Bangladesh: H. E. Ambassador Johnson, Chair of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its 67th Session, H. E. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the UNODC, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon. I begin by congratulating Ambassador Johnson and other members of the bureau and assure them of our full support. Mr. Chair, We fully align with the statement delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the AsiaPacific Group. In my national capacity, I would like to add the following: As a member of the Commission, Bangladesh reaffirms her full commitment to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the 1972 Protocol; the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, all of which constitute the pivots of the global collaboration for drug control. We are also fully committed to the effective implementation of the 2009 Political Declaration and its Plan of Action, the Joint Ministerial Statement of 2014, the UNGASS outcome document and the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. Mr. Chair, Illicit drugs are affecting our people, particularly the younger generations in Bangladesh, in other words, our future. Therefore, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, our government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. We have updated our legal provisions through enacting the new Narcotics Control Act in 2018 to face the new challenges. Our government has adopted a three-way approach of reduction of demand, supply and drugs induced harms. The Department of Narcotics Control and CSOs run various programs of mass awareness about the dangers of drugs to create an anti-drug social movement across the country. Every school, college, and university campus in Bangladesh has a five-membered committee to make students aware of the negative impacts of narcotic drugs. A 24X7 hotline has been set up to receive complaints, suggestions, and opinions about drug issues. A Strategic Committee has been established under the Prime Minister’s Office to oversee all anti-drugs activities. We are planning to set up rehabilitation centers in all our districts. Mr. Chair, Bangladesh supports more effective regional and global cooperation to curtail cross-border drug supply chain. Here, I would like to express our deep national concern to the increased flow of synthetic drugs from Myanmar. With 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, now sheltered in Bangladesh adjacent to Myanmar border, the situation has been worsened for us to tackle the growing influx of methamphetamine and crystalline methamphetamine drugs from Myanmar. In 2023, our authorities seized huge amount of methamphetamine destined for Bangladesh and beyond. We thank the UNODC for providing us test kits and two riverine vessels to patrol the border with Myanmar. We are also bringing all sea and land ports and potential trafficking routes under more surveillance. Mr. Chair, From our experience, we would like to see a more robust and effective role of CND to counter the global drugs problem. We therefore would continue to extend our full support to CND and UNODC in curbing the global drugs problem. Thank you.

Brazil: Thank you Mr. Chair. Allow me to express my sincere congratulations on your election to the position of chair. The Brazilian government affirms its commitment to a drug policy based in human rights with a focus on youth, indigenous, Black, and other peripheral populations. We also commit to addressing the racist mode that drug policy has historically been carried out. We cannot discuss human rights based and development oriented approaches to drug policy without addressing the vulnerability of social groups that have been left behind. We must be mindful of all of the current declarations and documents. Furthermore, I want to draw attention to the conclusions of a recent report.  In the Amazon illegal drug trafficking is presenting complex challenges that affect Indigenous communities among others. To deal with the challenges of human rights violations and more, we have been combining law enforcement approaches with alternative development approaches. We are doing this alongside respecting indigenous populations. Today we were in debate with the support of Peru, Colombia, Norway, France, Interpol, and the Brazilian civil society organisation. This event highlighted the importance of integrated actions and effective collaboration with all orgs. Regarding the pledge for action, we pledge our commitment to offering technical assistance for the implementation of evidence-based practices to prevent harmful substance use and involvement in crime and violence. We also recognize that due to child and youth involvement in drugs and crime we must develop a resilient model and child protection approach to respond to drug and crime in a sustainable manner. The Brazilian government also pledges to create a program to promote social protection of Black youth living in peripheral populations that are disproportionately affected by a failed model of policing. I want to strengthen collaboration within a view to enhance cooperation and shape drug policies to enhance safety in our society.

Saudi Arabia: We meet today in this High-level segment to take stock of progress made in implementing international commitments relevant to drugs, as contained in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, to address the drug problem and challenges, and to identify solutions most effective to reduce harm. The kingdom commits to all Conventions, the cornerstone and integrated framework that organises and coordinates world efforts to address and counter the problem of drugs on the basis sof the principle of common and share responsibility. We support greater collaboration, as requested by the 2009, 2014, 2016, and 2019 documents, as well as this midterm review. Together, these are tools that are suitable to address the world drug problem. The Kingdom addresses all manifestations of this problem. Crown Prince Bin Selman, and Prime MInister, formed a counternarcotics committee to reduce the prevalence of drug use in our society and to focus on raising awareness on the harmful effects on health, society and culture of drug use. With the coordination of government and civil society, to harmonise action, we focus on the following: 1) inclusion of drug prevention terminology in schools to raise awareness among students using various methods. 2) Media has an important role to play as it has a wide reach. We make use of traditional and modern channels through including educators, journalists,s security offices, and legal officers, all relevant and knowledgeable to counter drugs. This affords us an opportunity to advance prevention. 3) We strengthen security awareness, be it in terms of risks of drug use or the commission of related crimes, like dealing and money laundering. 4) We have a working channel with nonprofits and institutions close to communities. They have a role to play in terms of providing their knowledge and experience. This supports establishment of centres in the Kingdom providing immediate consultation services remotely to supplement treatment services afforded by specialists, consultants and doctors always with a high level of patient data privacy. Technology has advanced and brought about positive developments in communications and cooperation. The other side of the coin is the exploitation of these advances by criminal networks through AI and others in the smuggling of drugs. This calls for better coordination to counter drugs. UN agencies have a role developing various programmes and workshops, including by the INCB – which are commendable. We have made all efforts to contribute towards those activities participating in workshops, technical meetings and consultancy meetings to serve a higher goal which is ridding our societies from the scourge of drugs. [original statement available here]

