Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 322 B2 . Australia’s regional efforts Customs World Customs Organisation (WCO) Australian Customs contributes to World Customs Organisation (WCO) initiatives to counter the illegal traffic in narcotics . Information is shared with the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific, currently based in Beijing . Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Australia is an active Member of the OCO and works very closely with the OCO Secretariat . Australia is a member of the current advisory committee and is contributing to the development of the Regional Trade Facilitation Program, funded by AusAID and NZAID . As a member of the OCO, Australia delivers capacity-building assistance to fellow members as necessary and able . Bilateral agreements Australian Customs has taken a strong role in promoting cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the Pacific region . This cooperation encompasses the range of Customs activities including those relating to narcotics . In many cases this cooperation is encompassed in a bilateral agreement or a memorandum of understanding . Australian Customs has longstanding agreements in place with its counterpart agency in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Korea and Papua New Guinea . More recently agreements have been signed with: Indonesia (March 2003), Japan (June 2003), Fiji (October 2003), Thailand (December 2003) and China (April 2004) . Overseas posts Customs has senior Australian representatives in six locations — Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Jakarta, Tokyo and Washington . Their duties include representing Customs at a wide range of narcotic-related meetings, seminars, conferences and working groups . Project PRISM (Precursors Required for Illicit Synthetic Manufacture) In recognition of the international nature of the diversion of precursor chemicals for illicit drug manufacture, Australia is participating in the International Narcotics Control Board’s Project PRISM . Customs was recently appointed as the Central National Authority (CNA) for Australia’s involvement in Project PRISM . The aim of Project PRISM is to prevent the diversion of amphetamine-type substance (ATS) precursors into illicit drug manufacture . As the CNA, Customs acts as the single contact point for domestic and international agencies in relation to Project PRISM requests and activities in Australia . Customs has also recently joined the Project PRISM Task Force, the central governing body of Project PRISM, as the regional focal point for Oceania . CAPERS Customs also works to foster international initiatives with narcotic-related applications . For example, Customs co-sponsors the Customs Asia Pacific Enforcement Reporting System (CAPERS), an internet-based secure communication platform . Joint cross-border patrols Australian Customs vessels have continued to support joint cross-border patrols by law enforcement officials from Australia and Papua New Guinea . The extended patrols visit remote coastal villages and island communities in the Torres Strait and the Western Province region of Papua New Guinea . AusAID Leadership role Australia has taken a leadership role in the Asia–Pacific region on HIV/AIDS, which has been recognised by the Development Assistance Committee and Executive Directors of the Global Fund and UNAIDS . Australia’s programs in the Asia–Pacific region draw on Australian expertise to work in countries with increasing HIV prevalence rates such as Papua New Guinea ($60 million over five years) and Indonesia ($35 million over five years) . While recognising the significant need to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa and other regions, Australia is a key donor in the Asia– Pacific region and gives priority to helping our closest neighbours . The link between IDUs and HIV/AIDS and AusAID’s HIV/AIDS strategy The efficiency with which injecting drug use can transmit HIV means that it has emerged as a principal driving force for the epidemic across much of Asia . At least 50 per cent of IDUs in Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam and Malaysia were estimated to be HIV positive in 2001 . In response to the strong link between injecting drug use and HIV transmission throughout much of Asia, a greater focus on tackling issues around the harm associated with injecting drug use will be required . Without a focus on HIV transmission between and from IDUs, the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS interventions within Asia will be limited and epidemics will continue to spread into the general population . AusAID launched Australia’s ‘International HIV/AIDS Strategy: Meeting the Challenge’ in July 2004 . One of the five priorities identified within the strategy for HIV/AIDS programs within Australia’s development cooperation program is ‘Addressing HIV Transmission Associated with Injecting Drug Use’ . The Strategy states that: AusAID will increase the emphasis on minimising the harm associated with injecting drug use . This will include access to clean needles and syringes and their safe disposal, effective drug treatment programs, peeroutreach and education programs that include targeted social marketing of condoms . It will also include access to voluntary counselling and testing for IDUs . AusAID will focus on expanding programs and facilitating their integration at the national level . Prisons are an important area for implementation of HIV/AIDS initiatives . A very high proportion of custodial sentences within Asia are drug-related and there is an undoubtedly strong link between drug use, prisons and HIV/AIDS . International research shows that 50–75 per cent of prisoners have injected drugs before entering prison and as many as 25–50 per cent continue to inject within prison . Restricted access to injecting equipment increases the frequency of sharing and the risk of HIV transmission . AusAID will therefore include prisons in harm reduction initiatives, where applicable . 323 Appendix B: Regional aid projects, in full
Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 324 Issues of drug use and HIV/AIDS usually overlap multiple sectors, including health and law and order . AusAID programs will therefore seek commitment from and to coordinate efforts with the appropriate ministries and agencies . Advocacy to gain acceptance of these strategies by policy makers remains a major priority . In Vietnam, Australia is building institutional capacity in the law enforcement and health sectors to raise their awareness and capacity in relation to effective strategies to prevent HIV transmission among and from IDUs; and to build collaborative linkages between law enforcement and health authorities so that both sectors work together to develop a supportive policy environment for effective future interventions . AusAID programs addressing HIV/AIDS associated with injecting drug use will be aligned, where possible, with wider national drug control policies and recognise the role of existing demand and supply reduction and other strategies . Global Fund Australia continues to actively engage with the Global Fund at both the headquarters and country level . Australia works closely with the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanisms in our region, taking an active part in helping the Global Fund achieve the best possible results in the Asia–Pacific region . Leadership statement Australia is pleased to note that the recent Leadership Statement on Injecting Drug Use, endorsed by nations at the International AIDS Conference, held in Thailand in July 2004, recognised that ‘HIV/AIDS epidemics among injecting drug users can be prevented, stabilised and even reversed by timely and vigorous harm reduction strategies’ . Asia Pacific Leadership Forum The Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development (APLF) is a strategy aimed at engaging political and civil society leadership to reduce the spread and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Asia–Pacific region . The APLF seeks to achieve this goal by increasing political leadership for effective national and regional action against the epidemic . The APLF provides decision makers and leaders in the region with opportunities to learn and apply strategies for extra-ordinary responses that have high-level political support . Australia views the APLF as an important mechanism to promote high-level leadership for effective regional and national action on HIV/AIDS . Our recent announcement at the Second Asia–Pacific Ministerial Meeting of a new three-year $3 million commitment to the APLF reflects the importance Australia attaches to this strategy . UNAIDS’ Three Ones Principles Australia endorsed the Three Ones Principles at a meeting of donors on 24 April 2004 . The principles aim to speed up action and make efficient and effective use of resources at the country level through strengthened coordination and partnerships . The Three Ones are: One agreed HIV/AIDS Action Framework that drives alignment of all partners . One national AIDS authority, with a broadbased multisectoral mandate . One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system . Major current AusAID-funded programs Asia Regional Program Current activities totalling $11 million focus on vulnerable mobile populations and on reducing HIV transmission through injecting drug use . Further activities estimated at $12 million for support to high-level advocacy, associated national activities and UN HIV-related task forces are under consideration . The regional $2 million drugs initiative will help support measures to reduce HIV transmission through drug use . Indonesia The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Program totals $34 million over five years . It aims to build capacity to respond to the dual epidemics in Indonesia, one through injecting drug use and another through heterosexual transmission . World Health Organization Scaling-up HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention among Injecting Drug Users in the Asian Region project, totalling approximately $500,000 per year . Engagement with UNODC The Asia–Pacific region is an area affected both by the production of illicit drugs and, increasingly, by the consumption of illicit drugs . In particular, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are emerging as areas of growing consumption . With the incidence of HIV/ AIDS on the rise, and the increasing evidence that HIV/AIDS is linked to injecting drug use, we need to ensure that attention is being focused on these regions . The Australian Government has consistently taken a strong stand against the abuse of illegal narcotics and recognises the importance of effective international cooperation to combat this global challenge . Australia is committed to support UNODC as a critical partner in the global fight against illicit drugs and would welcome an increased focus by the UNODC on issues concerning illicit drugs in the Asia–Pacific region . In particular, the Mekong area is the second largest producer of opium in the world and many communities that grow opium are struggling day to day to meet their basic needs . Australia is also particularly keen for UNODC to focus discussions on amphetaminetype substances (ATS) — their production, consumption and trafficking . ATS is of particular concern for the Asia–Pacific region: The 2004 International Narcotics Control Board report notes that while the Greater Mekong Region has had substantial success in reducing opium and heroin production, it is now becoming a major producer of ATS and that there has been a rapid growth in illicit drug consumption in the region . The consumption of ATS, specifically ATS and injecting drug users, is also a concern in the region with regard to the spread of HIV/AIDS . To ensure that the international community is able to provide the best advice in their policies and programs, Australia strongly encourages UNODC to better evaluate each of its activities and draw on lessons learned . 325 Appendix B: Regional aid projects, in full
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Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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