Ahead of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Thailand Institute of Justice's (TIJ) first High Level Conference on Sustainable Development, Crime Prevention and Safe Societies for Southeast Asia in Bangkok on Monday, UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov gave an exclusive interview to the <i>Bangkok Post</i> about the challenges facing Thailand and the wider region as a whole.
Global drug networks and transnational criminal gangs are continually shifting and evolving to avoid detection by law enforcement, while economic crises, weak institutions and the vulnerability of the poor are often exploited, Mr Fedotov says.
As a result, the UNODC executive director highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, their connection to the rule of law, specifically Goal 16 -- "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions" -- and their role in helping to prevent crimes and their causes.
"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 16, represents an international consensus and recognition that drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism are serious obstacles to achieving sustainable development, and helping people escape poverty and seize economic opportunities. It also makes clear that the rule of law is both an outcome and enabler of development," he said.
However, it's not just drug-related crime that is on the UNODC's agenda, cybercrime and environmental crime also feature strongly.
"Wildlife and forest crime is another area of serious concern. There used to be 100,000 tigers, but the number has fallen to little more than 3,000. Three out of five rhino species are critically endangered. The illegal killing of elephants is down from its 2011 peak, possibly thanks in part to countries such as Thailand taking stringent measures to prevent trade of African elephant ivory. But we need to do more to protect our natural heritage from the predations of criminals," said Mr Fedotov.
For Thailand and the region, some forms of transnational organised crime are expanding as a result of further Asean integration -- the agreements that allow a faster and freer flow of goods, people and capital across borders are also particularly useful for criminal gangs.
Problems include the expansion of drug production and trafficking out of the Golden Triangle, particularly of synthetic drugs, while the region is both a source and destination for the trafficking of people, timber and wildlife. Accompanying these crimes are increases in money laundering and associated corruption, noted Mr Fedotov.
"Our regional analysts have been reporting year-on-year increases in seizures of high-purity crystal methamphetamine and tablet, or yaba, methamphetamine for six or seven years now. The impact is being felt most acutely on users and communities; but we are also seeing law enforcement and justice authorities being overwhelmed as they try to manage the situation," he said.
"To turn the situation around, our regional office is advising countries and Asean to look at the recommendations of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem -- Ungass. In practical terms, in this region, it means expanding access to health services and treatment for drug users at the community level; and focusing the resources of law enforcement and justice authorities on organised crime engaged in producing and trafficking drugs. There is also a need to stop the movement of precursors and to expand cooperation between governments, both at the borders and among senior officials," he said.
However, he praised Thailand as providing leadership in key global discussions related to justice reform, including in prison reform through the Bangkok Rules for the Treatment of Women Offenders, which Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for Southeast Asia, has personally supported.
In the Asean region, Thailand is partnering with UNODC to help improve cross-border co-operation to address transnational organised crime.
"Thailand is playing an important role in promoting crime prevention and criminal justice to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. A good example of this is the High-Level Conference on Sustainable Development, Crime Prevention and Safe Societies, which I have the honour of opening with Her Royal Highness," said Mr Fedotov, adding that this underlines that security and criminal justice are not separate processes, and are tightly bound to development.
"Importantly, Thailand has also been a strong advocate for providing farmers with sustainable livelihoods away from illicit drug cultivation.
"At the coming Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, I will be taking part in an event organised by Thailand, Germany and Colombia on exchanging experiences beyond borders and supporting alternative development for communities affected by drug cultivation," he added.