fi gures who within countries of the region; • Responding to the traffi cking of drugs ‘GATEWAY DRUGS’ On The Agenda At In Brunei The ASEAN NGOS WORKSHOP Darussalam The eleventh IFNGO ASEAN NGOs tember workshop. It was underlined that provide drug preventive education in order workshop was held on the 13-17th of prevention work aiming at suppressing so- to raise awareness of drug-related vio- September, 2001 in Brunei Darussalam. called ‘gateway drugs’ such as, for exam- lence, whether it is due to alcohol or other IFNGO is the International Federation ple, alcohol, should not only concentrate on addictive substances. of Non-Governmental Organisations policy formulation, but also on mobilisation Finance-related recommendations for the prevention of Drug and of the youths themselves and on continu- were also made. Financial support and Substance Abuse. ous research addressing related problems. sponsorship for cultural, sports and social Manifold recommendations focused on events by tobacco and alcohol industries, SEAN NGOs take the lead within the role of the abusers’ families. Such should be banned. Governments should this federation, which is composed families represent the ‘silent sufferers’ be encouraged to step in as fi nanciers or Aof NGOs from various countries and, therefore, require support through fi nd appropriate substitutes. Moreover, it all over the globe who are engaged in assistance and encouragement to form, was recommended that the NGOs should anti-drug and substance abuse activities. for example, informal therapy groups and lobby their respective governments to use The Secretariat of the IFNGO facilitates clubs where they can meet and mutually the profi ts from tobacco and alcohol taxes the information exchange as well as for- support one another. It is necessary that to fi nance the preventive work done by mulates and manages projects in close NGOs can support the families’ anti-drug national NGOs. cooperation with several UN agencies, abuse efforts through guidance; domestic There is a further need to strengthen not least the UNDCP. violence is often connected to drug abuse. and encourage demand reduction and pri- Several recommendations on drug Consequently, NGOs should strive to hinder mary prevention activities. This can be abuse prevention were made at the Sep- family violence and, in an effective manner, implemented by an intensifi cation of the

6 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS by sea member countries are being encour- aged to modernise their legislation in line with article 177 of the UN Convention on Needs ASSESSMENT the Law of Sea and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffi c in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; and, • Increased technical capacity for sur- MISSION To China veillance and search of vessels involved in drug traffi cking. In the beginning of September, the Police forces within both provinces had The meeting also discussed global China National Narcotics Control encountered productions of ice. Every year trends in drug production including the Committee arranged a mission to the they detect and destroy several clandestine impact of the Taliban on world heroin mar- provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. laboratories. Last year the fi rst establish- kets. The meeting noted that Afghanistan ment of ecstasy production in the prov- he mission was joined by representa- accounts for about 75% of the world’s heroin ince of Fujian was detected in the suburb tives from the National Police Agency supply and that the bulk of this production of Chang Lu, close to Fuzhou city. At this of Japan. The overall objective of the is directed to markets in Europe. The crop T occasion, the Fujian Public Security agency mission was to effectuate a needs assess- eradication program introduced by the Tal- arrested 19 criminals and seized 100,000 ment and to look into the possibility of ini- iban some 12 months ago, and the con- tablets of ecstasy. tiating a project aiming at suppressing the tinuing confl ict in Afghanistan, could reduce production and traffi cking of ATS in the global heroin supplies by as much as 90%. This legal private-owned pharmaceutical two provinces. The mission was a response The so-called Taliban heroin stockpile factory was detected at the beginning of its to an identifi ed need to gain an accurate of just under 200 tonnes is spread across production of ecstasy, but it was believed overview of the current situation regards a number of countries and while it may that, approximately, 200,000 tablets had to methamphetamine production in the have some immediate impact on supply already been produced. The factory was two provinces and to clarify the situation in Europe, it is not likely to impact signifi - equipped with sophisticated production around the recent large seizures of ATS, cantly on this region. equipment and materials that indicate the which were reported since 1998. The mis- This potential drought in world heroin factory’s potential for mass production of sion was also an attempt to improve and supplies could see South American drug syn- tablets. Furthermore, the seizure, at the widen the co-operation regarding ATS con- dicates become more involved in opium pro- same occasion, of 200 kilos of semi-pro- trol between concerned parties at provin- duction. More worrying is the trend for drug duced ecstasy also proves the factory’s cial, national and international levels. syndicates to diversify into amphetamine immense production capacity. type stimulants and the growing market for A rampant increase of ATS had been iden- these drugs amongst younger people. The possibility of organising a workshop in tifi ed in both provinces over the last two one of the provinces, with an aim to fi nd ways years. This was thought to be due to its –Peter Lunding, UNDCP, Bangkok of improving co-operation, was discussed. lower manufacturing cost, its greater gains The participants of the mission agreed that and its simpler production process. The the insuffi cient co-operation and commu- mobilisation efforts of religious, social Chinese provincial authorities were anx- nication between various involved parties and civil societies to manage drug- ious about the simultaneous occurrence was the most important defi ciency within related problems. The importance of production and consumption of ATS. the provinces counter-narcotic efforts. In attached to the hope and the possibility Because of the lower price of such new order to stem the trend of ATS production to improve abusers’ life has to be sub- types of narcotics, there is a serious risk and abuse, this will have to be improved. stantial. This can be facilitated through that the consumption of such will increase ameliorated counselling and rehabilita- ans, consequently, turn into the fi rst drug –Claire Smellie, UNDCP, Bangkok tion programmes. of choice, passing heroin in popularity. The workshop also stressed the important role that IFNGO ASEAN NGOs should play in the international arena, in particular, regarding governmental need of support to attain the goal of a Drug- Free ASEAN by 2015. It was recom- mended that an Implementation Task Force of Volunteers should be set up by each ASEAN NGO in order to ensure effective follow-up of the recommenda- tions made during the workshop. Next year’s IFNGO International Conference will, hopefully, deliberate an IFNGO Policy Statement, decided at the recent work- shop, to be drafted and circulated in the near future.

– Claire Smellie, UNDCP, Bangkok

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 7 FIGHTING AGAINST HIV/AIDS A Time for Leadership in the Fight AGAINST THE HIV EPIDEMIC At the Asia Pacifi c Ministerial meeting, held in Melbourne on the 9-10th of October 2001, Ministers from the region representing 51 percent of the world’s population met to discuss the challenges that the HIV/AIDS epidemic pose to their countries and to identify ways to strengthen their cooperation within this important area of concern.

n accordance with the UNGASS Dec- laration, the Ministers recognised the Iimportance of strong leadership and political commitment to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. The UNGASS Declaration of commitment was adopted at the UN Gen- eral Assembly Special Session on AIDS which was held last June. Within this Dec- laration is was stated that a strong leader- ship, at all levels of society, is essential for Ministers from 33 Asia/Pacifi c countries decided to provide leadership to the HIV/AIDS policies an effective response to the epidemic. Asia-Pacifi c region that includes more than fi ght against AIDS demands planning for Governments efforts should be comple- half the world’s population. During the increased care access. mented by the full and active participation course of the ministerial meeting is was, of civil society, the business community among other points, determined that an Parallel to the Ministerial Meeting, the Youth and the private sector. It was underlined Asia-Pacifi c Leadership Forum on HIV/ Forum also met to discuss their mobilisa- that an effective response to the HIV/AIDS AIDS should be developed, with the sup- tion against the spread of HIV/AIDS. The epidemic must involve prevention work as port from Australia. Such a Forum would Youth Forum took part in the Sixth Inter- well as care, support and treatment. Preven- function as a network for information shar- national Congress in Asia an the Pacifi c tion and care should be complementary, not ing among political leaders and parliamen- to ensure that young peoples’ voices were competing priorities. It was, furthermore, tarians and, thereby, enhance the regional heard. Several recommendation were made stressed that HIV/AIDS cannot be effec- coordination and collaboration. on their part. They underlined the impor- tively addressed without further resources, tance of young people’s access to educa- further research as well as sustainable At the Ministerial Meeting, Dr. Peter Piot tion, services and support within the area development. In order to reduce HIV/AIDS outlined fi ve challenges that together will of reproductive and sexual health. It was vulnerability human rights and fundamental determine whether the region will be able recommended that young people should freedoms need to be realised and vulner- to take up the current opportunity to save themselves participate in the delivery of able groups, such as women and orphaned millions of lives by stemming the increase such services and that they also should children, prioritised. of the HIV epidemic. As a fi rst challenge, Dr. decide upon the language and methods Piot proposed that every nation should have used for training of young people. At the recent Ministerial meeting, the a national AIDS campaign led by the Prime region’s Ministers acknowledged the Minster or the President. The Second Chal- The Youth Forum also recognised the dis- urgency to implement all the commitments lenge would be to take immediate action advantaged situation of girls and women in within the UNGASS Declaration and to on the key areas that are known to need deciding about their sexual and reproduc- achieve the targets that have been set out. rapid action, namely, universal access to tive health. Gender equality should be taken It was agreed that successful strategies, condoms, lifeskills education and services into consideration when designing repro- which some of the countries in the region focussing on youth, harm reduction for ductive health services. Finally, the Youth have adopted and proven effective in their injecting drug users and efforts to eliminate Forum also emphasised that an increasing fi ght against the spread of HIV/AIDS, have stigma. The Third Challenge would be to number of youths within the region are to be shared with other countries, espe- mobilise more resources through national injecting drugs. In relation to this, they cially as far as prevention is concerned. budget allocations. Fourthly, the regional recommended that governments should This was viewed as particularly important groupings, such as ASEAN and the Pacifi c ensure access to drug education and harm given the high population density, low Community, underline AIDS in their work. minimisation services for young people. socio-economic development level and the The last challenge would be to put care anticipated rate of the epidemic in the and rehabilitation on an equal scale. The – Claire Smellie, UNDCP, Bangkok

