Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and International Drug Control

Pakistan's Statement by Mr. Bilal Hayee on Agenda items: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and International Drug Control in the Third Committee 62 UNGA 10th October 2007

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished delegates,

We wish to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive reports under these important agenda items. These reports bring to our attention the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. The reports also sum up the work done by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in support of Member States in their efforts to combat transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism, as well as in preventing crime and reinforcing criminal justice systems.

  1. Today we live in a globalized world - a world which is often referred to as a global village -- of easy transportation, instantaneous communication, and information technology designed to eliminate the barriers of distance and time. This rapid transformation on the one hand has offered great opportunities for the world - in terms of commerce, culture, and friendship-but has also opened a world of exploitation through transnational crimes.
  2. Negative effects caused by financial scams, money laundering, human trafficking and illicit drugs trafficking have become a growing concern for both the governments and the civil society. We agree with the Secretary General's report that poverty, social exclusion and lack of prospects are the major factors that increase vulnerability to drug abuse.
  3. Much illegal activity, particularly in drugs and human trafficking, originates in the poorer, less developed areas of the world and moves across borders to rich and developed countries' markets. Criminal organizations take advantage of politically unstable and weak socio economic conditions. Their ease of operation is directly related to the weakness of the criminal justice system. Evidence has shown that best solutions to combat these problems are alternative development and livelihood practices and poverty eradication programmes.
  4. Pakistan, on its part, has been playing its role in sensitizing the international community to the drug problem in our region. In our own country, we have succeeded in the elimination of illicit crop through a combination of law enforcement measures and alternate development initiatives. At the same time, we have been actively contributing to the international efforts to stop the outflow of drugs from the neighbouring region and inflow of precursor chemicals for prevention of the drug production. We have signed Memorandums of Understanding with 26 countries and extradition treaties with 28 countries to enhance our international cooperation across the world on this vital issue

Mr. Chairman,

  1. Information technology is making profound inroads into the very fabric of our society and our economy. Pakistan is, therefore, looking beyond traditional concept of transnational crimes. Introduction to the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes and Automated Finger Print Identification System are significant parts of our efforts in this regard.
  2. Mindful of the complex legal, social and economic dimensions of transnational crime particularly trafficking in persons, corruption and money laundering, Pakistan has taken the following specific measures to criminalize and punish these offences.

    One: A Special Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has been set up in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate and prosecute the drug traffickers. Also an anti-Cyber Crime Unit to deal with internet-related crimes has been established.

    Two: A "Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation system" has been recently initiated. This Project provides Immigration officials and law enforcement agencies with a tracking system to capture vital information of travelers, to easily identify them and to monitor more efficiently the immigration work.

    Three: In collaboration with Asian Development Bank, US $ 350 million Access to Justice Programme has been launched in Pakistan. The program aims to reform criminal justice particularly prosecutorial, judicial and prison system and transformation of police force into an accountable and responsive force.

    Four: A well organized Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) is working to fight the challenge of drugs through preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation.

Mr. Chairman

  1. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. It is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism by sharing best practices, reviewing and revising national legislation and making available the required resources to counter all forms of transnational organized crimes. This Office has a central role in promoting universal accession to sectoral conventions on terrorism as well as crime related legal instruments. This role could become even more effective if UNODC takes into account political specificities of States and regions while helping them in improving their legal structures in compliance with their obligations pursuant to these conventions.
  2. In our joint efforts to meet the challenge of transnational organized crime, we need to pay special attention to the emerging trends such as response to urban crime, fiscal misappropriation, identity-related crime, sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and children as well as the illicit trafficking in forest products. To this end, we should provide our fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to enable it to continue and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities against a challenging mandate.

I thank you