Evaluating Progress Against Illegal Drugs

“We welcome the development of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism and
reiterate our commitment to make this mechanism, unique in the world, one
of the central pillars in effective hemispheric cooperation in the struggle against all the factors that constitute the global drug problem.”

—Declaration of Quebec City, April 22, 2001  (Third Summit of the Americas)

The nations of the Americas have undertaken a concerted effort to address the complex problems caused by illegal drugs. They now have the first round of results of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), a tool to measure progress against drugs in 34 countries and the region as a whole. These reports include more than 400 recommendations for steps the countries can take to improve their anti-drug efforts. The next report will focus on how the countries are carrying out those recommendations. 

During a visit to the OAS on April 17, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush called the MEM a “major achievement” and said, “Our hemisphere is more united in addressing this problem, both supply and I might remind you, in demand, than it has ever been before.” OAS Secretary General César Gaviria noted that the MEM is already leading to greater cooperation. “We have moved forward on this issue by acknowledging that all nations share responsibility for the drug problem and have a common interest in working together,” he said. Colombian Ambassador Humberto de la Calle underscored the point, adding that it is time to let go of the idea that only certain states are to blame. “Shared responsibility for confronting illegal drugs calls for a global perspective that includes all links in the chain: production, drug use and related crimes,” he said. 

The MEM assesses five main areas: national anti-drug plans and strategies; prevention and treatment programs; reduction of drug production; improved law enforcement; and overall commitment. All countries evaluate and all are evaluated. National experts do not participate in their own country’s evaluation. 

The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism: Frequently Asked Questions

How did the MEM come about?

The creation of this evaluation tool stems from a mandate issued by the presidents and prime ministers of the hemisphere at the Second Summit of the Americas, held in April 1998 in Santiago, Chile. The region’s leaders agreed to develop, within the framework of the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), a mechanism for the individual and collective monitoring of national efforts to combat the problem of illegal drugs. The reports from the first round of evaluations were presented at the Third Summit of the Americas.

Who designed the MEM?

CICAD formed a special working group—headed by Canada’s then-Deputy Solicitor General Jean Fournier and Pablo Lagos Puccio of Chile—to design the MEM, which was completed in August 1999 in Ottawa, Canada. CICAD approved the evaluation tool in October 1999 at a meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Who does the evaluating?

At the heart of the process is a Government Experts Group. Each country appoints its expert—someone specialized in a particular aspect of the drug issue, such as law enforcement, prevention or health care, or perhaps someone with experience in several areas. The national experts analyze the data on each country and make the evaluations and recommendations. They met four times in Washington during 2000 to complete the first round of reports, which were approved by CICAD in December. The experts are scheduled to meet again in Washington at the end of September 2001..

How does the evaluation process work?

Each government first completes a uniform, detailed questionnaire, providing data on a series of indicators, or benchmarks, on all aspects of the problem, from area under cultivation for illicit crops to arrests for drug trafficking to drug prevention programs in schools. Governments also provide information about what international conventions they have ratified and what national laws they have in place—not only on illegal drugs, but on related issues such as money laundering and trafficking in firearms and chemical substances used in drug production. The first evaluations were based on 61 indicators; more have been added for the next round. 

Once a country responds, experts study the data and analyze the progress the country is making toward the goals of its National Master Plan. The experts may request further information or conduct on-site visits to help them draft a report. The governments have the opportunity to review and comment on preliminary drafts.

Will the process impose sanctions?

No. The MEM is based on cooperation.  By sharing information and strategies, the countries can develop a clearer picture of needs and weaknesses and identify areas that may warrant closer cooperation, better legislation, more research or additional resources. 

How is the MEM being funded?

Each country pays the salary and expenses of its appointed expert, and covers all expenses of data gathering and research. In addition, a number of countries—to date, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Suriname and the United States—have made donations to cover the cost of administrating the evaluation process.

What happens next?

The MEM will be continuously updated. Thus, immediately following the Quebec City Summit, the working group that originally designed the MEM met in Washington to review the indicators and the overall process. The group negotiated 21 new indicators, for a total of 82, in order to reflect new realities in the drug problem and improve the evaluation process. CICAD formally adopted these indicators at its most recent meeting, held May 29-June 1. At that time, CICAD also decided on a timetable for evaluating countries in the future. A full evaluation will be undertaken every two years, with alternate years focusing on how countries are carrying out MEM recommendations. The Government Experts Group will work on this follow-up process at its next meeting, which begins September 24 in Washington. 

For more information about the MEM,
or to submit comments or suggestions,
contact: dbeall-mem@oas.org

Last updated: September 2001