Terms f Reference Cmmissin n the Impact f Drug Trafficking n Gvernance, Security, and Develpment in West Africa 1. Backgrund 1.1. In recent years, the trans-shipment f illicit narctics frm Latin America thrugh West Africa t Eurpe and Nrth America has increased significantly. Organized crime syndicates are nw perating in West Africa t ensure safe passage f their drug cargs thrugh the regin. At the same time, drug cnsumptin in the regin bth f lcally prduced prducts and trafficked imprts, ntably ccaine, have increased substantially. 1.2. These develpments pse a serius threat t the peace and stability f West Africa, which is emerging frm decades f vilent strife. As the African Unin bserved, drug prfits are distrting ecnmies f many African cuntries and in sme f the prest states, the value f trafficked drugs exceeds the cuntry s grss natinal incme. Cuntries have als brne the brunt f negative health cnsequences and csts assciated with fighting drugrelated crime. 1 The UN Office n Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the drug trade thrugh West Africa alne is nw wrth $800 millin a year. 1.3. In light f these develpments, n April 18-20, the Kfi Annan Fundatin, in partnership with the Centre n Internatinal Cperatin at New Yrk University (NYU), the Kfi Annan Internatinal Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPKTC), and the Intergvernmental Grup Against Mney Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), with the supprt f the Open Sciety Fundatin (OSF), rganised a wrkshp in Dakar, Senegal, t analyse the Impact f Organised Crime and Drug Trafficking n Gvernance, Security and Develpment in West Africa. 1.4. The wrkshp nted that varius initiatives have been undertaken aimed at curbing the inflw and diffusin f illicit drugs in Africa. In 2007, the African Unin develped a regin-wide plicy n drug cntrl with a crrespnding actin plan. In Octber 2012, the AU plicy and plan was the subject f review by the Cnference f African Ministers n Drug Cntrl. While nting sme successes, the AU Cmmissin als identified serius capacity cnstraints that had inhibited the full implementatin f the actin plan and stated that it was nt sufficiently results based. The plan has nw been revised and updated and awaits endrsement by the regin s heads f state and gvernment. 1.5. In 2008, the Ecnmic Cmmunity f West African States (ECOWAS), in cllabratin with UNODC, drafted the Praia Plan f Actin and a plitical declaratin against illicit drug trafficking. The Actin Plan and the Declaratin were later endrsed by ECOWAS Heads f State. Subsequently, the Praia Declaratin n Electins and Stability included a prvisin n preventing the financing f plitical parties and their campaigns by 1 AU Plan f Actin n Drug Cntrl (2013-2017). CAMDC/EXP/2(V) Page 1
criminal netwrks, particularly drug trafficking netwrks. 1.6. Despite these imprtant initiatives, participants at the wrkshp arrived at a cnsensus n the need fr a reginally-led independent, high-level bdy r grup f champins t strengthen and intensify the n-ging wrk f reginal and natinal actrs n drug trafficking and related issues in West Africa. This grup, in the frm f a high level cmmissin, wuld aim t mbilize public pinin and catalyse plitical supprt fr further actin at natinal, reginal and internatinal levels befre drug fuelled prblems becme ttally unmanageable. At the same time, the Cmmissin will review the impact f increasing levels f drug cnsumptin in West Africa and hw current plicies and practices can be changed t deal with dependency in a manner that reduces harm and discurages a custdial respnse t dependency. 1.7. Recent events in the Sahel regin have reinfrced the cncerns expressed at the Dakar wrkshp. The apparent cnvergence f drug traffickers, arms traders and armed extremist grups, if left unchecked, culd destabilize the regin. This makes the design and implementatin f preventive measures, based n slid analysis and assessment, all the mre urgent. 2. Purpse f the Cmmissin 2.1. The Cmmissin will have three basic bjectives: i. Mbilizing public awareness and plitical cmmitment: - The Cmmissin will examine ways and means t enhance the plitical pririty accrded t drug trafficking and its impact n West Africa. It will undertake a campaign t raise awareness f the drug trafficking prblem and its ramificatins, including fr gvernance and public health. It will als seek t infrm and advise plitical leaders and the general public n effective and humane ways t tackle dependency withut resrt t incarceratin r criminalisatin f users. ii. Develping evidence based plicy recmmendatins: - In rder t fully understand the scale and impact f trafficking and grwing drug cnsumptin, and t be able t make evidence based plicy recmmendatins, the Cmmissin will use available data and analysis, which will be cmpiled int a series f backgrund papers t help shape the directin f the Cmmissin s wrk prgramme. New research wrk wuld nly be initiated if gaps are clearly apparent in the currently available infrmatin. The Cmmissin s wrk will fcus, inter-alia, n the fllwing themes as a basis fr plicy discussin and fllw-up: Drug Trafficking and its impact n Gvernance in West Africa Drug Trafficking and threats t Natinal Security in West Africa Preventin and Treatment f Drug Dependency in West Africa Page 2