Paraguay: Welcome the work of CND and the 2019 and 2016 documents. Important to highlight that in line with national policies on comprehensive tackling the world drug problem nationally and internationally, paraguay in 2023 took the presidency of CICAD-OAS. We are the pro-tempore presidency of the special meeting of application authorities in terms of drugs in the MERCOSUR. Improve capacities against drug supply and demand. Also on alternative development for vulnerable communities. Paraguay reiterates that tackling and countering the world drug problem is a common shared responsibility for all the international community and highlights the importance of cooperation and technical assistance, particularly thinking Paraguay is  a small country without a coastline. We build capacity to suppress and control illicit trafficking and alternative development with legal crops through bilateral cooperation with COPOLAD, El Pacto, CICAD, etc. Also with Brazil, in terms of operations to eradicate cannabis, criminal structures working in trafficking, and associated crimes. These operations every year called Nueva Alianza. Paraguay reiterates its commitment towards a head on fight against drugs and related crime. Our demand reduction efforts focus on early age and vulnerable communities: Suma programmes with local governments, NGOs, civil society and central government. We build capacity for prohibition att the national level seeking to reduce the growth production, trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs of natural and synthetic origin. UNprecedented success of seizures as a result. With regard to harms of criminal organisations in our region, our country implements policies in terms of promoting sustainable alternative development in the value chain of industrial hemp and medical cannabis. Complies with all three Conventions. We support the work of (…). We see with great concern the diversification of organised crime and their use of intelligence and technology, which we should use to dismantle criminal gangs. [original statement available here]

Mexico: Thank you, chair. Good afternoon. For Mexico this session is particularly important to establish a panoramic point of view. This would be incomplete without the report from OHCHR. This human rights report concludes that harm disproportionately falls on indigenous people, women and other marginalised groups. This has become worse since 2016 UNGASS. We need to move to a greater focus on balanced policies, harm reduction, sustainable development, and public health. Scientific and  evidence-based responses are needed. Mexico has made key efforts to address these issues,  including the 2023 Omnibus Resolution in the UN General Assembly and this is part of our fight against the world drug problems. We focus on the underlying problems that give rise to drug issues. Mexico has made great effort under our President to have data to back up our policies. We are currently undertaking a national survey on mental health and addiction to inform policies. Young people are some of those most at-risk. We need to continue to strengthen [shipping] container controls. Only 2% of containers are ever inspected. Mexico is lending its hand on this, and is part of the global container programme. Last year we noticed 7 new psychoactive substances, this year 16. A single change molecule can be responsible for the emergence of a new drug. Shared responsibility, we need comprehensive responses that address all issues of the drug issue, including trafficking of weapons and guns. The issue of drug use can not be addressed with criminalising people who use drugs. Mexico pledges to contribute to national and international efforts to stop the precursors used in drug production. Thank you. [original statement available here] 

Armenia: Mr. Chair, Excellences, Heads of Delegations, Colleagues, It is a great honor to address this distinguished international platform of the Sixty-seventh Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on behalf of the Republic of Armenia. As a country striving to strengthen its capacities in preventing and combating illegal drug trafficking, in the capacity of the new member of the Commission, Armenia is committed to its mandate and mission. Armenia remains committed to ensuring effective drug control regime in line with the three international Conventions and the outcomes of UN General Assembly Special Sessions on the World Drug Problem. Illegal trafficking of drugs poses a great threat to human health and to the security and prosperity of the entire international community. Armenia realizes that the transnational nature of the issue makes it impossible to control and prevent illegal drug trafficking without regional and international cooperation. The record levels of illegal circulation of drugs and expansion of drug markets obligate us to arrange efficient methods of cooperation between all the stakeholders, including the civil society, scientific community and private sector, to address not only illegal drug trafficking, but also public health issues and the opportunities that drug trafficking creates for proliferation of organized crime, corruption, trafficking in persons and firearms, terrorism and other crimes. One of our recent most important undertakings is that in 2023 Armenia joined the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. Furthermore, both 2023 and 2024 were declared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as years of combating illegal drug trafficking. The Government of RA has also established an Interagency Commission for the prevention of illegal circulation of narcotics and psychotropic (psychoactive) substances. The Commission will not only consolidate the efforts in the field of drug control and focus on public safety issues, but will also target issues related to public health. Our studies indicate that although drugs of natural origin continue to be the most widespread in the territory of Armenia, an alarming increase was also observed in the circulation of synthetic drugs, which bring the most harm to the health of an individual. Along with the fight against illegal circulation of drugs, it is important for us to take steps to neutralize the negative health consequences related to drug use. 2 It is deeply concerning that many individuals suffer because of drugs, acquire serious health issues or in the worst cases even lose their lives. New measures and approaches guided by the main principle of protection of human rights should be adopted for health recovery of those affected by drugs. With the advancements in the field of new technology online marketplaces, social media platforms and networks have become the main “venues” where drug trafficking is organized. Nowadays crypto currency is also actively used to facilitate illegal drug circulation, which is a serious obstacle for law enforcement agencies since the field of use of crypto currency is not well regulated. In order to solve the issue, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has developed a draft package of laws, which regulates a number of important issues concerning the investigation of crimes connected to use of crypto currency. Since the technology advancements are continuously used to facilitate drug trafficking, utilization of modern technology to prevent and investigate drug trafficking by law enforcement agencies is essential. We hope that the mutual technical and methodological assistance for disrupting drug trafficking organized through new technology will continue to be one of the priorities of our cooperation with international partners. I am pleased to also inform you that within the framework of the ongoing reforms in the Police the unit to combat illegal drug trafficking through the Internet has been established within the Criminal Police. Thanks to the efforts of the unit the number of discovered cases of illegal drug trafficking through the Internet dramatically increased in 2023. We are truly appreciative of being a part of the international joint efforts to control the circulation of drugs. Be fully confident that Armenia is entirely committed to deepening international cooperation at various levels, sharing best practices and lessons learned, participating in all projects aimed at combating and preventing illegal drug trafficking and reducing its harmful effects on society, state and individuals. Dear Colleagues, With a view of enhancing the implementation of all international drug policy commitments, and in addressing the challenge of the record levels of abuse, illicit cultivation and manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as the illicit trafficking in those substances and in precursors, as underlined in 2019 Ministerial Declaration – I pledge for the Republic of Armenia to develop by 2025 “National strategy to combat drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking in the Republic of Armenia’’. Thank you for your attention.

