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Published March 09, 2022 / Public health

Falsified medicines and organised crime: The Brazzaville Foundation invited by the UNODC

20220409-ONUDC-Abidjan

On March 9 and 10, the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan, hosted the first multi-stakeholder meeting on crime prevention and control strategies, organised by the UNODC. Magistrates and senior police officials from 12 West and Central African countries participated in the meeting, to which Brazzaville Foundation was also invited.

Caption: Family photo of participants at the multi-stakeholder meeting organised by UNODC, © UNODC.

The agenda called for an exchange of information on the development of strategies to combat crime organised, accompanied by international experts, mainly from UNODC, Interpol, Afripol, ECOWAS and GiZ (German development agency).

 

The first day provided an overview of existing and emerging threats in West and Central Africa, generated by several types of trafficking: gold, drugs, fuel, arms, migrants, human beings and medicines. The aim was to understand how to share information processed by national and international intelligence services, and pool resources by strengthening regional cooperation. Participants appreciated the participative and consultative format of the meeting, which contributed to these objectives.

 

On the second day, the Brazzaville Foundation spoke on the theme of "Strengthening partnerships between states, the private sector and civil society against falsified medical products". Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive, presented the systemic and coordinated methodology for national plans to combat falsified and substandard medicines that will be implemented under the Lomé Initiative during the 2022-2024 work programme. 2022-2024 work programme. On the same topic, Mr. Franck Chauty, Deputy Director of the Africa Safety Division of Sanofi, gave the point of view of the private sector.

The afternoon was given over to practical exercises enabling participants to interact and formulate recommendations, based on a strategic reference framework co-funded by the UK government.

 

While legal bodies and instruments exist at national and international level, it seems that the key lies more in obtaining the means to enforce the rule of law and improve security than in creating new bodies and instruments.