8 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME FIGHTING AGAINST HIV/AIDS Business And Labour RESPONDS to HIV/AIDS It is increasingly apparent that the Inter country Team in collaboration with sign of social responsibility helped enhance business and labour sector plays critical ESCAP, ILO Regional Offi ce for Asia and the company’s reputation with customers. roles in the expanded response to Pacifi c, UNDCP Regional Centre for East- HIV/AIDS. International experience Asia and the Pacifi c, and Asian Business Best practices on effective business and demonstrate the importance of Coalition on AIDS. labour responses to HIV/AIDS were pre- implementing sound workplace policies, sented covering the lessons learned from conducting effective public awareness Participants were representatives of large and smaller companies as well as the campaigns on HIVAIDS and the need employers’ federations, chambers of com- trade union experience. The best practices to mobilize political commitment and merce, private foundations, business coali- stressed the importance of raising aware- business leadership in support of tions, multinational and national companies ness and commitment at all levels of the national responses. and labour unions based in Bangladesh, company or trade union through innova- Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, tive means of communication on HIV/AIDS n this context, a regional conference Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, prevention and care in the workplace. Only on “Business and Labour Responds to Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, through informative and participatory pro- IHIV/AIDS in Asia” was held in Bangkok South Africa, Thailand, and Viet Nam. cesses could sustainable programmes and on 18-19 September 2001. The confer- policies be established. ence aimed to bring together senior level The participants discussed the status of the representatives of the business and labour HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia and the Pacifi c The participants also recognised the ben- sector and other key partners to share and corporate motives for getting involved efi ts from sharing their experiences with experiences, strengthen networks and in the fi ght against HIV/AIDS. It was under- wider constituencies in order to facilitate develop recommendations for an enhanced lined that HIV/AIDS policies in the work- an expanded response to the epidemic. business and labour response to HIV/AIDS place can, among other things, help ensure in Asia. The conference was organized by a stabile production by preventing high Also focusing on access to care in the the US Department of State, the US Cen- turnover of staff and decreasing absentee- workplace, the participants emphasized ters for Disease Control and Prevention, ism. Moreover, HIV/AIDS policies were ben- that businesses has an important role to and UNAIDS South-East Asia and Pacifi c efi cial for the corporate image, because the play in providing the essential components of basic humane HIV/AIDS care and sup- port. Businesses can, among other things, ensure that employees have access to The Mekong Region: proper information on care and take on an advocacy role for access to voluntary Infrastructure Could Trigger testing and counselling. In addition, it was stressed that all parties involved must INCREASED SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS share the cost of HIV/AIDS care and sup- port in the workplace. The United Nations recently warned that developing and improving their transport the development of a road network, link- networks. Although many good initiatives to raise ing the countries of the Mekong sub- Cambodian offi cials also said rebuild- awareness and address HIV/AIDS issues in region, would likely form corridors for ing roads ravaged by three decades of the workplace were highlighted during the the spread of AIDS. “The movement of war and neglect could aggravate the coun- conference, it was also evident that more vehicles transporting goods, passengers try’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, the worst in work and challenges lies ahead. Johan Str- and tourists will signifi cantly increase,” the region. Cambodia’s AIDS rate fell last ydom, Manager, Personnel Services, Ford the U.N. said in a report released at a sign- year and stands at 2.8 percent of the coun- Motor Company of Southern Africa, South ing ceremony between China, Laos, Thai- try’s 11.5 million population, said Dr Tia Africa, made this call for action in his key note land and Vietnam to collaborate on AIDS Phalla the Head of the National AIDS address to the conference: “Today, there is prevention. Authority. But the repair of two national enough knowledge and expertise to guide “Hot spots along the highways will routes linking Cambodia to neighbouring us on how to constructively address the likely boom as well, increasing HIV vul- Thailand to the northwest and Vietnam to problem. There is no need to re-invent the nerability in Cambodia and consequently the East could reverse recent progress, he wheel. Please stop the ongoing talk… start- its neighbouring countries,” the report said. ing now!” Nike reminded the participants said. It said facilities such as hotels, guest “The AIDS rate is down. But mobile that to combat HIV/AIDS, the business and houses and brothels were likely to pop populations moving from place to place labour sector must: “Do the right thing”. up along the routes. The countries of the can spread this disease,” he said. “We need Mekong sub-region have long discussed to think strongly about preventing this.” –Jette Nielsen, UNAIDS, Bangkok & Wayne Bazant, UNDCP, Bangkok

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 9 FIGHTING AGAINST HIV/AIDS

In looking at the transition countries, the UN has found, to its dismay, that the cities with the highest rate of needle drug abus- NEEDLE DRUGS: ers among the HIV-infected population have ineffective or non-existent drug treat- ment facilities. Some, including Moscow, Dirty Secret of AIDS Epidemic Odessa and Minsk, offer no substitute drugs, thus offering addicts no alternative Drug abusers who share needles are per cent of total HIV infections. In Poland, other than continuing their drug habits or risking HIV infection -- this is not new. where the new HIV infection rate has been the agony of “cold turkey” withdrawal. What is new is that in a growing number declining, contaminated syringes account of cities HIV-contaminated injecting for more than 60 per cent. Even “party We at the UN Offi ce for Drug Control and equipment has become THE leading drugs” normally ingested or snorted in Crime Prevention know that drug addic- mode of transmitting the virus that leads Western Europe and North America, includ- tion, like alcoholism, is a treatable disease to AIDS. ing ketamine and methamphetamine, are and that when rehabilitation programmes injected in Russia and other countries of are made available, many of those who This is particularly ominous when we con- the region. Syringe sharing is reportedly really want to shed their habits can suc- sider the following: “common practice”. ceed in doing so. It is also possible to raise public awareness in support of reintegrat- • The skyrocketing rate of injecting Those in a position to do something about ing recovering addicts into their families, drug abuse in the former socialist coun- the problem - such as providing access communities and the workforce. tries and the developing world; to substitute drugs, counselling and at • The tendency of HIV, once introduced least short-term prevention - often regard As a partner in UNAIDS we have been into the drug-injecting milieu, to spread at addicts as “throw-away people” and a engaged in a pilot project among cocaine a staggering pace; and injectors in Brazil. That project does • The “multiplier effect” when HIV- not simply wait for addicts to beat positive addicts infect non-needle users on its doors - it enlists recover- through unprotected sex or prostitu- ing drug abusers to reach out to tion, and when infected mothers pass injecting drug users in the places the virus to their children. where they congregate. The lessons learned there can and should be In no country is it a simple matter to pre- adapted to the needs of heroin vent HIV among drug abusers. But in users in Eastern Europe. some Eastern European nations and Russia, where injection of heroin and What works in our Brazil project? other drugs is a relatively new phenom- Peer counselling, encouraging enon, the task is especially daunting. drug intake reduction for those who are not ready for abstinence, HIV cases in all of Eastern Europe decentralized and mobile services and the former Soviet Union jumped and opportunities to live with other from fewer than 30,000 in 1995 to recovering addicts. In fact, Brazil is the more than 700,000 in 2000 - a 20-fold only developing country with a successful increase. And, there is strong evidence all-around HIV prevention programme. that the explosion in infection over the last three years has been mainly due to inject- We cannot afford to wait for a full-blown waste of scarce resources. In other words: ing drug use. HIV epidemic among drug users. Treating “Who cares if they die of AIDS; they’re only an AIDS patient costs a great deal more junkies”. Among the barriers to helping An upswing in heroin addiction has been than rehabilitating an addict and certainly the region’s drug abusers avoid HIV trans- fueled by soaring unemployment, stark far more than counselling and pragmatic mission are government inertia, outdated economic decline, changing drug transport measures. HIV prevention should be inte- health-care concepts and the absence of routes and new migration patterns. With the grated into mainstream social welfare and funds. rise of eastern mafi as and a withering away health policies, if only as a cost-saving mea- of national borders, an avalanche of cheap, sure. It also needs to be universally rec- This is sad because some countries across high-purity heroin has poured into the ognized that drug abuse cannot be solved the world have introduced innovative ser- region, displacing home-made “kitchen” or solely by punishment, which tends to drive vice packages with great success in sta- “garage” heroin (kompot in Poland, chornyi those in need of care underground. bilizing and sometimes rolling back the in Russia) which had supplied small circles infection rate among addicts. Furthermore, of addicts for many years. In combating AIDS, we now know, con- the programmes serve as points of con- doms are no longer enough. tact between addicts and service provid- In several countries, including Belarus, ers who can point them towards treatment Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, –Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director, options. needle drug use accounts for about 80 UN/ODCCP

