Minister of Internal Affairs attends the Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse, in Mauritius
The First Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse was held from 24th April to 25th April 2024 which consisted of a Senior Officials meeting subsequently followed by the Ministerial meeting.
Seychelles was represented by a delegation consisting of Minister Charles Fonseka, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Minister Peggy Vidot, the Minister for Health and Minister Patricia Francourt, the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, and other senior officials.
The conference was organized with the aim of “providing a platform for high level policy dialogue to forge collective action for improving the Wester Indian Oceans (WIO) capabilities to deal with the demand and supply side challenges related to illicit drug trafficking”.
The main discussions of the conference where on the adoption of a Regional Strategy Against Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse, the setting up of a network of leading national agencies coordinating drug response and the establishment of a Regional Drug Observatory.
The strategy has two main goals: reducing drug demand and curbing drug supply in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.
- Reducing Drug Demand: This involves enhancing the capabilities of WIO states in drug prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. It focuses on two pillars:
- Pillar 1: Improving prevention through citizen education and stakeholder training.
- Pillar 2: Enhancing health and social services by developing better treatment and rehabilitation options.
- Curbing Drug Supply: This goal involves strengthening regional and international cooperation to disrupt drug supply chains. It also has two pillars:
- Pillar 3: Disrupting drug supply chains by tracking traffickers and their networks, monitoring financial flows, and fostering cooperation among WIO countries.
- Pillar 4: Expanding partnerships and establishing a network of national drug agencies supported by a regional observatory.
Overall, the strategy aims to address the challenges of drug trafficking and substance abuse in the WIO region, promoting security, stability, and well-being
During his intervention, Minister Fonseka outlined the various threats interconnected with illegal drug trafficking which Seychelles is facing such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the need to address these issues. He also emphasized on the urgent need of burden sharing within the regional member states.
In her intervention, Minister Vidot ensured that as Seychelles develops its new Strategy Against Substance abuse, it would ensure that its own strategy aligns with the Regional Strategy which is being developed. She also outlined the various initiatives which were being undertaken at national level and that collaboration between ministries have been giving clear result. It was also noted that Seychelles would continue to strengthen evidence-based programmes and work with regional partners to increase results in this area.
In Minster Francourt’s intervention, she outlined the various efforts which Seychelles have been undertaking in the fight against illegal narcotics and that Seychelles has been one of the countries that have been at the forefront of this fight regionally. Seychelles contribution to regional architectures was emphasized and on this basis. Minister Francourt informed the conference of Seychelles willingness to host the Regional Drugs Observatory which was expected to be set up as per the Regional Strategy Against Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse.
During the conference, the commitment of the international community towards helping the region in combatting this serious threat and issue was reiterated by the various representatives of non-regional states and international organisations. Through the collaborative efforts outlined in this strategy, stakeholders aim to address the multifaceted challenges posed by drug trafficking and substance abuse in the WIO region, promoting greater security, stability, and well-being for its’ inhabitants.
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