Item 6. Follow-up to the implementation at the national, regional and international levels of all commitments, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, to address and counter the world drug problem (continued)
United States: The US takes the floor to address statements made yesterday regarding the mandate of the INCB which we do not share. INCB’s treaty mandated functions involve estimates, assisting member states and providing a mechanism for dialogue between member states and the Board. The INCB’s role does not involve monitoring member states. The statements yesterday are not shared by all and should not be used to interpret the treaties. … The US is not alone in that view or in that practice. Sanctions are not just punitive; they are a tool to change behavior. They can be and regularly are removed if the damaging behavior stops. They are used to stop behavior that threatens the US. We work diligently to minimise the effect of our sanctions on legitimate activities.
Organization of American States: We implement a 5 year plan. We are committed to the SDGs. Allow me to list some of the ways we are fulfilling that commitment. on universal health curricula by partnering with universities. CICAD promotes gender equality, environmental conservation by identifying means of replacing illicit cultivation with licit activities, reducing the number of clandestine landing strips which involve the destruction of forests CICAD develops early warning systems on drugs, and evaluation system identifies strengths and weaknesses in member states approaches. I thank Antigua and Barbuda, the current CICAD Chairs, in overseeing the implementation of the plan of action.
Singapore Anti-narcotics Association (SANA): SANA would like to extend our gratitude to the CND and to the VNGOC for providing us this opportunity to reiterate SANA’s efforts on the world drug problem. We are registered in Singapore with the mission to educate the community on the harms of drug abuse, provide support, and advocate for a drug-free society.ee work closely with students, NGOs, etc. We work closely with personas in recovery and families to build a strong system of the pro-social report to support people moving towards abstinence. We reached 74,000 youth in 2024. We work closely with volunteers at grassroots level tos support families impacted by drug use. The world drug problem remains a challenge globally. Almost 292 million people use drugs. This is 20% more than a decade ago. To combat this issue we recognise that civil society has a duty to share evidence/based information about risks and harms. We want to develop with governments to develop evidence/based interventions. Everyone has the right to be protected from the harms caused by illicit drug use and be supported to experience a drug/free life. Only less than 9% with SUD have access to treatment.t In ASia that is even lower. With the aim to push back against the legalisation of drugs we have initiated the Asia-Pacific Confederation Against Drugs. It is a multilateral community of NGOs that come together for stronger demand/reduction and for stronger regional cooperation for drugs and share best/practices in rehabilitation and treatment. We share the concern that illicit drug use is undermining values and threatening communities. We will be gathering NGOs and individuals from the region to share ways to tackle drugs in the jurisdiction. So to conclude we would like to urge everyone to up the ante to improve close cooperation.
Association Proyecto Hombre: Drug use remains a significant global challenge, but science is increasingly proving that many drug-related issues are preventable. Countries are urged by existing political commitments such as the 2016 UNGASS Outcome Document and the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. And now, countries are further oriented by the guiding proposals of the “Declaration of Oviedo” the Global Initiative on Drug Use Prevention, an unprecedented call from civil society, academia and governments to incorporate science-based prevention in drug policy that already counts on the support of 2,800 organisations in 165 countries. We call on countries to allocate at least 25% of their drug demand reduction budget to prevention by 2030, emphasizing strategies that target all ages and prioritize early intervention; advocate for robust research and evaluation to eliminate ineffective or counterproductive practices while broadening prevention efforts to focus on individuals and communities rather than just drugs; mainstream intersectional approaches supporting key populations and boosting multi-stakeholder systems; enhance universal coverage through a continuum of care as a human right, with a special focus on low- and middle-income countries; and empower prevention professionals while tracking policy through accountable monitoring. Since January 2024, the Oviedo Initiative has gained significant global reach due to its political neutrality, the ongoing efforts of 170 focal points advocating locally and nationally, and a dedicated task force coordinating the initiative worldwide. Promoting an inclusive, no-harm approach by ensuring accessibility and transparency, encouraging multi stakeholder and multilateral collaboration, the proposals are concisely defined and have been translated into over 45 languages. The initiative has prompted hundreds of action-oriented activities, including meetings, workshops, and consultations that evolve based on feedback, cultural diversity, and emerging challenges. Drug policies should be complemented by improved public health, education, justice, governmental, private, and social services at individual, community, institutional, and societal levels. Programmes must be tailored to the specific intersectional identities and needs of each community and person. These strategies should create cycles and systems of support in communities, while intertwining prevention with health promotion, early intervention, harm reduction, addiction treatment, recovery, and social integration. We must recognize that none of these activities work in isolation but are interconnected, and each plays a pivotal role in improving the health, well-being, lives and future of people while protecting their rights. To conclude, it is crucial, now more than ever, for member states, civil society organizations, and international organizations to come together with the goal of drafting a holistic agenda on science-based prevention. We call on member states to commit to policy-level changes to ensure that evidence-based prevention is incorporated into drug and wider policies. Together, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no country, no community, no family, no person, and no child is left behind.
American Kratom Association: On behalf of the European Kratom Alliance and the American Kratom Association, I call on the European Union and member states to establish a regulatory framework for kratom. Such measures should include a broad range of stakeholders, emphasising education and harm reduction strategies that promote informed decision making rather than just relying on restrictive measures.
