© Royal Project Foundation
Chiang Mai (Thailand), 6 December 2024 – In a recent mission to Thailand, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Ms. Ghada Waly underscored the urgency of increasing investment in alternative development. During her visit, Ms. Waly met His Majesty King Rama X of Thailand and Her Majesty Queen Suthida, whom she commended for carrying forward Thailand’s legacy on alternative development.
Strong alliances on alternative development
In her keynote speech at the international conference From Alternative Development to SDGs: Empowering AD to Address Global Challenges in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, Ms. Waly emphasized that “alternative development has been a paradigm shift in drug policy. It changed the narrative surrounding farming families, asserting that they are not adversaries in our efforts against the world drug problem, but partners.”
At the event opened by His Majesty King Rama X, she lauded the country’s leadership in advancing alternative development strategies that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that “alternative livelihoods present a vision for long-term security and sustainable development, to uproot the illicit economies of today in Southeast Asia and beyond, a vision built around human development and human rights.”
She added that Thailand’s experience “is a success story that we continue to learn from at UNODC,” referencing the successful decades-long journey made by the country in addressing opium cultivation and fostering sustainable agriculture through projects like the ones led by the Royal Project Foundation (RPF) and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation (MFLF).
However, she also called for a clear commitment and investment by the international community to scale up alternative development. “The level of funding available for this work is still very short of what we need in order to assist the hundreds of thousands of families involved in illicit crops cultivation globally. And if it is not stepped up, the farmers will remain trapped, the drug economies will continue to grow, and the harms to health and security will be felt around the globe.”
UNODC’s alternative development work in Southeast Asia focuses on providing sustainable livelihoods to communities affected by illicit crop cultivation, particularly in Lao PDR and Myanmar. By promoting agriculture, agroforestry, and market access, these initiatives help farmers in the highlands reduce their reliance on opium production by fostering their economic resilience. Through partnerships with governments and local organizations, and by leveraging synergies with initiatives such as the RPF and MFLF, UNODC’s work contributes to poverty reduction, environmental conservation, gender empowerment, and long-term stability in the Golden Triangle.
Partnerships on drug control, transnational organized crime and justice
© Laura Gil / UNODC
The region has been experiencing significant growth in drug trafficking and organized crime, with weak borders across the Golden Triangle and digitalization making it easier for criminals to operate. During her meetings with Thailand’s Ministers of Interior, Justice and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Waly emphasized the importance of joint efforts in border management, organized crime prevention, and drug control. She also discussed advancing the border management agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the implications of Myanmar’s crisis on regional crime dynamics.
The Executive Director’s visit included a tour of the Anti-Online Scam Operations Center at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, which runs operations to counter transnational organized crime. Briefed on the region’s escalating online fraud and cybercrime challenges, Ms. Waly commended Thailand’s proactive approach to combating online scams, cyberfraud, and illegal online gambling, and emphasized the importance of prevention among youth.
The high-level visit reinforced a shared vision for a more resilient region, with Thailand playing a key role in drug control, cybersecurity and sustainable development.
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