FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY
E/CN.7/1997/PC/CRP.10
1 December 1997
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS ACTING AS PREPARATORY BODY FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEVOTED TO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT PRODUCTION, SALE, DEMAND, TRAFFIC AND DISTRIBUTION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Third informal open-ended inter-sessional meeting
Vienna, 5 December 1997
Item 2 of the provisional agenda*

ERADICATION OF ILLICIT NARCOTIC CROPS
AND PROMOTION OF ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

Draft non-paper on Alternative Development

PROPOSAL BY THE EUROPEAN UNION**

*E/CN.7/1997/P8.
**This document has not been edited
V.97-28719

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Resolution on Alternative Development

Recalling that in accordance with Article 14.2 of the Vienna Convention of 1988, each party shall take appropriate measures to prevent illicit cultivation of plants containing narcotic and psychotropic substances, such as ..., cultivated illicitly in its territory;

Other preambular paragraphs ...

1. Defines alternative development as a gradual process to prevent and eliminate the illicit cultivation and processing of plants containing narcotic and psychotropic substances through specifically designed rural development measures in the context of sustainable national economic growth in countries taking action against drugs.

2. Urges all States to implement Article 14 of the UN Convention Against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 with special emphasis on the following aspects:

1. Alternative development is an important component, among others, of balanced and comprehensive drug control strategy. It is intended to create a supportive environment for the Implementation of that strategy.
2. Alternative development is primarily the responsibility of the country where illicit drug cultivation takes place.
3. The sustainability of supply reduction is a most important assessment criterion of alternative development. In cases of peasant low income production structures, alternative development is more sustainable and socially and economically more acceptable than forced eradication.
4. Alternative development programmes should include appropriate demand reduction measures.
5. In order to ensure that alternative development is sustainable, participatory approaches based on dialogue and persuasion and which, include the community as a whole should be applied in the identification, preparation implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the alternative development. Local communities and public authorities should commit themselves by a community-based agreement to gradually reduce and finally eliminate all illicit crops.
6. Alternative development programmes should be adapted to the specific legal, social, economic, ecological and cultural conditions;. present in a given project region.
7. Alternative development programmes, as well as measures taken to address the drug problem, have to respect human rights standards.
8. Alternative development programmes should incorporate the gender dimension by enabling women and men to participate equally in the development process.

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1. Alternative development programmes must be undertaken within the broader framework of sustainable development efforts, and thus take account of environmental impacts and social sustainability.

2. Alternative development programmes should contribute to the promotion of democratic values to encourage community participation, and should further social responsibility to develop a civic culture of the rejection of the illicit cultivation of crops.

3. Invites national governments to take appropriate measures tn accordance with Article 14 of the 1988 Convention, to develop and implement national plans for alternative development creating appropriate institutions, as well as a suitable legal, economic and social framework. Governments in the producing areas should also design efficient and credible monitoring and verification mechanisms, based on commonly agreed goals and objectives, as a key element in guaranteeing the sustainability of eradication.

4. Appeals to international donors to assist producer countries in the task of alternative development by providing adequate financial and technical assistance. This assistance should be linked to national commitment and strong political will of producer countries to implement the obligations from Article 14 of the 1988 Convention.

5. Underlines that law enforcement measures are required as a necessary complement to alternative development programmes to tackle either illicit activities such as laboratories, precursors, trafficking, money laundering and related organized crime, both in areas where alternative development programmes are implemented and in surrounding areas. Law enforcement measures are also required against persistent illicit cultivation of narcotic crop in areas where viable alternative sources of income already exist.

6. Stresses that as long as alternative income is not available in areas where alternative development programmes are implemented, the success of such programmes may be seriously endangered if forced crop eradication measures are applied in the same areas at the same time.

7. Believes that the success of alternative development programmes depends on long term financial and political commitment of both the donor community and governments of affected countries, consistent integrated rural development, effective enforcement of drug control measures and awareness among the local population of the negative consequences of drug abuse

8. Considers that alternative development programmes should only he designed for areas that have the necessary potential for adequate drug control.