Ukraine: Thank you for this opportunity to take part in the high-level segment of the 67th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to review the progress of the implementation of Ukraine’s commitments in the international drugs policy. First of all, I would like to emphasize the fact that the Russian aggression against our country has caused extremely grave consequences, and continues to aggravate them. Contrary to the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions and Protocols to them, the aggressor state continues destruction of Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure of Ukraine for the third year in a row. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a total of 1,740 health care facilities have been damaged and 203 destroyed. The estimated cost of restoration of those institutions amounts to UAH 36.3 bn. Against this background, Ukraine continues to implement systemic measures to adhere to its commitments pertaining to drug policy, including anti-narcotic policy. One of the significant achievements in this area that should be mentioned is an event that took place on February 16, 2024, in connection with the enactment of the Law on the State Regulation of the Trade in Plants of the Cannabis Genus. The adoption of this statutory regulation has laid legal and organisational foundations for the state policy pertaining to the circulation of Cannabis plants in Ukraine for medical and industrial purposes, and for scientific research and technical development activities, in order to solve the extremely pressing issue connected with the provision of high-quality and timely healthcare assistance to the citizens of Ukraine, including military personnel affected by the military aggression. For the purposes of effective counteraction to illegal manufacture, circulation and non-medical consumption of synthetic drugs, in part, through the application of tighter precursor control measures, the Ministry, in cooperation with the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), is engaged in the interactions within the framework of the “Working arrangements on accession to the Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances” and in the implements in the exchange of such information. The list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors is constantly updated, which makes it possible to apply timely measures to control the circulation of prohibited substances, while simplifying such measures for substances that are promising in terms of healthcare and scientific research. Ukraine became one of the members of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, created on July 7, 2023 at the initiative of the United States of America. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of substitution maintenance therapy in Ukraine. In 2020, Standards of health care “Mental and behavioural disorders due to opioid use” were approved. At present, Ukraine is a leading country in the EECA region in terms of the development and implementation of the SMT programme. In particular, as of today, close to 30,000 people receive treatment, and the services are provided in an uninterrupted manner even in the areas that are close to the of active warfare zone; new medicines and approaches to service provision are being introduced, such as telemedicine, and the program itself has a low threshold. The development of the Standard for the provision of medical assistance to persons with mental and behavioural disorders caused by the use of PADs and stimulants, excluding opioids, is close to completion. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed without delay. The suspension of air traffic, the blockade of sea trade ports by the Russian Federation, the suspension of road and railway connections on the borders with Belarus and Russia, have changed the drug situation in Ukraine. All exchange of commodities, including illegal trade, has concentrated on Ukraine’s Western and South-Western borders with the countries of the European Union and Moldova, which requires the neighbouring countries to coordinate their efforts to reduce the supply of drugs. In addition, the increase in the demand and volume of production of synthetic cathinones (alpha-PVP, mephedrone, etc.), makes it necessary to strengthen the international control over the circulation of precursors for their production, primarily those that are not used in economic activities, through such measures as timely entry of precursors, used for the production of new psychoactive substances, to international control lists. We are grateful to our partners for their support and assistance to Ukraine, and are interested in the further development of cooperation with our international partners. I would like to reiterate our assurances that, despite the war, Ukraine is doing everything possible to reduce the demand and supply of narcotic drugs, to meet the demand for painkillers and to respect the rights of drug users.

El Salvador: Thank you. Mr. Chair, El Salvador welcomes the adoption of the high level declaration of the CND at this midterm review following the 2019 ministerial declaration. We recognize that the world drugs problem poses many issues. For this reason we should redouble our efforts at a national, regional and international level. Under shared responsibility we should increase shared responsibility to tackle problems. We’d like to reiterate our commitment to continue tackling the world drugs problem in line with drugs policy instruments adopted and the international narcotics control treaties respecting human rights. Since 2019 my country has had a comprehensive strategy aimed at banning drugs and precursors. Different institutions work together to develop coordinated and effective responses with a focus on drugs trafficking and diversion of precursors. We know the dangers of new psychoactive substances and for this reason, El Salvador has implemented an early warning system creating timely alerts on the risk to health of new psychoactive and synthetic drugs which are being distributed here. My country is also carrying out evidence-based preventative programs and interventions. The ministry of education and the solidarity fund for health has implemented a program for education and prevention of addiction which include topics of mental health and life skills in prevention of drug use. Similarly the national anti-drugs commission, with the support of the ministries of education and health started a program which stands for “for life, goals and dreams” for people aged 10-14 based on life skills. Currently it’s reaching 493 students in 9 public education institutions. In terms of treatment and rehabilitation we’re working to provide high quality services respecting the rights of users that are based on scientific evidence. The CNA is leading the process for training staff and certifying services. This is carried out alongside either universities and organisations including UNODC. Through seven centres for prevention and treatment of addiction and other organisations we are offering outpatient and hospital based treatment to help with giving up drugs and supporting the users relatives. The national department for medications regulates the import, export, manufacturing, commercialization and use of controlled medicines. They also control chemical substances which are precursors. They have implemented a system for managing controlled problems to ensure that availability and accessibility is there. This system gathers information on doctors, patients, prescriptions, doses, and inventory in pharmacies which is useful for analysing patterns of use. To wrap up, El Salvador is committed to improving the implementation of all national commitments in terms of drug policies, specifically in tackling the challenge of availability of substances that are under international control for medical and scientific purposes. This is why today I am delighted to express our pledge which is continuing to support initiatives and action to ensure access and availability of controlled medicines and secondly, making available the system for management of controlled product, sharing best practices learned in the implementation of this system with UNODC and the INCB and other interested states and parties. Thank you. [original statement here]

China: The international community has for long fulfilled its obligation to combat drugs and cooperated to advance world drug governance. We highly appreciate the contributions of CND, UNODC, INCB, and all relevant parties to address the world drug problem. IN the 2019 MInisterial Declaration, we made joint commitments to effectively address and counter the world drug problem. Over the past 5 years, China has fulfilled its commitment, tackling COVID19 and illicit drugs by reducing supply and drug harm. We continued to improve our drug control system with Chinese characteristics and made progress in the people’s war against drugs. IN china, prevention and education are central. Conduct broad awareness raising campaigns among the youth in particular to empower them to ‘Say No To Drugs’. New drug users in China declined by 57.4% compared to 2019. A dissuasive campaign to crack down on offence resulted in a 49.6% drop in […] compared to 2019. Our drug treatment and rehabilitation services have improved and become more effective. Thanks to assistance programmes, last year, more than 4 million drug users have come clean for 3 years without relapse. We have an early warning system to prevent new drugs. Scheduled 32 additional narcotics and psychotropics. Fentanyls and synthetic opioids are scheduled in China. We promote international cooperation to meet our needs. Greater MEkong MOU Ministerial meeting to celebrate the anniversary of its establishment. Law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing, strengthening our international efforts against drugs. Recovery of favourable conditions for us to effectively address and counter the world drug problem. We must recognise illicit drugs spreading fast around the world and becoming more harmful. Drugs intertwine with traditional and nontraditional security problems. China advocates for win-win international cooperation based on equality to preserve the international drug control system based on the three Conventions. We should all earnestly fulfil our obligations and commitments and make concerted efforts to realise the vision of the Ministerial declaration of 2019. We should systematically address the root causes of the world drug problem to achieve supply and demand reduction to preserve stability, authority and inclusiveness of drug policies internationally. Shared and common responsibility to tackle synthetic drugs and related problems more effective.y Cooperate and respect different realities and developments stages. Innovative concepts and measures to combat drugs are needed. Promote synergies also in the fight against drugs and money laundering and promote pragmatic cooperation to combat NPS so as to address new challenges and build a human community without the harms of drugs. China pledges to continue to pursue balanced and integrated approach and work alongside international community to better address the world drug problem, starting this year, China contribution to UNODC drug programme will be increased to 2m USD to advance the Greater Mekong MOU exchange and cooperation in drug prevention, chemical control, drug analysts techniques etc. To ensure people’s health and well being.

