PREAMBLE We, the Heads of State or Government of the Southern Mrican Development Community (hereinafter referred to as SADC), signatories to the Treaty establishing SADC (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty); CONSIDERING Article 21 of the Treaty which provides for areas of co-operation and Article 22 which provides for conclusion of Protocols which may be necessary in agreed areas of co-operation; COMMITTED to the establishment of a regional institutional framework for co-operation in combating illicit drug supply, demand and corruption in Member States, through legislative and social policies; CONCERNED about the magnitude of, and the rising trend in, the illicit production, use and abuse of, demand for, and traffic in drugs in the SADC; CONCERNED that such illicit use of, and traffic in, drugs poses a serious threat to the health and welfare of the peoples of the SADC and adversely affects the economic, cultural and political foundations of society; CONSCIOUS that funds derived from any drug trafficking might distort the economies of the Region; CONSCIOUS of the fact that illicit drug trafficking is a serious international problem; AWARE that the Region is being increasingly used as a conduit for illicit drugs destined for international markets and that illicit drug trafficking generates large financial gains and wealth enabling trans-national criminals and organisations to penetrate, contaminate and corrupt the structures of governments, legitimate commercial and financial business and society at all levels; AWARE that illicit drug trafficking and corruption often complement each other; CONVINCED that a joint concerted effort by Member States is necessary to eradicate illicit drug production and trafficking; CONVINCED that a joint concerted effort can only be effected through the implementation of coordinated, comprehensive and integrated drug control and prevention programmes that address both supply and demand; - -1