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Regional Workshop to Enhance Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation on the Balkan Drug Routes

Description

The aim of this workshop, jointly organised by the SPMU and the UNODC, was to examine the difficulties in co-operation and to identify remedial action against them. The workshop will also address the need for effective co-ordination of national criminal justice systems with a particular emphasis on the operational links between prosecutors and the police and issues connected to corruption.

Summary

This workshop was organised in response to PC Decision No. 758 which tasked the Secretary General and relevant OSCE Institutions with providing the participating States, upon their request and in close consultation with the UNODC, assistance/advice on anti-drug issues, inter alia, through awareness raising activities, the organisation of regional workshops and facilitation of training.

PC Decision No. 758 calls upon the participating States to further strengthen their efforts towards suppressing the threat of illicit drug, including through international co-operation and co-ordination between their respective drug enforcement authorities. The Decision also encourages participating States to make full use of international legal conventions through, inter alia, mutual legal assistance and extradition of drug criminals, where appropriate.

UNODC Legal Advisory Group has identified aspects of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and Legal Co-operation which require improvement in countries affected by the Afghan drug routes. Experts from UNODC, ODIHR, and appropriate representatives from the Eastern European States focused on international conventions and treaties, national legislation, links between prosecutors and the police, anti-corruption and legal instruments and operational case studies.