The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism MEM and the Caribbean

The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) and the Caribbean JUNE - 2005

What does the MEM do? • Increases multilateral cooperation in the Hemisphere • Assists countries in generating internal support for their counter drug effort • Offers the countries an opportunity to request technical, financial or training assistance to implement assigned recommendations • Stimulates change in the development of drug control systems • Stimulates improvements in the capacity of member states and the hemisphere to deal effectively with all aspects of the drug problem

Who Participates in the Process? 1) National Coordinating Entities (NCE): Provides the official response to indicators and coordinates all information provided by the country requested by the GEG. 2) Governmental Experts Group (GEG): Analyzes the information and carries out national and hemispheric evaluations. 3) CICAD Commission: Approves the reports drafted by the GEG and recommended changes by the IWG. 4) Inter-governmental Working Group (IWG) reviews the process and presents recommended changes to the Commission 5) The MEM Unit: Coordinates all activities of the process and provides technical support.

Areas Evaluated by the MEM 1) Institutional Strengthening (National Plans, International Conventions, and National Information System) 2) Demand Reduction (Prevention, Treatment and Statistics on Consumption) 3) Supply Reduction (Drug Production, Alternative Development, Pharmaceuticals, and Chemicals) 4) Control Measures (Drug Trafficking, Firearms Trafficking, Money Laundering, Corruption, Organized Crime)

How the MEM Works Evaluation Phase Delivery/Reception of Questionnaires Delivery/Reception of Rec. Follow-up Forms Country Comments 1 st Drafting Session 3 rd Drafting Session Country Comments Update of Statistical Data 2 nd Drafting Session Follow-up Phase Reception of requests For assistance 1 st Drafting Session Country Comments 2 nd Drafting Session Approval by CICAD Publication of the Final Report

Refinement of the Process The Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG), comprised of delegations from the 34 member states, meets before the onset of each MEM evaluation round to review and improve all operational aspects of the mechanism, including the indicators of the evaluation questionnaire.

RECOMMENDATIONS n RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ASSIGNED TO COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO ASSIST EACH COUNTRY IN STRENGTHENING ITS POLICIES TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF DRUGS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND INCREASE MULTILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE HEMISPHERE

THIRD ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS 2003 -2004 n n 506 recommendations in total 193 recommendations to 13 Caribbean countries

THIRD ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS TOTAL RECOMMENDATIONS: 193

THIRD ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS

ASSISTANCE n n n ASSISTANCE REQUESTED BY COUNTRIES TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS - Technical - Financial - Training - Equipment

ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT FIRST ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS n n Assistance was offered to 5 Caribbean countries to implement recommendations dealing with Statistics on Consumption and Drug Prevention and Treatment. The Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT SECOND ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS n n Assistance was offered to 7 Caribbean countries to implement recommendations dealing with information systems, drug trafficking control, statistics on consumption and prevention. Grenada, Haiti, Saint Lucia, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname.

ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT THIRD ROUND RECOMMENDATIONS n n n Implementation forms to be sent to countries in August 05 for completion Countries indicate whether they need technical or financial assistance to implement recommendations Countries detail project proposals and financial assistance needed for 3 priority projects

FIRST ROUND REITERATED RECOMMENDATIONS n 49 Recommendations still pending from the First Evaluation Round 1999 -2000 n 23 countries (12 Caribbean)

FIRST ROUND REITERATED RECOMMENDATIONS n n 26 Ratification Conventions : 15 Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters 8 CIFTA Convention 2 1971 UN Convention 1 Inter-American Convention against Corruption n 5 Approve/implement minimum treatment standards of care 4 Establish a statistical database/ register (on convictions for firearms trafficking, drug matters) n 4 Carry out prevalence studies, obtain information on drug consumption n n 4 Chemical/pharm control: 2 Establish regulations chemical control 1 Develop institutional infrastructure for chemical diversion control 1 Establish centralized agency for operational exchange among national authorities n 3 Evaluation of progress/impact of prevention/treatment programs 2 Approve and implement drug plan 1 Implement a mechanism to calculate illicit cultivation areas of cannabis crops ----------------------------------------- n 49 RECOMMENDATIONS IN TOTAL n n n

FIRST ROUND REITERATED RECOMMENDATIONS n n n n 31 out of the 49 are assigned to Caribbean - Treaties: 15 - Chem / pharm control: 4 - Data collection: 3 - Treatment/minimum standards: 3 - Prevalence studies: 3 - Drug Plan: 2 - Evaluation of demand progs: 1

ASSISTANCE FOR FIRST ROUND REITERATED RECOMMENDATIONS n n n Secretariat to offer assistance where possible Communication to be sent out this Summer 05 Implementation of recommendations reports to be published in June 06

MEM PROMOTION IN THE CARIBBEAN n n n MEM needs more exposure in the Caribbean. Countries need to be made more aware of what the Mechanism can offer. Need to establish the MEM as a diagnostic tool for the design and implementation of anti-drug policies and programs in each country.

MEM PROMOTION – NATIONAL LEVEL Congress Police Health Education F. Ministry Media Institutions involved in the drafting and execution of drug policies National Coordinating Entity Commissioner MEM Unit contact National OAS office CICAD Exec. Sec

Angela Crowdy MEM Unit Coordinator Acrowdy@oas. org (202) 458 3885