Egypt: Reviewing 2019 goals. Support the Outcome Document and the spirit of consensus of Vienna. We meet full of hope to continue to combat the illegal trafficking in drugs problem and the many challenges internationally and regionally, primarily the spreads of synthetic drugs, new chemical precursors, by criminal and well organized networks and gangs. Using innovative smuggling methods to achieve huge illicit gains and who use unstable areas for their work – fertile areas for producing manufacturing nad smuggling narcotics. Egypt has adopted a national strategy to combat drugs with the participation of various authorities including the Ministry of Interior, Health, Foreign Affairs, the Fund to Combat Addition, And the Drugs agency and specialised entity including the NDC, INCB and UNODC, and all relevant international agreements and frameworks. Based on two primary pillars. Combatting the supply of drugs including executive plans by the Ministry of Interior including international security cooperation at the level of operations and increased control of legal entry points and confronting and combatting smuggling operations. We also combat the planting of illegal narcotic plants, illegal trafficking in narcotics, eliminate criminal centres, combat money laundering from illicit drugs trafficking, while monitoring the control of precursors of chemicals and precursers and pharmaceuticals. Analyse narcotics in light of the growth of new synthetic drugs and our urgent efforts to limit their smuggling. The increase of electronic sales of narcotics – at the Ministry of Interior we have a new section to do this monitoring on purchases and sales of narcotics, whilst raising awareness against their use through the internet. We also seek to find users and arrest them according to the according legal arrangements. Increased law enforcement capacity by participating in international meetings. The general department on narcotics has carried trainings for foreign countries to combat narcotics. On the reduction of demand, it’s a comprehensive plan that counts on various authorities to raise awareness, provide treatment rehabilitation and social reintegration. Created many centres in governments in the country to provide services that are free. We have lectures in schools and universities to raise the awareness of the youngsters on the dangers of drugs and addictions. Also taken legal steps on unlicensed addiction treatment centres while increasing the media campaigns to enlighten ande educating citizens on the harms of drugs. Campaigns for early discovery of addiction and the use of narcotics in administrative employees of the state and school buses drivers. [original statement here]

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of): Thank you very much chair, congratulations on your election. Venezuela aligns itself with G77 and GRULAC. We are supporters of the three international drug conventions and also the 2019 MS which brings us all here today. Common and shared responsibility is important given the nature of the illicit drug problems. Venezuela is a transit country and we have made Titanic responses to address the world drug problem. Need to promote international cooperation, technical assistance and we call for coexistence, constructive dialogue and strict compliance with international law. We need to build bridges where dialogue brings us all together and allows us to grow. Grateful for the fruitful work of the expert committee. We share our commitments to strengthening compliance of drug control, stopping the growth of the drugs market and the availability of drugs for medical and scientific purposes, which are unavailable in many parts of the world. We take issue with illegal universal coercive measures (UMCs). Venezuela pledges the establishment of a national early warning system. [original statement here]

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (also on behalf of a group of Member States): I have the honor to read the following Joint Statement on behalf of The republic of Belarus, People´s Republic of China, Republic of Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of Nicaragua, The State of Palestine, The Russian Federation, The Syrian Arab Republic, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Zimbabwe We express serious concern and categorical rejection of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) that are illegitimate, unlawful and in contravention of the UN Charter and international law principles. These wrongful acts are being increasingly used by certain states as a tool to gain supremacy against others in international affairs. UCMs with an extraterritorial application have become unprecedented and a significant violation of international law, international human rights and the UN Charter. UCMs are a flagrant interference in the sovereign affairs of other states. Such actions repress multilateralism and the principle of cooperation that underlies the UN activities. Moreover, UCMs pose a serious challenge to the implementation of joint commitments to address and counter the world drug problem based on the principle of common and shared responsibility. We emphasize that UCMs including over-compliance of businesses and other stakeholders with such measures hinder equal access of some interested Member States to the technical assistance, capacity building, and especially needed equipment and related technology to developing countries. Meanwhile, based on clear evidence, UCMs have restricted access and, in some cases blocked access to vitally important medicines, basic drugs and pharmaceutical components for scientific and medical purposes, including for the relief of pain and suffering. Thus, the UCMs have adversely affected accessibility, availability and affordability of internationally controlled substances for medical use and scientific purposes, and may lead to the consumption Formatted: Highlight trends to riskier drugs. Therefore, those imposing the UCMs are directly accountable for the tragic consequences of such illegal and illegitimate actions. As a result, the implementation of important technical assistance projects in requesting countries which fall victim to UCMs is under serious and continuous threat. Some of targeted countries, including those at the forefront of countering illicit drug trafficking and seriously affected by the world drug problem, are fully deprived of the opportunity to receive any technical assistance, capacity building and needed equipment. Thus, UCMs pose a threat to the health, safety and well-being of population of targeted countries and their neighbours and become an increasingly aggravating factor in addressing and countering the world drug problem. We also emphasize that strengthening of cross-border law enforcement cooperation is essential in our joint endeavour to address and counter the world drug problem. We recognize the fundamental role of effective and depoliticized international cooperation in preventing and combating drug-related crime and to this end urge States to refrain from applying UCMs that hinder such cooperation. We call upon States to strongly condemn these destructive UCMs and unaccountability, and call upon all States neither to recognize these measures nor to apply them, and to take effective administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial application or effects of UCMs. Such measures are a characterizing feature of the so-called «rules-based world order» being imposed on the international community by a limited number of countries. These so-called «rules» are being invented and used to justify illegitimate steps against those who build their own policies in accordance with international law. To conclude, we call upon the UNODC to furnish the member states with disaggregated and statistical reports on the technical assistance and capacity building projects, investments and services in different countries as well as UCMs-related impediments to shed some light on this blatant discrimination that has been imposed on some developing countries.