10 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME FIGHTING AGAINST HIV/AIDS THE UNITED NATIONS SPEAKS OUT ON “Money, Sex and Politics: Confronting The Aids Pandemic”

The title of the “Brown Bag Lunch” ing countries. More specifi cally, several due largely to relentless initiative and con- event – “Money, Sex and Politics: countries in East and South-East Asia are certed action. Confronting the AIDS Pandemic” – witnessing substantial increases in HIV suggested a frank and provocative prevalence of epidemic proportions. Mr Kraus ended his presentation with sev- presentation that was aptly fulfi lled. eral conclusions on what needs to happen The 20 September talk, led by Mr For example, up to 80 per cent of inject- next to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Steven Kraus, Intercountry Programme ing drug users in southern provinces of First of all, he asserted that a new approach Development Advisor, South-East Asia China are living with HIV/AIDS, and over 10 must be adopted. Countries that provide and Pacifi c Intercountry Team, UNAIDS, per cent of female sex workers in certain HIV/AIDS-related funding need to think presented an unfettered and no frills areas of both Viet Nam and Indonesia are of in terms of programmes, not projects, depiction of HIV/AIDS in the region and infected. The speaker capped off these and in terms of partnerships, rather than around the world. bold fi gures by stating that, so far, gov- traditional donor-recipient relationships. ernments, the United Nations system, and Secondly, he urged a greater focus on mea- s the third event in a series jointly- NGOs have adopted a “3-D” approach to surable and time-limited goals and targets, held Brown Bag Lunches, organized address this crisis: Denial, Delay, and Do with a human rights approach incorporated Aby the ESCAP Human Resources nothing. throughout. Finally, he also stressed that Development (HRD) Section and the US $7 to 8 billion is necessary to combat United Nations Inter-agency Project on However, Mr Kraus did not dwell on bleak HIV/AIDS per year, much more than the US Combating Traffi cking in Women and Chil- forecasts and outright pessimism. He pro- $1.8 billion currently spent. dren, the talk by the articulate and knowl- posed three key approaches to embrac- edgeable speaker was much anticipated, ing such HIV/AIDS-related challenges: 1) The unprecedented widespread support as evident by the number of attendees and maintaining a bold vision, 2) supporting a at the United Nations General Assembly their active participation in the discussion. strong and enlightened leadership, and 3) Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS, applying resources. Two inspiring cases in June 2001), which called for the urgent Mr Kraus kicked off the Brown Bag by pre- particular give credence to such an opti- creation of a Global HIV/AIDS and Health senting several shocking fi gures on the sit- mistic strategy. Cambodia, one of the Fund to fi nance an expanded response to uation of HIV/AIDS at the end of 2000. world’s poorest countries, boasts a 90 per HIV/AIDS, is a step forward in meeting this According to UNAIDS’ global estimates, cent rate of condom usage amongst female need. One of the quotes Mr Kraus used in the number of people who are living with sex workers, thanks to the promotion of his presentation – “the best time to plant HIV/AIDS totals 36.1 million, and the cumu- “safe sex with condoms” billboards. a tree was 20 years ago…the second best lative number of deaths due to infection time is today” – proved to be the inspiring are an alarming 21.8 million. Moreover, Similarly, 12 per cent of all Thai Army underpinning theme behind his conclu- in the year 2000, approximately 15,000 conscripts in northern Thailand were HIV sions, and the Brown Bag as a whole. new HIV infections occurred per day, with positive in 1992; by the end of 2000, how- over 95 per cent of the cases in develop- ever, that fi gure dropped to two per cent, –Amalee McCoy, UN/ESCAP, HRD Section

SHORT NEWS being forced to work as prostitutes, beg- without food will would be a boon to gars and illegal labourers. “I don’t see any pimps who would capitalise on the des- CAMBODIA decrease in the traffi cking of Cambodian peration. The Flesh Trade Hits women and children,” Mu Sochua said at “The (fl ood victims) are poor and the launch of an anti-traffi cking education have no food. The pimps can easily Hard On Cambodia campaign. “They are not only sex slaves, approach them and lure them into the Cambodian women and children are they are also traffi cked as beggars in Ho traffi ckers’ trap. We must prevent that,” being sold as sex slaves and beggars in Chi Minh and Bangkok,” she said. she said. Ten Borany, chief of the anti- Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, a gov- Mu Sochua also blasted Phnom Penh’s traffi cking police task force, said police ernment minister said recently. Women’s booming fl esh trade. “I see this in the had been raiding brothels where women Affairs Minister Mu Sochua said Cam- mushrooming of massage, karaoke par- and children were kept as prisoners and bodians were being lured to Thailand lours and red-light districts,” she said, forced to work as sex slaves. A con- and Vietnam by human traffi ckers with adding that recent fl oods which have left promises of good jobs, but then were thousands of Cambodians homeless and Continues on page 15

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 11 ACCORD PLAN OF ACTION We Either SCALE UP The First Meeting of the BALI 12 –14 NOVEMBER 2001

“In October 2000 in Bangkok, we jointly decided to meet again after one year to re-assess our journey towards a better co-operation against the scourge of drugs. At that time, nobody could have imagined how deeply the world would have changed. But two months ago, the world did change profoundly.

Our vision should therefore be one of joining hands more intensely than agreed. We must unite to take forceful action against all the evil-doers and organised criminals who plan acts of ter- rorism, who traffi c and enslave people, who traffi c drugs and launder their money in the midst of our law abiding and hard working communities.[…] It is only through unity in diversity that we will be able to make a real and tan- gible impact. Unity in the process and in the goal. Diversity of actors, capaci- ties and resources […].

I am confi dent that this meeting will signifi cantly advance our regional co- operation in the fi ght against drugs and in the reinforcement of our commitment to work together towards the achieve- ment of the goals that have already been established with clarity and precision.” “We need coordination at national, in the area of drug control. ACCORD is regional and international level; not responsible for operational projects nd with these words the fi rst meet- We need collective and shared respon- (it does not introduce/manage projects); ing of the ACCORD Plan of Action sibility in addressing the root causes of rather, it is responsible for the political and Task Forces was opened in Bali on the drug problem; fi nancial commitment to ensure that the 12 November 2001. We need and inter-sectoral and inte- efforts are regionally driven, owned and grated approaches.” properly funded by the participating coun- tries, for policy-making (how can ASEAN ACCORD is a transmission chain in While the tune was recognised and shared and China achieve their targets) and policy- the mechanism of drug control by all, the music continued to be strident monitoring (what projects and initiatives The ACCORD (ASEAN and China Coopera- and out-of-key as there was no common exist and how much are they effective). tive Operations in Response to dangerous song-sheet and no common direction. Drugs) Plan of Action was endorsed at the ACCORD was born to be the director of the To operate, the ACCORD envisages the set- International Congress “In pursuit of a drug- orchestra. ting-up of task forces to stir the implemen- free ASEAN” – held in Bangkok in October tation of the recommendations set for the 2000. Prior to the Congress, an increas- ACCORD is an umbrella Plan of Action four ACCORD pillars (advocacy, demand ingly loud multinational choir had been on aiming at monitoring and facilitating coop- reduction, law enforcement and alternative the same tune for quite some time. … eration and coordination of existing efforts development) and to lead the way.

