Drug Control

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Launch of World Drug Report

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Today’s morning gathering, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was convened to celebrate the launch of the annual World Drug Report. Following a comprehensive review of the document, delegates were given the opportunity to voice their contributions regarding its content.

At the outset, Ms. Miwa Kato, the UNODC Director of Operations, introduced key findings of the World Drug Report. Expounding how drugs are the biggest source of funding for organized crime, Ms. Kato affirmed that their use and proliferation undermines sustainability of societal development. Ms. Ms. Chloé Carpentier of the Statistics and Surveys Section of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at UNODC was subsequently invited to appraise various aspects of the drug industry, including issues such as addiction treatment, incarceration, trafficking, and interception. Information regarding specific drugs, including cannabis, opioids, and psychoactive substances were further touched on.

With the floor open to comments from participants, delegates offered valuable input into policy-based solution development. Concerned with the conditions of the status quo, representatives from Mexico and Rwanda proposed a transition away from current security-heavy focus. Input from Colombia and Afghanistan suggested that, in addition to curbing drug supply, the roots of demand must be directly targeted. Furthermore, the expansion of communication networks through technology, practices of money laundering, and arrival of recent experimental substance were identified as pressing challenges to be addressed in the coming years.

Meeting: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Launch of World Drug Report

Date/Location:Wednesday, 26 June, 2019; 10:00-13:00; Conference Room 1, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY

Speakers:

Ms. Simone Monasebian, Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) New York Office;

Ms. Miwa Kato, Director for Operations, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC);

Ms. Chloé Carpentier, Chief, Statistics and Surveys Section of Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC);

Interventions from Representatives

Written by: WIT Representative, Izabela Zawartka

 

International Narcotics Control Board Side Event: Drug Control Treaty Compliance, Human Rights and the SDGs

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In preparation for this week’s ECOSOC Coordination and Management Meeting, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) launched the event to outline the progress of the drug control treaty compliance. Mr. Viroj Sumvai quoted the Special Session of the General Assembly (UNGASS) 2016 on world drug problem, reaffirming the control conventions as the cornerstone of the international drug control problem. He further indicated that INCB’s drug conventions now enjoy nearly universal adherence. However, he emphasised the need for achieving consensus by all member states to bring complete realisation of SDG#3.

Apart from drug control treaty compliance, the event also discussed the relationship between drug control and protection of human rights. In view of escalating humanitarian crises around the world, Mr. Viroj Sumvai urged the need for the international community to provide essential medicines, which include all psychotropic medication. He justified that successful and sustainable drug control action depended on consistencies with international human right standards.

Last but not least, the event glimpsed how drug control policies and programmes could achieve SDGs. Ms. Marie Chatardová echoed the findings of High Level Political Forum 2018 (HLPF 2018) that the progress of SDG#3 has been closely measured across countries. Measurement indicators under SDG#3 include drug access, drug treatment and drug rehabilitation. In addition to SDG#3, H.E. Alicia Buenrostro Massieu stated that more than half of the SDGs are achieved in line with drug control. For example, drug control could promote resilient cities from drug trafficking and thus achieve SDG#11. Monitoring illicit drug trafficking across borders could foster global partnership for sustainable development and thus achieve SDG#17.

Meeting:
International Narcotics Control Board Side Event: Drug Control Treaty Compliance, Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Date/Location:

Monday 2nd July 2018; 13:15-14:30; Conference Room 7, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY

Speaker(s):
Ms. Marie Chatardová, President, Economic and Social Council
Mr. Viroj Sumyai, President, International Narcotics Control Board
Ms. Marie Chatardová, Permanent Representative of Czech Republic to the United Nations
Mr. Stefano Berterame, Chief of the INCB Secretariat’s Narcotic Control and Estimates Section
H.E. Alicia Buenrostro Massieu, Chairperson, Bureau of The Commission on Narcotic

Drugs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Written by: WIT Representative LAU Chun Ki