IPU, Alm.del - 2009-10 - Bilag 6: Preliminary draft resolution, First Standing Committee. Report, Second and Third Standing Committee.

The 122ndAssembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,(1)Cognizantof the fact that while globalization fosters many positive advancements,interdependence between States and the opening of borders, it also facilitates transnationalorganized crime, in particular drug trafficking, illegal arms sales, human trafficking, cross-borderterrorism and money laundering, involving an increasing number of stakeholders, actors andagencies and requiring global, regional, subregional and national responses, including theimplementation of related conventions,(2)Awarethat drug trafficking is one of the principal illicit activities worldwide, that itconstitutes a serious threat to the global community, and that, compounded by drug abuse, isnot only harmful to the stability and integrity of the world, but also adversely affects the healthof human beings and social security,(3)Also awarethat trafficking in persons is a modern form of slavery and a humanrights violation affecting men, women, children and adolescents worldwide, that practices,negative attitudes and maltreatment of trafficked victims persist and that the well-being ofthese vulnerable groups is threatened by the global financial and economic downturn and newforms of transnational organized crime,(4)Recognizingthe links between drug trafficking, corruption and other forms oforganized crime, including trafficking in persons, trafficking in firearms, cybercrime and, insome cases, cross-border terrorism and money laundering, including money laundering inconnection with the financing of terrorism,(5)Also recognizingthe significant challenges faced by law enforcement and judicialauthorities in responding to the ever changing means used by transnational criminalorganizations to avoid detection and prosecution,

(6)Appreciatingthe positive roles of the IPU, governments, non-governmentalorganizations and international organizations in joint parliamentary activities to combattransnational organized crime, such as drafting stringent legislative measures, combating theroot causes and financing of terrorism and cross-border terrorism, and implementing theparliamentary measures set forth in the joint IPU-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes(UNODC) Handbook for Parliamentarians onCombating Trafficking in Personsto address theproblem of trafficking in persons,1.Fully affirmsthe strong determination and clear commitment of IPU MemberParliaments to strengthening and harmonizing laws, regulations and additionalmeasures on drugs, pursuing strong regional cooperation to combat drug traffickingwithin the framework of international cooperation with international legalinstruments on drugs, and to enhancing the technical capability of law enforcementand judicial agents;Reaffirmsits unwavering determination and commitment to intensify efforts tocounter the illicit cultivation, production, manufacture, sale, abuse, transit,trafficking and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,especially heroin, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), the diversion ofprecursor chemicals, misuse of pharmaceutical medicines and preparations as wellas drug-related criminal activities, through a balanced, comprehensive andsustainable approach;Agreesto work on forging a drug control partnership on the basis of existingcooperation mechanisms and to pursue mutual understanding, trust, coordinationand support in addressing and solving drug problems;Decidesto intensify joint parliamentary efforts to share best practices andexperiences in combating drug trafficking and developing national laws to complywith universal human rights standards and the rule of law;InvitesIPU Member Parliaments to pursue dialogue and cooperation with a view todeveloping and harmonizing efforts to combat the production, abuse andtrafficking of illicit drugs and counterfeit medicines, noting that enhancedtechnological capabilities enable counterfeiters to produce drugs and packagingthat can barely be distinguished from the original product;InvitesIPU Member Parliaments to support tax exemption, in compliance withWorld Trade Organization rules and regulations, for products from drug-relatedalternative development projects, and for private sector companies that contributeto drug-control activities as incentives to combat the drug menace;EncouragesIPU Member Parliaments to continue their integrated efforts to bettermonitor their arms stockpiles, assess and evaluate their existing legal frameworkagainst international standards, as well as their national capacity and financial andtechnical ability to take action against illegal arms sales;Urgesthe IPU to seriously discuss the harmonization of laws on trafficking inpersons in each country to ensure compatibility and seamless cooperation in orderto combat trafficking in persons;

EncouragesIPU Member Parliaments to be more proactive in combating traffickingin persons by drawing up a comprehensive work plan and laws consistent withinternational standards, which include prevention, protection and assistancemeasures;Calls onIPU Member Parliaments to heighten public awareness and promotecooperation in the fight against trafficking in persons, tackle the root causes of theproblem and enhance awareness by the competent authorities of the need topreserve the human rights of trafficked victims;Calls onthe IPU to provide its Member Parliaments with recommendations andbest practices for the establishment of a special parliamentary committee oncombating trafficking in persons, the appointment of a national rapporteur tomonitor the development and implementation of national measures to combathuman trafficking and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of relevantnational action plans;Calls onIPU Member Parliaments to ensure that all measures taken to combatterrorism are in line with their respective State’s international obligations, inparticular international human rights standards, international refugee law andinternational humanitarian law, specifically as they relate to protection of the rightsof victims of terrorist acts, and to affirm that terrorism cannot and should not beassociated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group;InvitesIPU Member Parliaments to strengthen their respective legal systems inaccordance with the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financingof Terrorism with a view to combating money laundering and financing of terroristactivities and ensure that all measures taken are in line with their respective State’sinternational obligations;Urgesthe IPU to promote international cooperation to combat financial safehavens in the form of extradition agreements, confiscation and forfeiture of assets,social sanctions, mutual legal assistance, democratic reform and good governancein order to combat money laundering;Urgesnational parliaments to adopt clear and strict legislation providing inter aliamore stringent penalties for perpetrators of corruption and individuals who assistnetworks of organized crime;UrgesStates to undertake a thorough evaluation and screening of officials in chargeof public institutions with a view to preventing their involvement in activitiesrelated to transnational organized crime;Recommendsthe establishment of enhanced mechanisms for internationalcooperation, particularly among intelligence services and systems, in the fightagainst organized crime.