iii. Develping lcal and reginal capacities and wnership - The Cmmissin will seek t establish the pririty areas fr actin, and identify the apprpriate change agents within the regin and the capacity supprt that will be needed t effect change; - The Cmmissin will facilitate the develpment f netwrks f relevant actrs in the regin, fr example, by bringing tgether varius research institutes, universities, individuals and think tanks t develp and undertake peer reviews fr the Cmmissin; - In all its actins, the Cmmissin will seek t prmte reginal wnership, engage with existing initiatives and build n and supprt the valuable wrk f reginal and ther partners, including the AU, ECOWAS, UNODC, and the United Natins Office fr West Africa (UNOWA) 3. Cmpsitin f the Cmmissin i. The Cmmissin - The Cmmissin will cmprise up t 12 individuals, reflecting the diverse and multi-layered nature f West African sciety and institutins. These sectrs include, but are nt limited t plitical life, civil sciety, health, security and law enfrcement, and the judiciary. It will als be necessary t secure the invlvement f individuals with a slid understanding f, and backgrund in, illicit financial flws and their impact n the wider ecnmy; - One f the members will serve as Chairpersn; - The Cmmissin will als include ppular figures t facilitate greater interest and engagement amng yung peple; - The Cmmissin will aim t achieve a gender balance in its membership and a mix f English, French and Prtuguese speaking members. ii. Review - The Cmmissin will have access t individuals with knwledge and experience in dealing with drug plicy issues at a high plitical level in ther parts f the wrld. They wuld be available t share their experiences and lessns learned with the Cmmissin as the wrk prgresses. - Technical and civil sciety experts will be n call t review specific reprts, studies and recmmendatins prepared fr the Cmmissin as needed. - Mst f the wrk f the Review Grup will be dne by electrnic exchange but at least ne r tw meetings f the Grup will be arranged at a suitable mment in the calendar f the Cmmissin. Page 3
iii. Supprt - The Cmmissin will receive supprt fr: Organising meetings f the Cmmissin, and events t launch and reprts/findings f the Cmmissin; Liaisn amng Cmmissin members, with partner rganizatins and civil sciety; Cmmunicatins and media/utreach; Prductin f Cmmissin reprts r studies. 4. Outline f the Prgramme f Wrk 4.1. The prgramme f wrk will extend ver twenty mnths: Preparatry phase fcussing n: The identificatin f Cmmissin Members and establishment f the Cmmissin; Identificatin f supprt requirements fr the Cmmissin; Cmpilatin f backgrund papers fr the meetings f the Cmmissin. Implementatin phase, which will fcus n: Review f backgrund infrmatin and inter-actin with plitical and security actrs, drug plicy experts, and civil sciety partners as a basis fr develping the Cmmissin s findings and recmmendatins; Three frmal meetings f the Cmmissin, plus assciated meetings with stakehlders and experts as may be needed; Preparatin, prductin, launch and disseminatin f reprts f the Cmmissin; Advcacy phase: public advcacy and discussin acrss the regin based n the findings and recmmendatins f the Cmmissin. 5. Prvisinal Timeline 5.1 The prvisinal timeline, which may need t be adjusted with experience, is established as fllws: Preparatry phase: Nvember December 2012 Cmpletin f Terms f Reference fr the Cmmissin; Selectin f Cmmissin members; Identificatin f supprt requirements; Preparatins fr the first meeting f the Cmmissin. Page 4
Implementatin phase: January - December 2013 - January 2013: Inaugural Meeting f the Cmmissin Cmmissin Members meet t review and endrse Prgramme f Wrk, - June 2013: Secnd Meeting f Cmmissin Mid-pint stck-taking f prgramme f wrk Meeting with Review grup - December 2013: Final Meeting f Cmmissin Launch f Reprt Decisin n next steps regarding public discussin and advcacy activities. Advcacy and Disseminatin Phase: January June 2014 - January June 2014 Dialgue and Advcacy by Cmmissin members thrughut West Africa with plitical and nn-gvernmental actrs and the general public. 6. Outcmes Expected Outcmes Greater awareness by gvernments and sciety at large n the dangers psed by drug trafficking and rganized crime. Vulnerability f West Africa t threats psed by drug trafficking is reduced. Indicatrs Increased and prminent plitical and public discussin, and media cverage, f drug and related threats within and utside the regin. Adptin and implementatin f preventive strategies at natinal and reginal level that identity and deal with threats frm drug trafficking. Page 5
Cuntry and reginal strategies and plicies n dependency are strengthened t reflect a preventive and harm reductin apprach. Reductin in incarceratins fr dependency and increase in use f harm reductin and therapeutic practices in dealing with dependency. 31.10.12 Page 6