Burkina Faso: Madam president. Thank you. We endorse the statements made by the G77 and China and the African group. My delegation welcomes the high level session. We take note with concern of the low level of implementation of international policies when it comes to drugs as well as the global drugs threat as it impacts health, security, and other challenges. My country also takes note with concern of the worries expressed by the INCB. We would like to alert you regarding the dangers of legalisation of cannabis for the health of populations. An unprecedented rise in the use of drugs, particularly cannabis and non-medical use of some pharmaceuticals including tramadols are issues for public health, they increase public crime and impact security, undermining the attainment of the social development goals. The world drugs report 2023 shows a growing number of drug users as well as an expansion of the illicit market as well as ties with illegal crime in many places. There has to be a cross cutting approach. Synergies must be strengthened between the CND and other existing mechanisms including the UN commission against corruption as well as the CPCJ. All of this will ensure that we prevent and effectively disrupt links between illicit trafficking of drugs and other organised crime. We are committed to the international conventions on drugs. This is a shared and common responsibility. We know that a new reality will emerge. However they must be taken up in conformity with the conventions in upholding our national policies. With this vision, the government of my country is conducting prevention activities to prevent the use of drugs among youth. We are using opinion leaders and we are targeting vulnerable persons. Various repressive measures have also been taken leading to the seizure of many drugs and the arrest of 572 drug traffickers, 377 of them were brought before the authorities. Drug control is a challenge but so is affordability and accessibility of drugs for scientific purposes. Thus we should ensure that no one is left behind. We thank the UNODC for its efforts to implement programs and activities to build technical capacities in all stakeholders in the chain from prevention to control. On the matter of prevention, we hail the launch of the champs initiatives and call upon all member states to support the UNODC. These are our pledges: we would like to see a strengthening of policies on all levels in combating the world drugs problem. Preventing and disrupting the links between drugs trafficking and other forms of crime – we commit to working with all states, international orgs, and NGOs. Thank you. [original statement here]

Azerbaijan: Participants, first and foremost allow me to congratulate Ambassador Johnson on his election. Today in Azerbaijan, as in many other countries, the law enforcement bodies have many challenges before them having to do with transporter threats leading to a rise in criminal activities and drug trafficking. Combating illicit trafficking and drugs is a priority for states and requires attention from law enforcement agencies and society as a whole. Only together will we deal a blow to criminal activities and ensure stability. I would point out that five years ago as a result of operations conducted by the law enforcement bodies in my country (and these were mainly raids) in Azerbaijan yearly were just a bit more than a ton of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized but in 2023 this figure grew more than 6 times and hit 7 tons. Online sale of drugs and selling drugs abroad is an issue. Much of the drugs seized are sold online using mobile applications. I would like to note that due to its geographical position, Azerbaijan is at a crossroads for drug trafficking routes from Afghanistan. These routes change. We are doing our utmost to attack the root causes of these problems and to curb efforts of drug traffickers to use our country as a corridor for narcotics sales. We are strengthening our borders to avoid this. We are also strengthening cooperation with our neighbours, exchanging information, and conducting joint operations. There should be development of cooperation between law enforcement, health, and civil society to ensure an effective curbing of the drugs threat. We are also establishing special sections with experts that receive special training and state of the art technology for curbing drug related crimes. Also we are working on the demand end through prevention of drug use and rehabilitation of addicts. We are conducting awareness raising campaigns to educate citizens regarding the harms of drugs. We are cooperating with international organisations to combat drugs through the UNDP and EU, but also we are in cooperation with bodies from the council of europe through other organisations. We want to exchange information and best practices. We take part in international operations against drug trafficking. Thank you.  [original statement here]

Belarus: The Conventions are the cornerstone of the international drug control system. Parties to the conventions need to fully implement them. Belarus is a transit country. In 2023, the national lawe enforcement bodies identified and stopped 48 channels for the supply of drugs in our country. Most end points were EU countries and Russia. A large shipment of 313 kg of heroin was heading to the EU. The National Subdivision for Drug Control conducted 9 controlled deliveries as a result of which six organisers and participants of trafficking were detained. We have seized six times more than in past years. We are weakening the international drug control system by legalising cannabis. The consequences could be the use of dangerous drugs and the legalisation of any kind of drugs. We underscore the importance of preventing and combating drugs through cooperation. We condemn unilateral coercive measures which create obstacles to cooperation and run counter to the UN Charter and legal obligations of states. Impedes access to OST and rehabilitation of drug users. Return to the rule of law and abide by international obligations by stopping these coercive measures. We can share our experiences and call upon countries to follow our example. We provide partners abroad interesting information and hope for mutual depoliticized cooperation. When it comes to drugs, we think its important that UNODC provides technical assistance and reiterate our experience to work with UNODC in the country. [original statement here]