12 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME The attendance to the Task Forces, the active participation and contributions to the design of the Task Forces mechanism and the overall positive response by the – or We FAIL participants disproved the notion that the introduction of any change is traditionally accompanied by a degree of resistance. On the contrary, change in the way we deal with drug control at the regional level is now welcome – like a new summer breeze, which refreshes, awakes and inspires.

Myanmar is leading the way: in a move which underlines the real commitment to solve the drug problem, the Head of the Myanmar delegation astonished the Meet- ing with an historical announcement: “We are committed to the process and ready to contribute fi nancial resources to the ACCORD Business Plan, according to the UN scale of assessment.” The signifi cance of such decision from a country, which tra- ditionally receives donors assistance and is certainly not better off than many of the other countries in the Region, is hard to miss….

Thailand too said that the country is prepared to increase its contribution for regional anti-drug initiatives and stated the intention of allocating assets forfeitures of drug traffi ckers to the fi ght against drugs and to contribute technical assistance to countries in need. Other partners, which have traditionally contributed substantially to the fi ght against drugs in this Region – such as Japan – also expressed their sup- port to the process.

If confi rmed by disbursement from other countries currently considering contribu- tions, ACCORD might prove to be the fi rst process of fi nancial and operational The music is well known, but the tune is agreed on the Task Forces Terms of partnership among developing countries fi nally new. Reference; against the scourge of drugs. And it might • Nominated a focal point for each of the also become the fi rst fully transparent The First Meeting of the ACCORD Task Task Forces; endeavour where successes and failures Forces was held (in-doors!) in Bali on 12 • Reviewed progress made under each will be known to all. –14 November 2001 and was jointly orga- of the four pillars of the ACCORD Plan nized by the ASEAN Secretariat, the BKNN of Action; The notes have been agreed, the song- (National Narcotics Coordinating Board) • Discussed the project on “Regional co- sheet compiled, the conductor is warming and UNDCP Regional Centre. operative mechanism to monitor and up ...there is a lot to fi ne-tune but little execute the ACCORD Plan of Action” to rehearse… the time has come to start The Meeting : • Reviewed and discussed the ACCORD playing. • Established the Task Forces’ mecha- Business Plan requirements and fund- nism, work plan and modalities and ing strategy. – Martina Melis, UNDCP Programme Offi cer

“ monitoring facilitating ” EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 13 ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING IN THE REGION Targetting Illicit Profi ts GOES TO SCALE

Three new initiatives with regard to ation within this fi eld and helping the Asia developing of work schedules. regional anti-money laundering efforts Pacifi c Group on Money Laundering to have been implemented to combat the establish an online database with links to The launching of the ASEM Anti-Money threat of such crimes in the region. other institutions. Laundering Initiative has strengthened the These new initiatives consider increasing co-operation among ASEM partners with the development of technical assistance The initiative taken by the legal depart- regard to the fi ght against money launder- and training which should take place ment of the International Monetary Fund ing. This initiative is funded by the UK’s over the next year or year and a half. also involves a project on technical assis- Department for International Development tance. The assistance aims at establishing (DFID) and the EU. The aim of the project uch initiatives will be possible domestic fi nancial intelligence units for is to develop a sustainable capacity in the through aid from several regional some of the members of the Pacifi c Islands Asia region to address money laundering at Sand international organisations, Forum. These members include the Cook a national, regional and international level. namely the Asian Development Bank, the Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Vanu- The ASEM Anti-Money Laundering Initia- International Monetary Fund and ASEM atu, and Samoa. The Asia Pacifi c Group an tive has identifi ed two specifi c weaknesses (The Asia-Europe Meeting). It is estimated Money Laundering (APG) and the United within the ASEM countries when it con- that money laundering is a US $1 trillion Nations Global Program Against Money cerns money laundering; their law enforce- business and, thereby, it constitutes the Laundering will stand for the provision of ment capabilities are poor and there is a most serious issue facing the international such assistance together with the Pacifi c lack of judges, magistrates and prosecutors fi nancial community. Islands Forum. The main objective of this who have undergone specialised training. assistance is to facilitate the exchange of The Asian Development Bank has con- fi nancial intelligence among the participat- This initiative will attempt to remedy such stituted a regional technical assistance ing countries and between these countries weaknesses with the assistance of UNDCP’s (RETA) project on countering money laun- and other jurisdictions, thereby, creating management services and consultancy. The dering in the Asia and Pacifi c Region. The a hostile environment for money launder- initiative’s activities include a needs assess- objectives of this initiative are to facilitate ing crimes. The selected countries will be ment for the ASEM countries jurisdictions, the adoption and implementation of anti- expected to have attained certain goals by the organisation of annual workshops on money laundering measures in selected the end of September 2002. money laundering methods, the arrange- developing member countries. These mea- ment of missions to offshore fi nancial cen- sures will be implemented in accordance These goals include not only the establish- tres, the provision of generic technical with international standards and will serve ment of a domestic anti-money launder- assistance, variously dealing with fi nancial, to speed up co-operation and collabora- ing legislation and of operational policies legal and law enforcement sectors, and the tion regarding this issue within the region. which will facilitate the functioning of the drafting of research papers. fi nancial intelligence units, but, also, the This RETA project will be implemented in realisation of a feasibility study on the These initiatives are greatly welcomed, as nine countries during a period of fi fteen possibility of creating a regional fi nancial they will enhance the region’s ability to months. The project activities will include intelligence unit. The objectives will be build and increase regional collaborative the identifi cation of needed reforms in achievable through the newly-established efforts that, in turn, ameliorate the effec- order to be compliant with established Co-ordinating Offi ce for the Participating tiveness of anti-money laundering efforts. international standards and the develop- Countries Anti-Money Laundering Initiative As with so many other transnational crim- ment of a manual on money laundering (COAMLI), which will help out with practi- inal activities, the only way to stem such issues and anti-money laundering mea- calities and liaisons with relevant partners cross-border operations is by countering sures for use in developing member coun- and will be responsible for, among other them with other cross-border initiatives. tries. It will also involve elaborating a things, the gathering and analysing of leg- regional plan of action promoting co-oper- islations, the acquiring of funds and the –Claire Smellie, UNDCP, Bangkok

Their law enforcement capabilities are poor “ and there is a lack of judges, magistrates and prosecutors who have undergone specialised training.” 14 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING IN THE REGION

SHORT NEWS Continues from page 11 Thailand’s fi dential police telephone hotline has been established to receive information from the public on child sex crimes FOCAL POINT FOR and human traffi cking, he said. In the fi rst six months of this year 11 people ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING MEASURES have been arrested by the task force for traffi cking in humans, he added. The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999 criminalised money laundering, created a civil forfeiture system for confi scation A new report high- of assets and established requirement for reporting of signifi cant and suspicious transactions. To oversee its lights corruption compliance, the Act created the Anti-Money Laundering in Cambodia Offi ce (AMLO) the same year. The Cambodian Development his is the fi rst time legislation has unprecedented authority to seek court Research Institute has conducted a created a single law enforcement approval for law enforcement to conduct survey, which shows how corruption Tagency with wide ranging powers to electronic surveillance. Directed by the is diverting large sums of money in the investigate money laundering methods in Anti-Money Laundering Board and chaired country. It says garment factory oper- Thailand. All transactions reporting from by the Prime Minister, AMLO seeks to ators paid 70 million US dollars in fi nancial institutions are channelled to develop measures to counter money laun- AMLO, the offi ce also acts as national fi nan- dering, and proposes laws, regulations and bureaucracy costs last year, a sign of cial intelligence centre and cooperates with recommendations for the authorities in how severely corruption plagues Cam- foreign law enforcement partners. Empow- Thailand to consider. bodia’s only major industry. ered to authorise search of places and vehicles, the AMLO also carries out investi- More information about AMLO is available The study says the formal and infor- gations and is responsible for the restraint at: Anti-Money Laundering Offi ce in Thailand. mal fees companies have to pay are and seizure of assets. Web address: http://www.amlo.go.th/ among the highest in the region and are a threat to any industrial develop- Furthermore, the AMLO has been given – Lise Bendiksen, UNDCP, Bangkok ment. The Commerce Ministry, Secre- tary of State, has acknowledged that there are some costs involved along New Website Against Money Laundering the bureaucratic chain since salaries The Asia Pacifi c Group on Money Laundering (APG) has paid to civil servants are not enough just launched a new website. The new web address is http:// to support households. However, he www.apgml.org strongly disputed that garment factory The site features a range of material previously not available operators paid the reported amount in to the public online. The user friendly website provides valuable bureaucracy costs. information about APG policies and activities and is designed to provide direct assistance to APG’s members and observers across the region. Hotline For Female Traffi cking Reports The Ministry of Women’s and Vet- New Legislation erans Affairs has set up a 24-hour hotline to receive reports of female traffi cking. The public is urged to call AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING 023-720-555 if they are aware of any The Philippines enacted an Anti-Money acquiring a similar bill against money case of girls and women being held Laundering Bill in September 2001, well laundering. It was gazetted already in against their wishes. Minister Mou ahead of the deadline set by FATF. August 2001 and expected to enter into Sok Hour, briefed reporters on how she Recently, the country had been included force in December 2001. It contains sev- was trying to reduce abuse of females in FATF’s list of non-co-operative juris- eral offences linked with money launder- and also announced that Finland had dictions. It is now hoped that the new bill ing, and introduces the reversal of the pledged to provide a million dollars meets international standards and that, burden of proof with regard to civil for- towards the cost of the campaign. The through its effective implementation, the feiture of assets and other measures. campaign will run until next year in Philippines will no longer beconsidered as non-co-operative. – Gerassimos Fourlanos, six of the most vulnerable provinces. Malaysia also is in the course of UNDCP, Bangkok

