The African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E Amira Elfadil, has called for strengthening the strategic and multilateral partnerships as well as increased investment by Members States to comprehensively address the world drug problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commissioner was speaking at a high level event held virtually to launch an ambitious strategic plan to tackle the impact of drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism on the continent over the next decade by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Launch of UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, which is aligned to the African Union Agenda 2063, was attended by Under Secretary General (USG) Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC; USG Hanna Tetteh, Special representative to the African Union and Head of the UN Office to the AU; USG Cristina Duarte, Special Advisor on Africa to the United Nations Secretary General; Mr Mohamed Mezghani, Chairperson of the African Group in Vienna; Government Ministers and representatives of Member States, international and civil society organizations.
“To build the Africa we want, we must move beyond a catalogue of good intentions, and collectively step up responses to cope with the many challenges lurking. This can only be achieved with adequate resources and failure to do so is not an option,” emphasized Commissioner Amira Elfadil.
Africa has, in recent years, transitioned from being a mere transit route for trafficked narcotic drugs to become a major consuming region. As large quantities of drugs pass through the continent, both local consumption and also production have been rising. This has resulted in an increase in the number of people with drug use disorders and huge unmet treatment demand which requires workforce development in handling addictions.
There is also a growing nexus between drugs and organized crime including complex and shifting networks of insurgency, local and regional politics including corruption and terrorism. Lately, criminal syndicates have taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to target the continent with production and trafficking of substandard, falsified medicines and health products. This has presented major challenges not only to Africa’s fragile health care systems but also to the overall social, economic and security milieu.
The African Union has been working with its Member States and international partners including UNODC in the areas of drug supply reduction (law enforcement and Interdiction) as well as drug demand reduction (drug use disorders prevention, treatment and care). The AU is currently implementing its fifth strategic framework to guide drug policy development on the continent - the AU Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2023) - whose fundamental goal is to improve health, security and socio-economic well-being of people of Africa by reducing illicit drug use, trafficking and associated crimes.
Commissioner Amira Elfadil underlined the commitment of the African Union to prioritize sustainable development efforts by addressing pervasive poverty, social exclusion and discrimination thereby providing enabled conditions for gaining licit and sustainable livelihoods and would strengthen collaboration with UNODC.
UNODC’s strategic framework, to which the AU contributed through technical inputs, outlines investment around five areas namely: Securing the safety of people from organised crime, terrorism and violence; Promoting people’s health through balanced drug control; Making criminal justice systems more effective and accountable; Safeguarding people and institutions from corruption and economic crime; and Protecting Africa’s resources and livelihoods.
Commissioner Amira Elfadil noted that all the articulated investment areas were at the core of the African Union’s work with various continental actions plans in diversified thematic areas including: peace and security; drug control and crime prevention; trade and industry; labour, employment and migration; women and children; and agriculture to mention but a few.
“We are a continent with latent potential. This is the time to strengthen our cooperation. The African Union is committed to providing political leadership needed to push forward the agenda for the health, security and socio-economic well-being of people in Africa by addressing drug use, trafficking and other associated crimes,” concluded Commissioner Amira Elfadil.
In her preface for the Strategic Vision, Ms Ghada Waly, said UNODC took immense pride in cooperation with partners in Africa, to develop capacities to better prevent and respond to challenges posed by drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism, towards peace, security and prosperity.
“I have a proud, unshakable belief in Africa’s people and the unique partnership that UNODC enjoys with Africa. Working together, we can take real steps towards prosperity and development, for the Africa we want, and the one that Africa’s people deserve” noted the UNODC Director General.
For further information contact
1. Dr Jane Marie Ong’olo | Department of Social Affairs | African Union Commission | Email: OngoloJM@africa-union.org
2. Dr Abel Basutu | Department of Social Affairs | African Union Commission | Email: BasutuA@africa-union.org
For further media inquiries, please contact:
1. Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Mobile: +251911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
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