Brunei Darussalam: Your Excellency, Madam Chair Distinguished Delegates Ladies and Gentlemen 1. At the outset, please allow me to congratulate all members who have been elected to the Bureau. 2. I am confident that we will see a healthy debate on the effective strategies to address some of the key challenges in implementing international drug policy. This year’s CND will also be an opportunity for us to take stock of what has already been done so that we can outline the way forward to 2029, in line with the Ministerial Declaration of 2019. 3. Before I move on, may I also state that Brunei Darussalam fully supports the statement delivered by Lao People’s Democratic Republic yesterday on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Madam Chair, 4. Brunei Darussalam reaffirms our commitment in addressing global drugs issues and in line with the ASEAN statement, we will continue to support the CND in its role as the principal policy-making body of the United Nations on drug control matters. 2 5. We underscore that the three (3) international drug control conventions which constitute the cornerstone of the international drug control system. Its strict compliance is vital in preventing abuse of controlled drugs for medical and research purposes. 6. With that in mind, we are deeply concerned with the legalization of cannabis for non-medical and non-scientific purposes which not only constitutes a significant challenge to the international community but also continues to pose a significant health and safety threat. We recognize that no two same countries share the same national circumstances and that states have the flexibility to implement drug control policies most suited to their domestic situation. However, we should be obligated to act within the framework of the international drug control conventions. Madam Chair, 7. Brunei Darussalam adopts a dual-pronged strategy in drug supply and demand reduction, which includes the vigorous enforcement of drug laws, advocating preventive drug education, treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers, as well as re-integration for former drug abusers, and upholds the zero-tolerance approach against drugs. 8. In this regard, we are blessed with the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam who has given us continuous guidance in steering our national strategy on drug control. In outlining his aspiration,  His Majesty has continued to emphasize the theme “Generasi Berwawasan” or “Generation with Vision” which calls upon Brunei Darussalam’s youth to equip themselves to face future challenges in realizing “Wawasan Brunei 2035” or Brunei Vision 2035. In order to protect our youth from the danger of illicit drugs, His Majesty also stressed on the importance of instilling awareness of drug abuse and to adopt “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Nation” approaches to overcome the challenges of drugs. 9. On the demand reduction front, we undertake to build and strengthen resilience across our community and particularly our youth through our preventive drug education programs, which aims to develop life skills and coping mechanism for rehabilitating drug abusers to sustain their abstinence from drug abuse. On this note, we cordially invite you all to visit our exhibition on “Drug Demand Reduction Approach in Brunei Darussalam” situated in the Rotunda. Madam Chair, 10. At the regional level, we will continue to strengthen our cooperation amongst our regional and dialogue partners in our collective vision for a Drug-Free ASEAN. 11. In line with the ASEAN Statement delivered yesterday, we reiterate our commitment to address and counter the world drug problem and resolve to continue to make a positive impact on communities and to actively promote a society free of drug abuse in ensuring that all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity, in line with our ASEAN regional goal. Madam Chair, 12. Brunei Darussalam also welcomes the 67th CND initiative, “Pledge 4 Action” and views this as an excellent effort to propel our international drug policy commitments into actions. 13. To this end, with a view to enhancing implementation of international drug policy commitments, and in addressing the challenge that drug treatment and health services continue to fall short of meeting needs and deaths related to drug use have increased, Brunei Darussalam pledges to improve our treatment and rehabilitation services by providing evidence-based programs and extension of facility by 2026. Ramadhan Kareem and Thank you.

Russian Federation – On behalf of Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei, Burkina Faso, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe. We acknowledge the process made to counter and address the world drug problem. We underscore the Single Convention, as amended in 1971 and the 1988 Convention. We affirm our commitments in full compliance with the international drug conventions and for a society free-of-drugs where all people can live in health, peace and security. We express concern over the high price of the world drug problem and pay respects to those that have sacrificed their lives in addressing the world drug problem. Challenges in drug policies, as defined in the three drug conventions, have intensified since 2019. The conventions do allow for flexibility in implementation, but drugs should be limited strictly to medical and scientific purposes, and allowing cannabis to be used for non-medical purposes is in breach of the legal binding provisions of the conventions. We express concern with the health effects of cannabis and in particular the negative effects for children and youth. Human rights and the right of a child to be protected from the use of drugs. Human rights must be respected in drug control. Respect for human rights is best served by using drugs for scientific and medical purposes only. Cross-border control is necessary to address drug related crime and international challenges and international, particularly those not in compliance with international law. There is no one-size-fits-all, something that works in one country might not work in another. We need to build resilience to keep youth drug-free and reintegrate former drug users into society. We urge MS to work towards this.The international community should not surrender to the scourge of drugs. We believe in harm prevention. 

Russian Federation: The drug trafficking criminals have adapted to covid pandemic by bringing everything online. This was lucrative as people were stuck in isolation and young people are adopting more liberal approaches to drug use. The Western provoked conflicts in various parts of the world have exacerbated the world drug problem. Afghanistan has tried to implement and address the world drug problem but it’s still struggling with 20 years of destabilisation. We call for the reestablishment of the Paris Pact Initiative (PPI) to deal with the world drug problem and foster international cooperation.International cooperation has waned because of liberal views around drugs. Also the use of UCMs have been implemented and these are leading to the failure of the international drugs strategy. We need to define what is best and depoliticize ways to address the issues. The three conventions are the way to rise above drug crime. The Russian Federation believes in traditional values. Family, community, health and safety are the backbone to any society. We are looking at the possibility of ??? and we will be discussing this issue when we chair BRICS. General sovereignty is important. This is not about imposing but providing to countries in need. We continue to provide to countries in Latin America and others. The Russian Federation pledges to advocate for INCB in-country training. We condemn the neo-nazi regime in Kiev and western terrorism towards Russia. (Mass walk out. Too much noise and commotion to hear clearly). Original statement here.

Video by Latinoamérica Reforma:

Syrian Arab Republic: Thank you Chair. Firstly, allow me to congratulate his excellency for his election to preside over this session. I’d like to congratulate everyone. We align ourselves with the statement made by the group of 77 and China by the ambassador of Colombia. We also align ourselves with the statement made by the Asia-Pacific region given by his excellency the ambassador of Nepal. Before I get into my statement, allow me within the context of our meeting here today in order to establish guidelines to help humanity, at this time, the Palestinian people are subject to the most ferocious aggression they’ve known in their history. Israeli aggression has led to the death of thousands of people. Furthermore, Israel has committed an unprecedented genocide, violating international law. We call upon the international community to shoulder their responsibility to oblige Israel to end this savage aggression, to allow the entry of aid to the Palestinian people, and to impose a sustained ceasefire. Given its national humanitarian responsibility and international commitments we have supported all means of cooperation to fight against drugs. We have ratified relevant international conventions. We have been and remain an effective member on a regional and international level. We have drawn up strategies to strengthen cooperation. We take part in meetings and conferences. Our participation today is proof of our commitment and conviction of the importance of cooperation to countering this scourge. The Syrian Arab Republic has for 13 years now been subject to an unfair terrorist war where all weapons have been used including drugs. A key source of funding for the terrorist groups has been drugs. They have exploited the geographic location and situation to carry out their criminal activities on our territory. Technological progress has played a role in developing means of transferring and smuggling drugs and has given varied and ever evolving means of carrying out criminal activities including drones. Efforts made to carry out operations in Syria have been sustained and are based on a firm legislative approach that stands against the crimes related to drugs. Also aligned with the humanitarian approach we consider problematic drug users to be sick and deserve treatment. We focus on fighting against both supply and demand. We have created strict policies in the use of drugs for legal purposes. We have set guidelines and treatment plans according to laws and regulations. We also monitor this policy through our national commission for the fight against drugs. We have a media commision which created a media campaign to protect society. The ministry of the interior has placed importance on the infrastructure for suppression. In 2022 we took part in the iron fish operation which was carried out in the UAE and which was organised by INTERPOL. We participated through the monitoring and carrying out of the Arab strategy to fight against the illicit use of drugs. We also took part in the Baghdad regional conferences to combat drugs in May 2023. We were also part of a working group which met in Cairo in 2023. We went to a four party meeting on including Jordan, Syria and Iraq earlier this year. These efforts have borne fruit in Syria. We have managed to dismantle several smuggling operations and networks. We have seized large quantities of drugs in 2023. We carried out 11,331 operations. We confiscated around 10 million captagon pills. This is a reality that reflects and illustrates significant growth in terms of quality and quantity. We are convinced that our responsibility to fight against drugs is shared and common. We do this according to our national policies and international obligations. Drug traffickers have become more sophisticated and this means we need to pool our efforts and find appropriate and sufficient efforts to deal with this. We continue to comply with our 2024-2029 national strategy. We are open to any collaboration to achieve our goals in spite of difficulties and challenges that we face, along with terrorism and occupation. We are open to any operation that helps strengthen our health service. The war has drained our resources. We hope that UNODC will provide us with material and logistic support when it comes to suppression and providing us with means of detecting drugs and confiscating drugs. Without cooperation and assistance we cannot effectively fight given our resources. We would like to reiterate our commitment to fight against transnational organised crime and at the top of our list, the illegal trafficking of drugs. We are ready to cooperate. [original statement here]

Greece: Honourable Chair, Esteemed and distinguished delegates, As the Greek Deputy Minister of Health, responsible for the portfolio of mental health, I am honored to address the distinguished members of the 67th Commission of Narcotic Drugs of the Unites Nations, to start allow me to express my full support to the statement made by the European Union. Greece has made significant steps in addressing addictions through a comprehensive approach, that focuses on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and social reintegration. Our commitment to these principles over the last 4 years has resulted in tangible progress with respect on human rights. We consider as one of the most important accomplishment, the establishment in Athens of the first Drug Consumption room in Southeast Europe. This facility provides a safe and supervised environment for substance use with no exceptions. 2 Furthermore, in order to enhance harm reduction, Greece is on the verge to launch Mobile Drug Consumption Units all over the country, in order to reach vulnerable populations in the remote areas as well. These mobile Units coupled with our recently expanded framework for the use of Naloxone by users and their families, reflect our unwavering commitment to prevent overdose related deaths. Not a single life should be lost due to overdose. To provide comprehensive support to those in need, Greece actively implements EU funded programs, specifically aimed at addiction, with a budget of over 60 million euros. In the upcoming funding period 2021- 2027, we will continue absorbing funds of extra 80 million euros. We will use these fundings in order to implement various initiatives focused on harm reduction, treatment, and protection of public health. 3 Public health as well as environmental issues are a top priority on our agenda, such as the safe collection of used syringes and the battle against homelessness. An essential entry of our strategy is the establishment of a “Toxification and Overdoses’ Reference Center” in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This Reference Center for cases of overdose incidents, will collaborate with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and all relevant stakeholders in the world. It will enhance our knowledge and preparedness in this field decisively. Furthermore, we have launched a program of supporting social entrepreneurship among ex users, empowering these individuals to establish businesses, so to integrate themselves thoroughly again into the community. To streamline and improve service delivery, we are in the process of voting on a new legislative framework. We establish the National 4 Organization for Prevention and Treatment of Addictions. This organization will merge and coordinate all addiction-related services in the country, in order to provide better, suitable and comprehensive treatment options for any kind of addiction. To expand access to treatment we will also create a number of new Detox facilities within General Hospitals in collaboration with the internal medicine and psychiatric departments. In conclusion, Greece remains steadfast in its commitment to combat addiction, to protect human rights, to promote public health, and to foster social inclusion. Through collaborative efforts, innovation, and evidencebased interventions, we provide a holistic and people centred approach, ensuring access to treatment for all without exclusions. To address the facts that 1) both the range of drugs and drug markets are expanding and diversifying 5 2) drug treatment and health services continue to fall short of meeting needs and, 3) the adverse health consequences and risks associated with new psychoactive substances have reached alarming levels. I pledge for Greece to organize within the upcoming 12 months, a “Scientific Roundtable on unmet needs for the treatment of stimulants and synthetic opioids addiction”, inviting the international scientific community and all global stakeholders to address this escalating challenge. Thank you for your attention.

Morocco: Madam vice chair, allow me to congratulate you on your election to 67 CND. This was illustrated during the preparation and Morocco supports your appointment and leadership. We thank UNODC and the secretariat. 

Vice chair, it is 5 years after the MS to take stock of the world drug problem, which took place in this room in 2019. Here it is time to improve the implementation of our commitments until 2029. Our response must include scientific, evidence-based approaches. To tackle the issue of drugs we need a human-centric approach. New drug use is spreading in unprecedented measures as reported by UNODC and INCB. We need better tailored strategies to find solutions. We have a new strategy that seeks to prevent addictive behaviour as early as possible. It focuses on human rights and the SDGs. With the rescheduling of cannabis, Morocco adopted new law in 2021, establishing a national agency for oversight and tracing all cannabis and cannabis related activities. We work to convert illegal crops into legal ones. For your information, some seizure data: 1 million tons of cannabis resin, >1 million tons of leaf and (more). This is a 75% increase since previous years. The world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility for health and well-being and must be dealt with by international cooperation. We breathe new life into our commitments at this HLS. We need consensus on world drug issues. We don;t all share the same consensus. The challenges posed by synthetic and currently 149 states committed to the US global synthetic coalition. We need to deal with drugs as a health and wellbeing issue. Need bilateral and trilateral agreements with focus on developing countries and Africa. Now we have just adopted an Outcome Document, there is no place for hot air or politics. We conclude by pledging new impetus to the world drug problem. Effective and sub-regional cooperation. Our pledge is to international cooperation, particularly with Africa on sharing lessons learned by Morocco. 