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 15 HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CAMBODIA CAMBODIA DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT STOPPING THE SLAVE’S BUSINESS he scourge of traffi cking in human authorities unequivocally demonstrated to their activities for some time. Each person beings is a problem faced increas- the world that it not only takes the laws being traffi cked is reported to have paid Tingly by most countries of the East on human traffi cking seriously, but that it between $5,000 and $10,000 for the jour- Asia region. Some countries are strength- is willing and able to take concrete action ney. ening their legal frameworks and allocating to stop Cambodia from being used as a fi nancial and human resources to counter- safe haven for crime syndicates and their The International Offi ce for Migration (IOM) act the smuggling of women, children and human traffi cking operations. in Phnom Penh is now helping to process labourers, whereas others suffer from a those rescued and 39 Afghans are already severe lack of both capacity and a strong The Cambodian authorities rescued men, reported to have been sent back to their political commitment to effectively deal women and children from Afghanistan, country with IOM assistance. Cambodian with such heinous acts of barbarism. Pakistan and Iran as they were about to courts are now in the process of preparing be shipped as human cargo from the to try the perpetrators of this crime. After over three decades of war, Cambodia southwestern Cambodian seaport of Sih- has often been viewed as having neither anoukville to Australia via the Indonesian Whilst the Cambodian law enforcement the human or the enforcement capacity archipelago. The operation was con- community still has a long way to go in nor the true will to effectively counter ducted in cooperation with the Australian the development of its capacity, this recent human traffi cking from, and through, the law enforcement community. One Paki- major success is a clear demonstration by country. stani and one Indonesian are being held the Cambodian government that the days in Phnom Penh on charges of traffi cking when transnational organised crime groups However, in the early hours of July 8, 2001, humans and could face up to 15 years being able to act with relative immunity in with the rescue of over 240 illegal immi- in jail. They are believed to be senior Cambodia, are numbered. grants and the arrest of several human members of a crime syndicate that has traffi cking gang leaders, Cambodian been using Cambodia as a transit point for – Graham Shaw, UN/ODCCP, Cambodia Anti-traffi cking Drive KICKED-OFF I

A traditional Cambodian saying, with The campaign by the Ministry of Women’s low levels of literacy. negative connotations, is used in a and Veterans Affairs kicked-off with of a positive campaign against traffi cking road show giving its fi rst performance at “The overall themes of information being of girls and women. The three-month Wat Phnom. The show now travels through- provided are those of choices – that people drive that is already underway uses out the country. Minister Mu Sochua, can make good and bad choices- and that cartoon techniques. sometimes known as Mu Sok Huor, said of the rule of law,” she said. Sochua said the campaign was all about choices avail- the campaign would encourage villagers he saying that goes, ‘go down able to rural communities where most to develop sustainable anti-traffi cking atti- to the river and meet the croco- of the traffi cking occurs. “In a unique tudes. It would be backed also with skills Tdile, go into the forest and meet effort, the campaign will make use of training because poverty is the root cause the tiger’ in Khmer, denotes the lack Cambodian proverbs that have been spe- of girls being sold or lured into vice. of choice. In the campaign material, an cially adapted to deliver fi ve urbanised crock offers riches and fame key messages through strong The Minister said that it would also to a country girl, who refuses the deal visual images.” It is hoped highlight the negative aspect of traf- knowing that it would lead to a life in that these techniques will fi cking, like contracting HIV and Aids vice. She has a choice: stay at home and help reach people with through prostitution and loss of dig- maintain her dignity. nity through forced begging. Many girls and women allow themselves to become victims of traffi ckers through the false impres- sion that riches await them in

16 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CAMBODIA Traffi cking of CAMBODIAN CHILDREN CAUSE for Alarm

The statistics are horrifying: over 400 children reported as being traffi cked from Cambodia to Thailand in the last year; 30% of the children are ethnic Vietnamese; a third more male children are traffi cked than female; and evidence of the increasing role of organized pedophile rings in Thailand abusing Cambodian children.

n a recent visit to Banteay Meanchey Province in Northwest Cambodia by Istaff of the newly established UNO- DCCP Liaison Offi ce in Phnom Penh, the scale of the abuse that Cambodian children suffer in Thailand, and elsewhere in the region, was highlighted by police offi cials All efforts to combat traffi cking are and staff of international agencies work- seriously“ undermined by a combination of weak ing to resettle and rehabilitate those chil- dren returned to Cambodia through either institutions, and pervasive corruption organized repatriation or deportation. ” the family or the community, who ‘loans’ children are provided with support from a Cambodians appear to be able to easily the children against promises of later eco- variety of Governmental and Non-Govern- enter Thailand for as little as US$3 paid nomic compensation – a promise seldom mental agencies, such as UNICEF, Goutee to a ‘facilitator’, a person often known to fullfi lled. They are then lead across the D’Eau and the Cambodian Women’s Crisis border. However, once inside Thai terri- Centre, to help them reintegrate back tory, reports from those who have under- into their family and community or to reset- taken this dangerous journey demonstrate tle elsewhere. Only 11% of reintegrated that a well-organized traffi cking network children are re-traffi cked by their family, n Cambodia exists, especially for young male Cam- according to IOM statistics. bodians who are sought after by pedo- places like Bangkok. The campaign will phile rings based in Bangkok, Pattaya and As a recent US State Department report attempt to provide the true picture. Phuket. noted, “all efforts to combat traffi cking are seriously undermined by a combina- An anti-traffi cking hot line, 023-720-555 The International Offi ce of Migration (IOM), tion of weak institutions and pervasive cor- has been put into operation by the Min- which supports the Cambodian Ministry of ruption.”* Consequently, the Inter-Agency istry of the Interior for the public to Social Affairs in the operation of a transit Working Group on Human Traffi cking, provide information about traffi ckers, centre in the border town of Poipet, have which meets every other month in Phnom traffi cking and victims. The government reported the physical and mental distress Penh and represents a full range of agen- hopes that concerned members of the that male Cambodian children have experi- cies and donors, is trying to effectively public will phone in information that will enced at the hands of pedophile rings. As tackle these issues. The ODCCP is a new help prevention and rescue work. Anne Horsley, IOM’s Technical Advisor at member of this grouping and focuses pri- the transit centre, explained, many of the marily on what actions it can undertake The campaign is part of the three-year male children who are returned to Cambo- to address the drug abuse problem and drive launched by the Prime Minister, dia, aged from as young as 2 years and to develop the Cambodian Government’s Hun Sen in March last year and funded as old as 18, are involved in “inappropriate capacity to deal effectively with the trans- with a million dollars by the Finnish gov- sexual behaviour” with other boys that national criminal gangs which traffi ck Cam- ernment. The other components of the clearly shows the kinds of abuse that they bodian’s to other countries. programme are legal literacy training for have suffered at the hands of the pedo- 2,300 government offi cials through the phile groups in Thailand. Most of the chil- –Graham Shaw, UNODCCP, Cambodia establishment of a national training team dren have also taken up drug use, primarily on traffi cking and advocacy on policy inhalents or use of methamphetamines. * Traffi cking in Persons Report, U.S. State Depart- ment, July 2001. development. However, upon arrival back in Cambodia, all

