Taking Concrete Action
The Human Security Program of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) invests in initiatives that strengthen the capacity of countries to address the global threat posed by international crime and terrorism. An example of Canada’s engagement in the development of global tools to fight international crime and terrorism is our significant role in the fight against firearms trafficking. Canada is recognized internationally for the significant leadership role it has played in the development of the UN Firearms Protocol, such as the assistance it provided to developing countries to participate in the negotiations leading up to the Protocol in Vienna.
The Virtual Clearinghouse on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs is an innovative multilateral approach to addressing substance abuse through the medium of the Internet. With support from the Human Security Program, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse is developing the Virtual Clearinghouse to make useful information on drugs and drug abuse available on-line. Multilateral partnerships are also an important component of Canada’s contribution to controlling crime and terrorism. Canada is committed to assisting other nations in building their counter-terrorism capacity and we have also been active in promoting open and productive dialogue on money laundering, a key component of organized crime. Canada supported the Pacific Rim International Conference on Money Laundering and Financial Crimes held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2003, which brought together international representatives of legal and accounting, national regulatory and law enforcement organizations dedicated and committed to controlling the impact of organized crime on the states and jurisdictions of the Pacific Rim. Fostering Future Security
Canada assumesd the Presidency of the G8 in 2002, including the G8 Senior Experts’ Group on Transnational Organized Crime and the G8 Expert Group on Counter-Terrorism. The Groups reviewed their mandate in order to address new and emerging criminal trends, including cybercrime and terrorism threats in areas related to transport security, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism financing. Canada will continue to encourage countries to sign and implement the landmark UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three protocols. Canada also hosted two UN experts meetings in 2002 to seek more effective ways to address issues of criminal justice. Canada also invites and encourage countries to ratifiy and implement the UNSC 1373 resolution and the 12 UN conventions and protocols on terrorism. Canada plays an active role in the international counter-terrorism architecture, including the developement and negotiation of these 12 international conventions and protocols. Canada is a party to all 12 international instruments and has fully implemented UN Security Council resolution 1373. Canada is also working within the G8, OAS and the UN to ensure universal adherence to the three UN drug control conventions. Canada has also taken the lead in developing the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), an initiative by 34 OAS countries of the Americas to undertake peer review of national drug control policies. Canada was instrumental in developing and negotiating the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism that significantly enhance efforts and strengthen cooperation within the Americas to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism. Canada participates in a number of initiatives that provide assistance to countries in the hemisphere in implementing the counter-terrorism measures contained in the Convention and in improving the security and safety of people and states. Canada also contributes significantly to the work of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) in strengthening cooperation in the areas of border and customs management and financial control; and in establishing formal relationships between CICTE and international and regional organizations such as the UN or the FATF, and for creating an official network of point of contacts on counter-terrorism issues in the OAS.
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