Lebanon: Thank you, Madam chair. Congrat your election and thank the UNODC Director, secretariat and staff. This session is very important. We assess the achievements made in the 2019 Ministerial Statement and we express our support for the mid-level review and reaffirm the 3 conventions as central to addressing the world drug problem. We need international cooperation and this is built on shared responsibility. Need to share tech assistance and to achieve SDGs. We stress the importance of gender equality. Women can also play their full role in combating the scourge of drugs. Two million displaced people from Syria places pressure on Lebanon, this is in addition to our current economic issues. The Lebanese human rights committee in the parliament is considering the right to treatment for every addict in the country. The Lebanese government authorities currently refer to addicts to treatment and we work with civil society to achieve this. The (law enforcement) office looked into over 5,000 cases of narcotics and 400+ people were arrested on drug offences. In closing, we affirm our commitment to UNODC and their country office in Beirut. 

Phillipines: The Philippines aligns itself with the statement of the G77 and the Asia-Pacific Group. In the midst of these challenging times, adapting proactive policies is crucial. Addressing these challenges necessitates not only adaptation and innovation, but an understanding of the dynamic nature of the drug problem. The Phillipines reaffirms its strong commitment to drug control and unites the division we share. Our government calls for an approach geared towards the welfare of our communities, calling for decisive action including education, treatment, aftercare, and reintegration. Our approach focuses on the wellbeing of people as our top priority guided by our policies which focus on a community-centred focus. Following the directives of our President, we aim to further enhance the drug strategy in our country by focusing on key areas under drug reduction and our anti-drug campaign. Our drug strategy should adopt a holistic, humane, rights-based, compassionate and health centred approach which envisions empowerment as the core of a healthy and safe country by 2028. This is structured around three pillars: supply control, demand reduction, health, social, and developmental services. This is with an emphasis on innovation within the supply control pillar. Under the drug demand reduction pillar our focus is on empowering local government units, restructuring treatment and rehabilitation, and amplifying cross sector health support. The health, social and developmental support pillar targets comprehensive support and provides skills training to ensure access to health and legal services all while reducing stigma, strengthening communities and preventing adverse health outcomes. On top of strengthening our strategy, we also acknowledge the importance of making resolutions with relevant agencies. Through an initiative, the technical coworking group aspires to refine the legislative framework growing on the experiences accumulated in over 20 years of knowledge. All this leads to the principles of upholding human rights and placing as the highest priority the importance of dignity for every individual. In facing the persistent global drug problem it is essential that we continue to gather information, learn from each other, and share best practices and approaches. I look forward to the discussion and exchange of ideas that will arise from this session. A dynamic problem requires strength in action as well as a robust environment. Finally, it is my hope that we all come up from this session with a more advanced understanding of the underlying context of the narcotics scourge as it manifests in different places. An international understanding allows us to craft global solutions. The Philippines is ready to actively participate in the discussion and discover with our international partners cutting edge techniques to deal with the drug issue with flexibility. Thank you.

Peru: It’s an honour to speak before this plenary and to express a warm greeting from the president of our republic as well as our position on tackling the world drug problem. For us this problem is highly relevant as the illegal trafficking of drugs is one of our most severe threats. This criminal activity undermines states stability through corruption and social violence, subjugating vulnerable populations to become part of this. The world’s drug problems should be tackled from a perspective that focuses on the key structural causes of the issue, which is the wicked model of drug trafficking characterised by a value chain linked to a criminal chain. At each level of this chain we have vulnerable families who provide a workforce, obliged either through necessity or subjugation and they are maintained by a short term view linked to the next transaction. This model operates in the same way as the global cooperation and in Peru the lowest level of the chain acts through intermediary gangs that easily become spare parts as they proliferate rapidly causing territorial disputes. The latest stages of the chain are outside of Peru and their strength is loyal clients who are addicted to drugs. They are able to specifically target sophisticated markets with greater demands. This model seeps into the social network by recruiting through many means including authorities, airport companies, etc which drives and feeds corruption at all levels of the chain. This also affects citizens’ security by increased attacks by people under the influence of drugs which is aimed at getting the next fix. It also has an impact on public health which goes way beyond overdose and death of drug use as it affects mental health in general affecting community life and a feeling of insecurity among citizens through fear of being attacked or assaulted. For Peru in addition, we have irreparable damage in the amazon region as coca production has encroached. The soils are not actually suitable for coca therefore it causes deforestation and the pollution of soils and endangered species. This model is highly profitable and complex so tackling the world’s drugs problems should lead to its elimination through a comprehensive approach that will allow us to break this chain of vulnerability. We want to help people rebuild a life that can bring them from an illegal economy to a legal economy, allowing them to have a medium to long term view. Peru has been implementing a comprehensive and balanced strategy which is based on the prevention of drug consumption and the application of the law. This must act in a way that we don’t stigmatise families and strictly respects ancestral customs. For its best application we must tackle this problem by focusing on families, making it clear that our common enemy is drug trafficking and their evil business model. The world drug problem has allowed us to have a central vision and that’s why we are giving rights to proposals such as the legalisation of cocaine. But we must ask ourselves – would that just be more of the same? Will be legalising 2CB? Fentanyl? A mix? We are at high risk when it comes to this idea of legalisation as this would be a driver of devastation of the amazon causing deforestation and putting the means of subsistence of our indigenous people and our whole planet at risk. Every dollar or euro invested in buying cocaine funds the devastation of the amazon ecosystem and they form part of the national heritage of humanity, thank you very much.

EU right of reply:

Thank you, chair. In response to the Russian Federation: The RF has used this forum to disable the liberal values.

This constitutes a breach of the UN charter and the EU will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Deliberate attacks on civilians and hospitals are international war crimes and it must stop. Thank you, madam chair.

Australia right of reply: Autonomous sanctions are legal under international law used against human rights and war crimes and deserving individuals. 

United States right of reply: We stand by the EU right of reply and as the US was mentioned we would like it noted that we mentioned a right of reply and we will send our full statement to the secretariat.

Ukraine right of reply: Thank you. Russian propaganda is used to white wash war crimes against Ukraine in violation of international law. 

UK right of reply: The United Kingdom aligns with the right of reply from the EU, Australia and Ukraine, and the US written statement to be submitted. People have a right to defend their homes and their countries.

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