UNIS/NAR/870
26 November 2004
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Assists Afghanistan in Drafting Laws against Crime and Terrorism
VIENNA, 26 November, (UN Information Service) -- In response to a request from Afghan authorities, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted a legislative drafting workshop for Afghan experts from 22 to 24 November 2004. Afghanistan had initially requested assistance in drafting legislation against terrorism and transnational organized crime during a UNODC mission to Kabul in June 2004. This three-day workshop in Vienna provided an opportunity to examine the draft prepared by the Afghan delegation, drawing on UNODC’s recommendations.
During several intensive working sessions, experts from Afghanistan’s Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Finance exchanged views with UNODC experts on how to incorporate the legal requirements emanating from the twelve international instruments against terrorism, the relevant Security Council resolutions and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols.
The legislative drafting workshop resulted in a “Plan of Action on the legislative implementation of the twelve counter-terrorism instruments and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime”, in which both Afghan authorities and UNODC committed themselves to further legislative action within specific timelines, and the provision of further assistance.
The Afghan participants also agreed that the recommendations made by UNODC would be included in a draft counter-terrorism law, currently being elaborated by the Afghan authorities. Similarly, the amendment proposals on transnational organized crime would be included in the existing penal legislation of Afghanistan, either by inclusion into existing laws such as the Penal Code or by way of drafting new laws.
Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, discussed the interrelation between corruption, drugs, organized crime and terrorism with the Afghanistan delegation. He placed the problem of terrorism and transnational organized crime in the wider context of the political and economic situation of Afghanistan.
Just over one year ago, Afghanistan was a party to only 3 of 12 universal anti-terrorism conventions. Today, Afghanistan is party to 11, with the exception of the Protocol against violence at airports. Afghanistan is also a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The Afghan delegation informed that the ratifications of the remaining Protocols were under consideration.
For more information, please contact
Walter Gehr (+ 43 1 26060 4512)
and/or
Admirela Ancion (+ 43 1 26060 4130).
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