An opportunity lost

At the International Conference on Alternative Development (ICAD), held in Lima from 14 to 16 November, the Peruvian Government supported by the UNODC claimed that currently in Peru the surface planted with alternative development crops is superior to the amount of coca, used for the production of cocaine. Allegedly, the 80 thousand hectares with cocoa and coffee have successfully replaced an illicit economy, or prevented it to establish itself.

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Valencia Declaration on Alternative Development

Producers of crops declared illicit, such as opium, coca and cannabis, from throughout the world convened at the Observatory of Crops Declared Illicit (OCDI) in Valencia (Spain) on November 9-10, 2012, to discuss alternative development and the Guiding Principles for Alternative Development, to be approved at the ICAD II (International Conference on Alternative Development), in Lima on November 15-16, 2012. Out of these discussions came the Valencia Declaration on Alternative Development .

Alternative development from the perspective of Colombian farmers

Alternative Development programmes have been widely discussed from the point of view of experts, technocrats, politicians and academics, with advocates and detractors debating whether such programmes contribute to decreasing the cultivation of illegal crops. However, little is known about the opinions of the people targeted by these programmes and the implications that they have for their daily lives.

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FMPCDI Declaration at side event of UN meeting

The 2009 Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), and its High Level (political) Segment (HLS), was a key moment where the conclusions and recommendations resulting from the January Barcelona Forum could be transmitted and distributed. This was done to make more policy officials aware of the difficult situation faced by farmers cultivating the plants that have been declared illicit.

Dionisio Nuñez and Adbibe Abdelatif, representing respectively the Latin American and African continent, were delegated to go to Vienna and present the final declaration of the Barcelona Forum and to interact with policymakers present at this meeting. Read the report Two Barcelona Forum representatives read final Declaration at side event of UN meeting.

Global Forum of Producers of Crops Declared to be Illicit

Why peasants from certain regions of the world cultivate the three plants – coca leaves, cannabis and opium poppy – that the international conventions have declared to be illicit? That was the essential question that was discussed at the First Global Forum of Producers of Crops Declared to be Illicit (FMPCDI), that took place in El Prat de Llobregat near Barcelona on January 29-31, 2009.

The conclusions of the Forum will be submitted to the High Level Segment of the 52th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on March 11-12, 2009, dedicated to review of the progress achieved and the difficulties encountered by in meeting the goals and targets set out in the 1998 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Countering World Drug Problem.

Political Declaration approved at the Forum (French version)

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Broken promises and coca eradication in Peru

The forced crop eradication policy implemented by the Peruvian government over the past 25 years has failed. The official strategy has exacerbated social conflicts; contributed to various types of subversive violence; jeopardized local economies, also affecting the national economy; and destroyed forests as crops have become more scattered. Worst of all, it has not resolved any of the underlying causes of drug trafficking, such as poverty, marginalisation and government neglect.

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