National Information-AnalyticalPress release on the 20th anniversary of founding the State Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan on drug control
06/27/2014
The problem of illicit drug trafficking continues to remain one of the most topical and actual in the world.
Availability of sufficiently developed cross-border and transcontinental railroads, highways and aviation, which is linking Central Asia with the CIS countries, favors to use the territory of the countries of the region as a "transit corridor" for drug transportation. At the same time, a part of the drugs remain in the region, that in turn leads to public involvement in criminal activities related to drug trafficking, escalation of a criminogenic and drug related situations.
Since the independence, Uzbekistan has made valuable efforts and concrete steps to prevent illicit drug trafficking.
In February 1995, the Parlament of Uzbekistan “Oliy Majlis” adopted a resolution of the joining Republic of Uzbekistan to the UN Conventions on drug control 1961, 1971 and 1988.
In order to ensure the complex adequate response for drug elimination in the republic, the State Commission of Uzbekistan on drug control was organized in April 1994 and established as an interagency Authority responsible for leading and implementing the state policy and strategy in the field of drug control.
In 1996 as an executive body of the State Commission was established National information analytical center on drug control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Coordination of activities on preventing illicit drug trafficking in the provinces was assigned to regional commissions on drug control with similar functions and tasks as of the State Commission.
Special units of preventing illicit drug trafficking were formed in the structures of all law enforcement agencies. Government is constantly take measures for increasing the human, technical and material potential of these units.
The National dog training center in Tashkent was created on the basis of the State Customs Committee for providing preparation and training of cytologist specialists, as well as service-search dogs based on advanced technologies.
Special departments on preventing illicit drugs trafficking and smuggling counteractions operates at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Higher military customs institute for training the specialists in this field.
At the same time, were established the special Committee on legal drug control under the Ministry of Health and Forensic laboratory under the Ministry of Justice.
The national Law "On narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances" was adopted in August 1999, at the XV session of “Oliy Majlis”.
According to the mentioned Law, nearly the whole legal system in this sphere was completely updated.
The long-term Program of comprehensive measures of preventing drug abuse and illicit trafficking was approved due to the Resolution of the State Commission.
Within the programs the measures for further strengthen of material-technical and human capacities of law enforcement agencies were properly implemented, modernization and development of narcological system service, enhancing international cooperation on prevention of illicit drug trafficking, carried out purposeful policy for prevention of drug addiction.
Currently, the Program of complex measures to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking for 2011-2015 years is executed.
The material and technical status of several objects of narcological service in the country was improved. For example, organized the Republican Narcological Center, other narcological dispensaries were built or reconstructed in Tashkent, Kokand, Samarkand region, and Khorezm region. All of them were equipped with necessary stock and facilities.
The posts of psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and social workers are entered into activity of narcological organizations.
The Center for situation monitoring in the sphere of psychoactive agents abuse was established in the structure of Ministry of Health and equipped with relevant facilities. Its tasks include collecting, accumulation and analysis of relevant information.
In penal system the rehabilitation center for the drug-addicted persons serving sentence for crimes commitment was also established.
Border customs offices were equipped with stationary and mobile scanning units, other inspection equipment to prevent smuggling of prohibited goods, including drugs. At all border customs and road patrol offices dog handlers were included as staff members.
The system of trainers’ preparation in educational institutes was also introduced for organization of prophylactic work. Trainers are sel ected among the teachers of professional qualification development Institutes.
The system of licensing of objects and venues where the activity related to drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors was organized and covered all the territory of the country.
Information and analytical system (database) on drug trafficking was created and has been operating by the National information analytical center on drug control. It allows building forecasts, and preventing further crimes commitments.
For the purpose of informing the public about the consequences of drug use and promotion of healthy lifestyle in the country media campaigns were organized.
Under the auspices of the State Commission certain work is carried out on the development of cooperation with foreign states and international organizations to prevent illicit drug trafficking.
The activity is done within the framework of the signed agreements and memorandums of understanding in the field of illicit drug trafficking prevention, both on bilateral and multilateral basis (more than 30 documents were signed).
Multilateral cooperation is realized within the ShaghaiCO, CIS, CARICC and etc.
With the help of the State Commission some law enforcement agencies in the country received material and technical assistance from the governments of European countries, the United States of America, and others with total amount of 30 million US dollars.
Within the international projects more than 3 thousand national experts had an opportunity to participate in foreign trainings.
As a result of these measures certain positive results were reached.
Drug production resource base in the country was almost eliminated. For example, if in 1994, law enforcement authorities identified and destroyed drug crops on the area of 450 hectares, in 2013 this figure decreased to 1.04 hectares, and the number of drug-related crimes decreased from 10 709 to 7680.
During 1994-2013 184.4 thousand drug-related crimes were found and over 66.5 tons of drugs seized from illicit trafficking.
A positive dynamics of key epidemiological indicators are performed in the field of drug prevention and treatment.
The number of the drug addicts consisting on the dispensary account during 2001-2013 was reduced from 18 087 to 16 045 persons, and the incidence of drug abuse decreased from 25.3 to 4.0 per 100 thousand population.
The share of injecting drug users among the recorded cases of HIV infection decreased fr om 73% to 9.7%.
Noting the 20th anniversary of the State Commission foundation, we can say with certainty that the chosed anti-drug strategy, as a part of the national policy on crime reduction, improvement of economic and social development, and in general, people's welfare, will continue in the future.
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