Regional Expert Meeting for Eastern Africa “Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa Regional Programme 2009-10”

Nairobi, 02 February 2009 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Eastern Africa, jointly with the Government of Kenya, is organizing a Regional Expert Meeting for thirteen countries in Eastern Africa to discuss the draft document “Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa:  Regional Programme 2009-10”. Thirteen countries have been invited to participate to the Meeting, namely Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda.

The objective of the Regional Programme, elaborated through consultations with national counterparts, is to support the efforts of the Member States to respond to a number of challenges faced by the Eastern Africa region in the areas of illicit trafficking, organized crime, corruption, criminal justice, crime prevention, drug abuse and HIV and AIDS. Thus, the meeting will be focused on substantive discussion of the Programme paving the way for a truly concerted effort to enhance human security and the rule of law in the region.

The meeting will gather a wide range of stakeholders working in the area of human security and rule of law in the region, including technical experts from the countries, and representatives of international organizations and the development partners.

The nature and extent of crime and drug-related issues in Eastern Africa have evolved significantly over the last decade, considering also the developments in the Horn of Africa. Poor governance, insecurity, conflicts, poverty and economic disparities among and within countries of the Eastern Africa region have provided the opportunities for trans-national organized crime, as is evidenced in widespread illicit trafficking in drugs, human beings, arms, wildlife, timber products.

Drug use also poses significant challenges in the region. Cannabis is widely produced and heroin use has been reported in eight countries, most notably Kenya, Tanzania and Mauritius. The latter country has the second highest level of heroin use in the world. Cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and methaqualone (Mandrax) are also trafficked and used in the region, though to a lesser degree than the drugs mentioned above.

Injecting drug use has been reported by the eight countries in which heroin is used. Research in Kenya, Zanzibar and Mauritius has clearly established the connection between injecting drug use and HIV. This situation is particularly worrisome in view of the fact that Eastern Africa remains the region second most affected by HIV in the world.

The meeting will be opened by Hon. Martha Karua, Minister of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, on February 2nd, 2009, in the presence of the UNDP Resident Coordinator, Mr. Aeneas Chuma and Mr. Francis Maertens, UNODC Deputy Executive Director.

The media is invited to attend a press conference on February 2nd, 2009 at 12.30 pm at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club. Members of the panel will include Mr. Francis Maertens, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs  and other experts.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. In the Millennium Declaration, Member States resolved to intensify efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, to redouble the efforts to implement the commitment to counter the world drug problem and to take concerted action against international terrorism.
UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa is located in Nairobi, Kenya and covers a total of 13 countries in the region, i.e. Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.

CONTACT PERSON:

Ms. Ainura Bekkoenova
Information Focal Point
UNODC ROEA, Nairobi
Tel:  +254 20 7623038
Fax: +254 20 7623667