Drug Trafficking On 8-9 July, the Mission facilitated the attendance of Moldovan officials at the OSCE Conference on "Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and Strengthening Control of Precursor Chemicals" in Vienna (see also Chapter 2). ****** 4.8 The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Background The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (OSCE PCU) acts according to the Memorandum of Understanding between the OSCE and the Government of Ukraine of 19 July 1999. The aim of this co-operation initiated between the OSCE and the Ukrainian authorities is to support Ukraine in adapting legislation, structures and processes to the requirements of a modern democracy. This co-operation focuses on the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects between relevant authorities of Ukraine and the OSCE and its institutions. Such projects may cover all aspects of OSCE activities and may involve governmental as well as non-governmental bodies of Ukraine. The OSCE PCU’s policerelated activities are implemented through its Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme and Cross-Dimensional Programme. In accordance with the MoU, the Co-ordinator' s staff is composed of a core of internationally and locally hired staff, as well as internationally or locally hired experts and technical staff required for the implementation of the projects. The size of the Co-ordinator' s expert staff may change as required by projects. In 2010, the total number of international staff funded under the Unified Budget was three. Prevention of Torture and Ill-Treatment in Detention Facilities The PCU continued to support the development of national monitoring mechanisms against torture and ill-treatment (NPM) in the form of regular visits of mobile monitoring groups (MMGs) comprised of representatives of the civil society and police officers. The PCU fostered the development of a concrete, coherent and detailed road map for the full and proper implementation of the NPM in the national legislation and policy, and facilitated the sustainable development of the MMG system within the MoI of Ukraine. However, despite the efforts of the civil society, international community and members of Parliament, monitoring visits to the MoI detention facilities remained largely suspended throughout the reporting period. Therefore NMG visits dropped from more than 320 in 2009 to only 10 in 2010. The NMGs could only remain active in three regions (Zhytomyr, Vinnitsia and Chernigiv regions). The MoI explained the suspension of most visits due to organizational changes in the MoI in the spring of 2010, in particular with the elimination of the specialized offices within the Ministry that were responsible for the co-ordination and facilitation of MMG activities. According to the MoI this required the modification of the way visits were organized and conducted and the reconsideration of the whole philosophy of such visits. During a meeting with the Ministry, the PCU received assurances that the MMG activities would be resumed in 2011 based on new concepts. 68