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 17 HIGHRISK GROUP SITUATION The Marginalisation of SUBSTANCE-ABUSING Street Children

In 1998, the World Health Organisation abuse substances of one kind or another. quences such as infectious diseases (WHO) reported that there were cannot be overlooked. Access to commu- somewhere between 10 and 30 million Globally, solvent-based shoe glues have nity services and health care is rather street children worldwide, depending become the substance of choice for this limited for street children. What is most on different estimates. high risk group, however, rubber cement worrying is the identifi ed tendency to fur- for tire repairs is a big seller in the Asia ther marginalise this high risk group due he number of street children is gradu- region. Worldwide, street children get high to their drug abuse. For example, one ally growing due to increased urban- on various different toxic products which Phnom Phen-based NGO recently stated Tisation, civil unrest, wars, as well as have a legitimate everyday use. These they would discontinue their work with natural disasters and epidemics, not least intoxicating substances are, furthermore, substance abusing street children, refl ect- AIDS. Street children constitute a high-risk substances street children can afford. The ing a new-born empathy towards street group when it comes to developing a sub- reason for turning to such a dangerous children with such problems. The NGO in stance abuse. As a socially excluded and preoccupation is, quite simply, their inhu- question stated that they would discon- marginalised population, these children, mane life situation; they fi nd comfort in tinue their efforts to help drug abusers as who are either homeless or come form drug abuse. An abuse that takes the acute- they were uncontrollable, aggressive and highly dysfunctional homes, thus spend- ness out of being cold, alleviates hunger impossible to educate and rehabilitate. In ing much more time on the streets than and makes despair less immediate. Their other words, they are hopeless cases and at home, are extremely vulnerable to drug abuse also supplies them with temporary constitute too much trouble to other chil- abuse and associated diseases such as bravery and fearlessness in facing the chal- dren and to the people working for the HIV/AIDS. Consequently, their drug depen- lenges of begging, stealing or engaging in NGO. The question is, however, who are dency needs special attention. commercial sexual activities or traffi cking these other children if 92 % of all street of illicit substances. children are abusers? The situation is knowingly acute in Latin American countries, but the situation in The health hazards of drug abuse are well- In an attempt to counter the lack of atten- Asia is far from being a lot better. It is known, but awareness of the dangers of tion and resources that are being chan- estimated that there are 60,000 * street sniffi ng glue are less widespread. These nelled to ameliorate the life of drug-abusing children in Manila alone and somewhere marginalised children often believe sniff- street children, UNDCP has embarked between 5,000 and 20,000 in Phnom ing glue to be a rather harmless activity, upon a new initiative to assist this high- Phen, according to various estimates. however the health consequences of glue risk group to fi nd possible ways to combat sniffi ng are, nevertheless, enormous. In their addiction. The UNDCP, together with According to interviews with street children the worst of cases, sniffi ng can lead to ILO-IPEC, have formulated a project pro- for a World Vision report in 1993, the per- sudden death, which occurs when the posal aimed at addressing the health con- centage of glue sniffers among them, in inhaled vapours replace oxygen in the sequences of such drug abuse. If granted two cities in Cambodia, Phnom Phen and lungs and brain. Other effects include funding, the project will fi rst be imple- Battambang, was 92 %. The percentage of structural changes in brain cells, resulting mented in Cambodia and, if successful, will substance users depends on various fac- in slow and clumsy behaviour, loss of coor- be expanded to other countries. The proj- tors such as the accessibility of substances, dination, learning diffi culties, diffi culties in ect’s aim is to change the disproportionate the child’s age and gender, as well as the solving complex problems and a decrease number of street children who suffer from surrounding circumstances, for example, in memory capacity. Limb spasm, hearing dependency and HIV/AIDS vulnerability. the level of stress in the child’s living envi- loss and damage of the bone marrow also ronment and the level of normalisation constitute common effects. The immediate aim of the project is to of drug abuse in the child’s community. prevent and reduce drug abuse and HIV/ However, according to WHO, somewhere The link between street childrens’ drug AIDS vulnerability through strengthening between 25 - 90 % of all street children abuse and subsequent health conse- and institutionalising all available resources The reason for turning to a dangerous preoccupation“ is, quite simply, their inhumane life situation; they fi nd comfort in drug abuse” 18 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES IMPROVEMENT to reduce such problems at the national level. Alternative Development A parallel provision of basic needs is cru- cial, such as shelter, food and health care, COOPERATION In Cyberspace and of rehabilitation measures through, for example, education on substance abuse. Without catering for these basic needs, it is diffi cult to envisage how the street chil- dren can cope without their survival mech- anism - drug abuse. It is important that the children receive knowledge about the con- sequences of their abuse, how it affects their brain and physical appearance, in order for them to understand the risks and how to avoid them. The UNDCP initiative aims to increase the stakeholders and ser- vice providers’(for example NGOs’) knowl- edge, ability and skills that are required to effectively deal with the drug abuse among street children and help them to come to terms with their predicament. The project aims also at directly enhancing and expanding protection, treatment and reha- bilitation services as well as implementing preventive work within the street childrens’ source communities.

–Claire Smellie, UNDCP, Bangkok

* Fact Sheet N151, March 1997, WHO, Substance Use among Street Children and other Children and Youth in Especially Diffi cult Circumstances.

SHORT NEWS

JAPAN Japanese Police Chief Calls On Premier A visiting senior Japanese police offi cer says that the role of the police is not only to maintain law and order, but also s part of the activities of the project Alternative Development Cooperation in to promote better communities. Tanaka East Asia a new AD website has been established in connection to the UNDCP Setsuo, who served in Cambodia for ARegional Centre’s website. The AD website has the Internet address http:// two months during the UNTAC era, is www.uncp.un.or.th/ad Additionally, the website can be reached by a click on the matching now Director of Police. He said after a icon on the Regional Centre’s website located at http://www.uncp.un.or.th courtesy call with the Prime Minister, The purpose of the new AD website is to facilitate regional cooperation and to distrib- Hun Sen, that the police force should be ute information relevant and useful to AD practitioners and policy makers provided either retrained to take the new role as Cambo- through project activities or acquired from other sources. Recent examples of project dia leaves behind the past and embark on activities conducted within the framework of Alternative Development Cooperation in East an era of development. Hun Sen said a Asia include the seminar in Taunggyi, Myamar (see last issue of Eastern Horizons) which major concern in the kingdom was the resulted in the book Alternative Development: Sharing Good Practices Facing Common dealing with drug related cases as the Problems, which can be downloaded from the web site, and the workshop in Phonsavan local police neither has the skills nor the described elsewhere in this issue of Eastern Horizons. It is the hope of Alternative Devel- experience to deal with highly sophisti- opment Cooperation in East Asia that anyone with relevant materials will provide them to cated drug barons. He hoped that Japan the project together with the necessary permission to publish it on this new AD website. would assist the Cambodian police in Comments and suggestions are most welcome and can be sent to the Regional Centre this vital area by improving skills and either by fax, phone or e-mail. upgrading equipment. – Peter Lunding, UNDCP, Bangkok

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 19 NEW PUBLICATIONS

Alternative Development: Sharing Good mendations in a book, which was given the above Practices Facing Common Problems, Bang- title. The book provides an unique possibility to kok: UNDCP Regional Centre, 2001. Between get an overview of the many diffi cult problems, 16 and 19 July 2001 a regional seminar was which must be overcome before alternative devel- held in Taunggyi, Myanmar. The title of the opment projects are successfully implemented as seminar was “Regional Seminar on Alternative well as practical recommendations to overcome Development for Illicit Crop Eradication: Poli- such problems proposed by practitioners with years cies, Strategies and Actions” and its aim was of hands-on experience. The book is available from to enable lesson sharing and to establish good UNDCP Regional Centre, 14th Floor, UN-Build- practices. The presentations and discussions at ing, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, the seminar turned out to be very fruitful and Thailand. Phone: (+66-2) 288 2091, Fax: (+66-2) consequently it was decided to compile the pre- 281 2129, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: sentations, discussions, conclusions and recom- http://www.undcp.un.or.th

