This is a picture of a beautiful flower.
Ehsan Hosseinzadeh

One of the joint programs between the United Nations and Iran in the fight against drugs is the joint program of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with Iran. This is the most important project of the office in the field of drug control and the related disorders in Iran. This program has been implemented from 2015 to 2019 and is a priority for the United Nations in combating crimes and disorders related to drugs in Iran.

The cooperation program consists of four sub-programs and an interdepartmental section.

Subprogram 1:

“Management of borders and illegal trafficking has been developed in order to strengthen capacities for preventing the transfer of drugs and precursor chemicals, as well as regional and international cooperation (trilateral initiative). The main objective of this program is to support the fight against drug trafficking and the smuggling of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan.”

Subprogram Two

Crime, corruption, and criminal justice are measures designed to help promote efficiency in preventing crimes, policies and procedures of criminal justice, as well as joining and implementing international tools to combat crime and terrorism (including conventions against corruption and organized crime). This sub-program aims to strengthen national capacities to combat crime and terrorism by providing technical and professional legal support to relevant national organizations.

Subprogram three:

The reduction of demand for drugs and care for HIV in support of national efforts for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of drug users, reducing harm and supporting vulnerable populations and environments has been formulated. This sub-program will strengthen the networks and capacities of non-governmental organizations in the field of reducing drug demand and prevention, treatment and care for HIV, and combating discrimination.

Subprogram Four

Alternative livelihoods and sustainable development have been designed to support alternative livelihood and sustainable development programs in targeted areas adjacent to the common borders with Afghanistan. This is achieved through creating employment opportunities for local communities, establishing free economic and trade zones, and implementing small-scale economic projects and workshops.

But we must see to what extent each of these four subprograms has been achieved.

Level of Achievement of Subprogram One:

Iran is located on one of the main routes for transit of drugs to Europe and the Persian Gulf. Considering its proximity to Afghanistan – one of the largest producers of opium in the world – and its border with Pakistan, it has become one of the largest countries with a transit route for drugs. According to the 2014 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and reports from the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, 74% of global opium seizures, 25% of global heroin and morphine seizures, and 7% of global cannabis seizures occur in Iran.

Furthermore, considering that Iran is the main transit country for drugs such as heroin, it can be said that this subprogram has a long way to go before achieving its goal, as the lack of appropriate technology for detecting drugs is one of the major reasons for weakness in this area.

Check Subprogram 2:

The Islamic Republic is a party to all four major international treaties in the field of drugs and psychotropic substances, namely the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, the Amended Protocol to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1972, and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. However, it is still not a party to the following treaties, which will certainly face difficulties in achieving the goals of this sub-program:

• The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000.

• The Protocol for Prevention, Prohibition and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, 2000.

• The Protocol for Combating Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air in 2000.

• The Protocol for Combating Illegal Production and Trafficking of Weapons, Components, and Ammunition.

• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Persons Protected under International Law 1973

• The International Convention against the Taking of Hostages 1979

• 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf

• Convention on Marking of Plastic Explosive Materials for Inspection 1991

• The International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings 1997

• International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 1999

• The International Convention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism 2005.

Level of achievement of Subprogram 3:

In the absence of the implementation of this subprogram, just one quote from one of the authorities fighting against drugs is enough to say that more than 90% of addicts return to drug use after quitting.

According to this report and the reasoning of this governmental authority, which is also logical, the process of quitting addiction is not a three or six month process, but rather a process that can continue for years, and requires long-term programs and ongoing social support to maintain sobriety and keep an addict clean; something that we do not see in Iran at all.

Fourth subprogram achievement level:

This sub-program is dedicated to creating employment and developing regional areas that are transit points for drugs. We know that many drug traffickers engage in this illegal activity due to lack of job opportunities. The province of Sistan and Baluchestan, which is a major transit point for drugs from Afghanistan to Europe, does not have a suitable employment situation. This province is among the top three provinces with the highest unemployment rate in Iran (4), and when we add the crisis of water and agriculture to this issue, we see that the unemployment rate in this province is not 20%, as reported by the government, but over 60%, making it the most important factor in the growth of drug trafficking in this province.

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Financial support, the most important issue of projects.

It is interesting to note that only in the year 2015, various countries have provided significant financial resources to combat drugs and to implement the 4 phases of this joint program in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Under sub-program number one (i.e. illegal trafficking and border management), Germany and Japan have contributed a total of $361,800 to the program. Under sub-program number two (i.e. reducing drug demand and controlling HIV), Norway has provided $185,100 to Iran. Under sub-program number three (i.e. crimes, criminal justice, and corruption), Norway has also contributed $239,200 to the joint program in Iran.

But the issue here is that these amounts are by no means sufficient for achieving the goals of these four sub-programs. The total estimated cost of implementing activities for the national cooperation program during the period of 2019-2015 has been set at 20 million US dollars. This total cost is broken down by year as follows:

First year: 5 million dollars

Year 2: 3.7 million dollars

C) Third year: $6.4 million

Year Four: 6.2 million dollars

Fifth year: 5 million dollars.

Considering the estimated costs for implementing four programs in Iran by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Iran, unfortunately, even one-fifth of the estimated costs have not been funded.

This joint program on drugs, which was briefly discussed, includes four military-administrative, legal, supportive-health, and economic dimensions. To achieve each part of it, we need a set of factors. The presence of trained human resources, the use of up-to-date technology, the cooperation of the parliament, the Guardian Council, and the Assembly for Determining the Interests in joining international conventions, and most importantly, improving the livelihood of the people, are the four factors that play a crucial role in achieving these programs. More importantly, budget allocation is also a crucial factor. A systematic and organizational work requires a suitable budget. Without budget allocation, there is no possibility of progress in such programs, and as mentioned earlier, only one-fifth of the allocated budget for this program has been provided, which will have a significant impact on the failure to achieve project goals.

Notes:

1. For more information, please refer to: 2018 Global Drug Report.

2. Shortage of equipment and tools for detecting drugs in Kurdistan, Tasnim News Agency, September 22, 2013

3. “90% of addicts relapse after quitting, Mehr News Agency, 19 Khordad 1397”

4. Sistan and Baluchestan is among the 3 underdeveloped provinces of the country, vibrant, 21st of August 2018.

5. For more information, please visit the website of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Iran.