Today, OHR hosted a conference on ways to tackle trafficking in drugs and other drugs-related offences in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conference was attended by the relevant ministers from both entities, as well as State level ministers, together with BiH police experts, and experts from the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP).
The participants agreed to the need for further cooperation in this field, and agreed to establish a Working Group tasked with bringing the existing drug legislation into compliance with the UN Conventions on this issue.
These conventions clearly outline the international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and call for amendments in the existing legal framework. These amendments will affect a wide range of legislation both at State and Entity level. OHR, in collaboration with the UNDCP, will provide the Working Group with all the necessary technical and legal assistance.
Trafficking in drugs and drugs related offences have become a source of growing and serious concern in Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years.
Several UNDCP policing projects have already been successfully established in BiH. Following the adoption of the Laws on the Border Service, and on Immigration and Asylum, the time has now come to tackle the problem through legislation.
The effective prosecution of those responsible for trafficking of drugs is obviously of the highest priority if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to join the club of modern European nations – as is the proper regulation of drugs licensing for legal purposes.