ASEAN Annual Report 2000-2001, Jakarta: ASEAN, Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS: Les- 2001. The annual report from ASEAN has just been pub- sons Learned: Case Studies Book- lished. The report provides the reader with a full summary let: Central and Eastern Europe and of ASEAN’s activities and for the readers of Eastern Hori- the Central Asian States, Vienna and zons we particularly recommend the sections starting from Geneva: UN/ODCCP and UNAIDS, page 102 covering issues such as Transnational Crime, 2001. Sharing, or use, of contami- Drugs and Narcotics, Immigration Matters, and Law and nated needles is a very effective way Legal Matters. of spreading HIV. Since injecting drug The report is available from the ASEAN Secretariat, users often have close links and com- 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia, monly share injecting equipment, HIV Phone: (+6221) 724 3372, 726 2991, Fax: (+6621) 739 can spread very rapidly among them. 8234, 724 3504, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: The booklet contains 20 case studies, http://www.aseansec.org which are presented in the fi rst three chapters. Following these chapters, Friends tell friends on the Street, Bangkok: Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre chapter IV provides a summary of les- and Canada Fund, 2000. The book is an extensive manual developed to meet the needs sons learned and specifi c challenges for lifeskills development among street children and with which HIV preventive projects slum community youth, encompassing many different among injecting drug users in the region social issues, including general health, HIV/AIDS and have to cope. The booklet is available sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, and form UN/ODCCP, Vienna Interna- reproductive health, child rights, self-esteem, and drug tional Centre, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 abuse among others. Information about these issues is Vienna, Austria, Phone: (+43-1) 26060 transferred to the youth through their participation in 0, Fax: (+43-1) 26060 5866, E-mail: the activities outlined in the manual. [email protected], Web site: http:/ The activities are based on lifeskills and partic- /www.odccp.org & UNAIDS 20 ipatory learning approaches and hopefully this approach Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Swit- will provide youth not only with information, but also zerland, Phone: (+41-22) 791 46 51, with the skills necessary to apply this information. The Fax: (+41-22) 791 41 87, E-mail: book is available from the Thai Red Cross. [email protected], Web site: http:// www.unaids.org Drug Crime Prevention Work Yearbook, 2000, Taipei: The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, 2001. The yearbook from the drug control authorities of Taiwan has just been released. The report provides an overview of the organization of the drug control authorities, an over- view of these authorities’ performances, analysis of crimi- nal cases and a prediction of the future prospects of drug law enforcement. Among the interesting points highlighted in the report is a warning that amphetamine laboratories seem to be on the move from mainland China to Taiwan reversing the trend of earlier years. It is highly recommended that special attention is given to this problem in order to prevent Taiwan from reemerg- ing as a major producer of amphetamines. The report is available from Drug Enforcement Center, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, 74 Chung-Hwa Rd., Hsin-Tien City, Taipei country, Taiwan 231, Phone (+886) 2-2911 2241 Extension 5110.

20 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME NEW PUBLICATIONS

Rule of Law, Human Rights and Legal Aid in Southeast Asia and China, Bangkok: Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) & International Human Rights Law Group (IHRLG), 2000. The book contains a number of pre- sentations concerning the condi- tions of Rule of Law, Human Rights and Legal Aid in South- east Asia and China. The pre- sentations cover a wide range of issues from various groups such as Beijing University’s Women’s Legal Service Center specialized in giving legal advice to poor women whose rights have been violated, or from a rural legal advisory group from Vietnam that specialize in providing legal advice to farmers. A special chap- ter is focused on Myanmar and the title of that presentation is characteristic enough “Lawyering In An Unjust System.” The book is available from Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Unit D, 7th Floor, Momgkok Commercial Centre, 16 Argyle Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong Ronald D. Renard, Opium Reduction in Thai- SAR, China, Phone (+852) 2698 land 1970-2000: A Thirty-Year Journey, Chiang 6339, Fax: (+852) 2698 6367, E-mail: [email protected] Web page: http:// Mai: UNDCP & Silkworm Books, 2001. The www.ahrchk.net & International Human Rights Law Group (IHRLG), 1200 18th 175 pages long book tells the story of how Thai- Street NW, Suite 602, Washington DC 20036, U.S.A., Phone: (+1-202) 822 4600, land was transformed from being one of the largest Fax: (+1-202) 822 4606, E-mail: [email protected] g, Web page: http:// opium producers into a country which produced www.hrlawgroup.org much less opium than what is consumed by the country’s own opium addicts. In 1965/66 the Thai Annual Report 2000, Quezon opium production was estimated to be more than City: Dangerous Drug Board, 145 metric tons. In 1999/2000 the production was 2001. The annual report from the estimated to be around 3 metric tons equaling a Dangerous Drug Board of the Phil- reduction of 98 percent. The book explains how ippines outlines the drug control Thailand achieved this impressive result and tries situation in the country. It includes to identify the most important lessons that can comprehensive chapters on both be learned from Thailand’s journey toward free- the national drug supply reduction dom from opium. The book is available from efforts and on the drug demand Silkworm Books, 104/5 Chiang Mai - Hot Road, reduction efforts. The report is M. 7, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand, E-mail: available from the Dangerous Drugs [email protected] Board, Quezon City, Philippines.

A Balanced Approach to Elimination of ing opium production are described Opium Poppy Cultivation in the Lao together with an introduction to the People’s Democratic Republic, Vien- present opium reduction strategy pur- tiane: UNDCP, 2001. The folder intro- sued by the Laotian Government in duces the reader to the Lao People’s cooperation with UNDCP. The folder is Democratic Republic and the problems available from UNDCP Lao PDR Coun- opium production and abuse present in try Offi ce, P.O. Box 345, Phone Kheng Laos. It also describes how opium cultiva- Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR, Phone: tion due to the cooperative efforts of the (+856-21) 413 204. Fax: (+856-21) 413 Laotian Governmet and the international 203, E-mail: [email protected] Web- community already has been reduced site: http://www.odccp.org/laodr by 36 percent. A number of past and pres- ent development projects aiming at reduc-

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 21 NEW PUBLICATIONS

Injecting drug use, risk behavior and quali- Hong Kong Narcotics Report 2001, tative research in the time of AIDS, Lisboa: Hong Kong: Narcotics Division, EMCDDA, 2001. The latest book from EMCDDA Security Bureau & Action Commit- explores the role of qualitative research in under- tee Against Drugs, 2001. The annual standing the lived experiences, social meanings report by Hong Kong’s drug control and social contexts of injecting drug use and the authorities is written in both English risk behavior in the time of AIDS. The book is and Chinese. The reports is extensive based on fi ndings from an EMCDDA working (122 pages) and manages to discuss group that was active in 1999. The study draws quite a number of important topics. a series of conclusions in the area of intervention These include chapters on policy and research development. Among others, it under- making and coordination, research lines the potential of qualitative research in devel- on drug control issues, money laun- oping and ensuring the practical relevance of dering and preventive education and planned interventions. It also lists priority topics publicity. The report is available for future qualitative research, including the infl u- form Narcotics Division, Govern- ence of gender and power on the risk behavior ment Secretariat, Queensway Govern- of drug users and factors infl uencing the indi- ment Offi ces, High Block, 30th Floor, vidual risk management of overdose. The book 66 Queensway, Hong Kong, Phone: is available from EMCDDA, Rua Cruz de Santa Apolonia 23/25, 1149-045 Lisboa, (+852) 2867 2746, Fax: (+852) 2810 Portugal, Phone: (+351) 21 811 30 00, Fax: (+351) 21 813 17 11, Web site: http:// 1790. www.emcdda.org

General report of activities 2000, Lisboa: EMCDDA, 2001. The recent report from EMCDDA about their general activities provides a retrospective account of the EMCDDA’s activities and accomplishments in year 2000 concluding the organization’s second three-year work programme. The report provides information about, among other issues, epidemiology, demand reduction and information strategies and communication resources. It is highlighted that in the demand reduction fi eld, focus has been on the evaluation of drug treatment programmes, outreach work and on-site testing of synthetic drugs. The report is available from EMCDDA, Rua Cruz de Santa Apolonia 23/25, 1149-045 Lisboa, Portugal, Phone: (+351) 21 811 30 00, Fax: (+351) 21 813 17 11, Web site: http://www.emcdda.org

