COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS CONCLUDES FORTY-FIRST REGULAR SESSION AND PREPARATION FOR ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION, VIENNA, 11-21 MARCH

24 March 1998

Press Release
SOC/NAR/780

COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS CONCLUDES FORTY-FIRST REGULAR SESSION AND PREPARATION FOR ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION, VIENNA, 11-21 MARCH

19980324 Approves Draft Text of Political Declaration on Global Drug Control; Finalizes Draft Texts for General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs

VIENNA, 24 March (UN Information Service) -- A draft text of a political declaration for consideration and adoption at the June special session of the General Assembly on illicit drugs was approved by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on Saturday, 21 March. The draft declaration sets out a comprehensive global strategy for the simultaneous reduction of both illicit supply and demand for drugs, and clearly defines target dates for achieving both goals.

The agreement was reached at the second and final session of the Commission -- the United Nations' principal policy-making body on drug control -- in its capacity as a preparatory body for the special session, which will be held at Headquarters from 8 to 10 June. Prior to the meeting, the Commission also held its forty-first regular session in a shortened three-day meeting (11-13 March). By splitting its session into two distinct parts, the Commission ensured that participants could focus their full attention on finalizing all preparatory work for the upcoming special session.

Reducing demand for drugs was one of the key elements in the strategy that received full endorsement by the Commission. By including demand reduction in the draft text of a political declaration, member States put this important issue on an equal level with supply reduction. "This will be the first time that the problem of demand reduction will be addressed by the international community in the context of a comprehensive drug control strategy", said Pino Arlacchi, the Executive Director of the Vienna-based Office of Drug Control Programme and Crime Prevention. The strategy also includes a concrete plan on eradication of illicit drug crops, as well as alternative development initiatives.

Mr. Arlacchi stressed that the special session should be a turning point for the world to go forward with renewed energy on drug control. There were many reasons for optimism in that regard, he said: a politically more cooperative international climate -- devoid of the East-West and North-South ideological divides; sophisticated technology, such as satellite monitoring systems; and the accumulated knowledge of the international community in drug control activities.

The draft declaration is a forceful, high-level commitment to fighting all elements of the drug problem on both the national and international levels and sets clear target dates for member States to take action required in the agreed-upon areas. The declaration sets the year 2003 as the target date for national level action for stemming the tide of illegal abuse and trafficking in amphetamine-type stimulants; for national legislation on money-laundering; for promotion of judicial cooperation; and for implementing new and enhanced demand-reduction strategies. The declaration sets 2008 as a target date for achieving significant and measurable results in demand reduction; in eliminating or significantly reducing illicit drug cultivation; and in reducing the manufacture and trafficking of psychotropic substances, including synthetic designer drugs and the diversion of precursors.

Apart from securing high-level political commitment from participating governments, the Assembly special session also aims at improving the international community's performance in key areas of international drug control. During the preparatory session, the Commission reviewed and also adopted draft texts covering the areas cited above.

Prior to meeting as the preparatory body for the special session, the Commission also met for its regular session. That was the first major high-level governmental forum for the new Executive Director to give account of the work of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and outline his programme for the future. "We want to produce the best ideas and strategies the world's experts have to offer", he said in his policy statement, adding that "there is a feeling worldwide that the use and production of illegal drugs can be ended".

Underlining the importance of UNDCP's traditional balanced approach to the drug problem, he said, "We view demand and supply as equal sides of an equation. In order to reduce one, you must simultaneously focus on the other." He also highlighted details of the new strategy in his presentation to the Commission's regular session.

During the discussion, member States specifically commended the Executive Director for his vigour, enthusiasm, foresight and flexibility in taking up his new duties and addressing the drug problem. The Commission gave full backing to the strategy pursued by the UNDCP, which is based on a balanced and multi-disciplinary approach. Delegates also welcomed the Programme's increased focus on demand reduction.

The need for a more coordinated approach among various United Nations bodies to address drug problems effectively was once again underscored by the Commission. Delegates called for the System-Wide Action Plan -- which aims at inter-agency coordination -- to be given more operational relevance and to become an effective tool, especially at the field level.

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The three-day regular session also gave member States an opportunity to reflect on new trends in drug abuse and trafficking and to look at the functioning of the international drug control system. The 1997 report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was a reference point for the discussions. According to the INCB, there is a growing tolerance for recreational use of drugs as a result of pro-drug messages through pop culture, certain media circles and through the wide promotional possibilities provided by the Internet. Member States took note of the key message of the Board which called on governments to counteract those pro-drug messages. The Commission called on the UNDCP to develop guidelines to facilitate the implementation of article 3 of the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which requires States parties to establish, as a criminal offence, any act of publicly inciting the use of illicit drugs.

Membership

The 53 members of the Commission are: Algeria, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

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