Topic: Preventing the Smuggling of Illegal Drugs
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Jessica Dupree
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Denmark position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
The Kingdom of Denmark strongly believes in the urgency of this issue. Drug trafficking is at an all time high across the globe and the trend keeps rising. As of 2009 there were at least 14, 250,000 cocaine users across the globe, and similar numbers for each different drug. This problem will not go away on its own and Denmark believes that the UN needs to band together in order to come up with a prevention to illegal drug smuggling.
The Kingdom of Denmark has taken the first steps in combating this issue in our own country. As of May, 2011 the Danish government has reinstated border checks along the borders of Sweden and Germany. "We are trying our best to take measures that will secure the best aspects of freedom of movement, and at the same time, not let criminal activity pass through freely," said Soren Pind, the Danish integration minister. This is something that can be applied to all nations with the proper cooperation from the neighboring nations. Denmark has faced opposition from the European Union, and strongly urges that the UN step in and help with prevention of illegal drug smuggling. Denmark is willing to cooperate with any of its neighboring nations with the issue of drug smuggling and the reinstatement of border checks.
Since Denmark joined the Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel throughout 22 of the EU's 27 member states, plus four others in 2001 border checks were suspended. Denmark feels that this agreement only increases the amount of drug users and drug traffickers. Since the implication of the Schengen agreement the number of drug users has steadily risen. Denmark believes that in order to prevent this, the UN needs to target the drug producers before targeting the consumers. Our drug laws are strict with serious consequences for serious offenders. Now marijuana is considered a problem although we feel focusing on opiates and manufactured drugs is more effective in combating drug problems so they have fines and severe jail time for possession or using. Denmark encourages the UN to focus on the opiates and manufactured drugs first and then move on to drugs such as marijuana in order to have a greater impact on illegal drug smuggling. Denmark believes that these measures that we have taken are extremely effective and need to be implemented around the world to every nation in order to fully combat the issue of drug smuggling.
Sources:
http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2011/Global_and_regional_overview.pdf
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/8514180/Denmarks-defiance-over-frontier-controls-has-left-European-Union-bordering-on-crisis.html