Spot News, Yangon: UNDCP, 2001. This new pamphlet is Gender and Alternative Development - Experiences gained with the fi rst of a new bimonthly series produced by UNDCP participatory project work in the coca-cultivating areas of Peru, Myanmar Country Offi ce. The topic of the fi rst issue is Eschborn: GTZ, 2000. The report compiles the experience gained drug consumption among high school students. A recent with the key topic ‘Gender; in Alternative Development during the UNSCP survey has studied the subject in order to focus implementation of small-scale projects in Peru. The aim of the on the level of drug abuse in Myanmar, which itself report is to contribute to the exchange of experiences and the con- is a major producer of illicit tinuing debate on the gender drugs. Among the drugs pre- concept in the context of Alter- sented in the survey are both native Development. The report opium, heroin and amphet- is very comprehensive and dis- amines. The pamphlet is avail- cusses among other subjects par- able from UNDCP Myanmar ticipatory appraisal and gender Country Offi ce, UNDCP P.O. aspects and micro-projects with Box 650, 11(A), Malikha a gender perspective. The report Road, Ward (7), Mayangone is available from GTZ, Postfach Township, Yangon, Union of 5180, D-65726 Eschborn, Ger- Myanmar, Phone: (+95-1) 666 many, Phone: (+49) 6196 79 903, Fax: (+95-1) 651 334, 1461, Fax: (+49) 6196 79 1115, E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected], Web page: http://www.gtz.de

22 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME NEW PUBLICATIONS

The National Anti-Drug Program of Action: Vision 2010: A Drug- The Latest Publications Free Philippines, Quezon City: National Drug Law Enforcement Distributed by UNDCP Bangkok and Prevention Coordinating Center, 2001. The Philippines has 1/2001 National Workshop for Cross-Border Law developed a comprehensive drug Enforcement Cooperation in East Asia control strategy with the target to 2/2001 First Annual Meeting of the Mutual Legal fulfi ll the vision of a drug-free Phil- Assistance Advisory Committee (MLAAC) ippines by 2010. The strategy is 3/2001 Fellowship Programme in Malaysia 04 exhaustive and includes demand September-10 October 2000 reduction, supply reduction and 4/2001 Participants Database: Seminars, Workshops and extensive efforts within the fi eld of Meeting for 1st Phase of Development of Cross- public advocacy and information. Border Law Enforcement Cooperation in East The Filipino drug control authori- Asia (AD/RAS/99/D91) (12 November 1999- 15 ties and the country’s civil society January 2001) have united to create a common plan and thereby create a solid front 5/2001 Review of High Risk Groups in China - of people against all dangerous drugs. The plan is available from the Urumqui and Yining, Xinjiang Autonomous National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center, Region (Urumqi-Yining, 15-19 September Quezon City, Philippines. 2000) 6/2001 Directory of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services, East Asia and the Pacifi c 7/2001 Eliminating Opium: Lessons from Succeeding Opium Cultivation and Eradica- in Thailand tion Report for Thailand: 2000- 8/2001 Cross-Border Law Enforcement Cooperation 2001, Bangkok: ONCB, 2001. The Meeting/Workshop report publicizes the results of the 9/2001 Status of Donor Contributions to Regional annual opium survey and following Programmes as of December 2000 opium eradication campaign of the 10/2001 Eastern Horizons No. 5, March 2001 2000-2001 opium growing season. 11/2001 Cambodia Country Profi le Among the subject is a chapter on the 12/2001 Pacifi c Islands Regional Profi le methodology applied in the opium 13/2001 Injecting Drug Use and HIV Vulnerability: survey, an analysis of opium prices Choices and Consequences in Asia and the and of recent cultivation trends. The Pacifi c report is available from ONCB, 5 14/2001 Report on Workshop “A Partnership with United Din Daeng Road, Phyathai District, Nations in A World Class Training Project”, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Phone: Bangkok, Thailand, 24-25 April 2001 (66-2) 245 9355, Fax: (66-2) 245 15/2001 What they said: Press Clippings: Ministerial and 9354. Senior Offi cials Committee Meetings on Drug Control, Yangon, 9-11 May 2001 16/2001 Eastern Horizons No.6 June 2001 Guidelines for Testing Drugs under 17/2001 Sports end Drugs (Press Kit), International Day International Control in Hair, Sweat against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffi cking, 26 and Saliva, Vienna: UN/ODCCP, June 2001 2001. This manual has been designed 18/2001 Annual Field Report 2000 to provide an overview of the fi eld 19/2001 Regional Profi le 2000 and give some practical guidance to 20/2001 Global Impact of the Ban on Opium Production national authorities and analysts when in Afghanistan determinating drugs in hair, sweat and 21/2001 Alternative Development Cooperation in East saliva. The guidelines in the manual Asia represent a summary of the experi- 22/2001 UNDCP Judicial Fellowship in the Balkans ence of scientists from several rep- 23/2001 Alternative Development: Sharing Good utable laboratories around the world Practices, Facing Common Problems of how alternative specimens can be 24/2001 Eastern Horizons No.7, September 2001 used effectively. In general, this pub- 25/2001 Opium Reduction in Thailand, 1970-2000: A lication is also an attempt to help pro- Thirty-Year Journey mote and harmonize national efforts 26/2001 Training Guide: Community Participation in by providing internationally accept- Alternative Development Projects able guidelines. The manual is available from UNDCP, Scientifi c Sec- tion, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria, Phone: (+43-1) 26060 0, The above documents can be obtained through the Fax: (+43-1) 26060 5866, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: http:// website of UNDCP Regional Centre for East Asia www.odccp.org and the Pacifi c (http://www.undcp.un.or.th)

EASTERN HORIZONS • DECEMBER 2001 23 We Want You! Uniting for Human Security in Asia and the Pacifi c

The Asia-Pacifi c region is confronted with new threats that Child Labour undermine the human security of its citizens. The dark Asia has the largest number of child workers in the world. forces of globalization have emerged to prey on the weak Many children between the ages of 5 and 14 years are exploited and vulnerable. Human and drug traffi cking, organized crime in economic activities on a full-time basis. Child labour, par- and terrorism, labour exploitation, and deadly diseases, such ticularly its worst forms, robs children of their health, their as HIV/AIDS, are threatening the stability of Asian-Pacifi c growth, their education – and even their lives. Only in recent societies. The fi ght against these “uncivil forces” require that years has the Asia-Pacifi c region awakened to the enormous all sectors of civil society unite for action. scale and widespread abuse of children in the workplace.

Organized Crime and Terrorism Organized crime syndicates are estimated to gross US$ 1.5 We call on civil society, including the trillion per year. They constitute an economic power that business community, to support United Nations rivals multinational corporations and governments. Criminal organizations and terrorist groups have developed danger- activities for human security, to share ous strategic alliances in a global network, that threatens the experiences and lessons learned, and to unite security of all peoples. for action to promote a more secure Asia-Pacifi c region. Human Traffi cking The traffi cking in men, women and children for labour exploitation is a thriving and lucrative business in the region. The majority of women and children are traffi cked for sexual purposes. Others are forced to work in exploitative and Kim Hak-Su slave-like conditions in sweatshops, factories, industries in Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary the informal sector, and domestic service. Asia is a region of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and origin, transit and destination for the growing numbers of the Pacifi c (ESCAP) victims of traffi cking.

Drugs Sandro Calvani Drugs kill, and destroy lives, families and communities. Representative for East Asia and the Pacifi c Drugs also generate crime. Asia is in the throes of a drug United Nations Offi ce for Drug Control and Crime Prevention epidemic. The largest quantity of opium-derived drugs in (UN/ODCCP) the world is produced in Asia. Illicit production and traffi ck- ing of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is skyrocketing. Half of all ATS abuse worldwide is in Asia, with the majority Yasuyuki Nodera of abusers being youth, who come from all socio-economic Regional Director backgrounds. Asia and the Pacifi c Region International Labour Organisation (ILO) HIV/AIDS An estimated 7 million people already live with HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacifi c region. Asia has the fastest growing epi- Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn demic in the world, and a huge population base. Without Team Leader early and effective intervention, HIV/AIDS will continue South-East Asia and Pacifi c Intercountry Team to spread in the Asia-Pacifi c region through such factors as Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) inadequate education, limited access to information and ser- vices, denial and stigmatization, injecting drug use, commer- 12 September 2001 cial sex and population mobility. Bangkok

UNDCP EASTERN HORIZONS is published by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in Bangkok, Thailand with contributions from the country offi ces in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Myanmar. Articles, comments and relevant information with photos or tables attached are welcomed. Submissions should not exceed 500 words. Full name and signature must accompany all letters to the editor. Articles and letters may be edited for purposes of space and clarity. Editor: Peter Lunding, Tel: (66 2) 288-2537 Email: [email protected] Deputy editor: Claire Smellie, Tel: (66 2) 288-1963, E-mail: [email protected] For further information, please contact: UNDCP Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacifi c, 14th Floor, United Nations Building Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Tel: (+66-2) 288-2091 Fax: (+66-2) 281-2129 Website: http://www.undcp.un.or.th

Not an offi cial document. For information only. Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily refl ect the view of the United Nations.