Instituto RIA: Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, I am Zara Snapp from Instituto Ria, and I am here to speak on a crucial topic: the need for drug policy reforms that put social justice at the center. If we truly want to advance peacebuilding, it is essential to recognize that people who use drugs are the subjects of human rights. We are not the problem, but part of the solution. For decades, prohibitionist policies have generated more harm than good: criminalization, violence, and stigmatization have been the institutional responses. However, evidence shows that punitive models fail to reduce drug markets and instead deepen inequalities and violate the rights of the most excluded people. It is time to change the paradigm. The commitments of our countries in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration requires us to evaluate the progress and setbacks of our strategies. Now, more than ever, the discussions within the CND feel even further removed from the reality of our communities. While we have seen a variety of health and harm reduction approaches in recent years, it is also evident that we are still far from meeting the goal of ensuring people’s well-being. What has increased are the negative impacts of criminalization on our communities. A world free of psychoactive plants and substances is neither possible nor desirable; rather, we need to consider how to delay the age of initiation and prevent problematic use. According to the United Nations, the vast majority of users worldwide do not engage in problematic use, and we need to consider information and risk and harm reduction interventions. At Instituto Ria, we promote the generation of evidence based on the experiences of users and those involved in currently unregulated markets. Listening to those who have experienced the consequences of these policies is an essential step in designing effective, humane, and fair responses. It is essential to guarantee the participation of producing communities in supply, allowing for a more equitable distribution of resources throughout the production chain. Human rights-based regulation, with a focus on social justice and reparation, is key to peacebuilding. Today, more than ever, it is urgent that this international forum stop perpetuating punitive discourses and adopt concrete commitments to approaches that prioritize well-being and social justice. Reforming drug policies is not only a matter of public health, but also of human rights and peace. Thank you very much.
Harm Reduction International: Thank you, Chair. On behalf of several NGOs, I am raising an urgent alarm regarding the catastrophic impact of US funding cuts on people who use drugs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These cuts have escalated harm, disrupted essential services, and placed thousands at immediate risk. Harm reduction in low- and middle-income countries has long been in crisis. Harm Reduction International has documented this extensively, including in the Global State of Harm Reduction reports. However, the recent US funding freeze has exacerbated the situation, directly undermining efforts to end AIDS, TB, and viral hepatitis. The consequences of these cuts are devastating. Funding for essential harm reduction services has been halted overnight. Globally, clinicians, support staff, and administrators have been dismissed without notice. Peer workers—who have worked tirelessly to stabilise their lives—have suddenly lost access to HIV and HCV medications, medical services, social support, income, and daily purpose. Many will soon lose their housing. They will return to the streets. They will once again turn to unregulated drugs. Many will die. Where services remain active, fear, anxiety, and instability prevail. Trust in harm reduction programs—and in the United States as a funding partner—has been severely damaged. Community organisations that sustained harm reduction efforts through the COVID-19 crisis now find themselves powerless to respond. These frontline organisations must be protected and properly funded to continue their lifesaving work. Harm reduction is not abstract; it is a proven, cost-effective public health intervention endorsed by the whole UN system, including this forum. It reduces HIV transmission, improves treatment adherence, and enhances overall health outcomes. Opioid agonist therapy (OAT)—or medically assisted treatment (MAT) in US government terminology—leads to undetectable viral loads and prevents new HIV infections. In 2022, PEPFAR was the second-largest donor to harm reduction in low- and middle-income countries, contributing USD 7.9 million to services that reached 27,000 people with OAT. The sudden withdrawal of this funding disrupts not only these programs but also global efforts to end AIDS by 2030. Mathematical modelling already predicts an immediate rise in HIV transmission and overdose deaths. We call on governments and donors to take action now. Firstly, governments must urgently prioritise and invest in harm reduction, particularly OAT, within their domestic budgets. Domestic funding is the most sustainable solution to prevent unnecessary deaths and meet global HIV, HCV, and TB targets. Urgent action must be taken to ensure that community and civil society organisations can receive funding as the backbone of responses in many countries, with social contracting mechanisms. Secondly, we call on governments to prioritise their investments in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The Global Fund is the largest donor to harm reduction in these regions and its role has never been more critical. This year, the Global Fund is holding its 8th replenishment, co-hosted by South Africa and the UK. Since 2002, the Fund has mobilised $63 billion, saving 65 million lives in over 100 countries. To continue this lifesaving work, the Global Fund seeks an investment of USD 18 billion, saving 23 million more lives and preventing 400 million infections between 2027 and 2029. Donor support remains critical, and we call on government and philanthropic donors to increase—not cut—their investments in harm reduction and the Global Fund. Thirdly, it is time to accept accountability for the damage caused by criminalisation. For decades, punitive drug policies have obstructed public health efforts, fuelled mass incarceration, and enabled human rights violations, including the death penalty in some jurisdictions. The militarised, punitive approach to drug use has retraumatised already vulnerable populations. Many lives have been lost. The economic, public health, and human rights case is clear—governments must shift resources away from punitive drug enforcement and invest in community-based health, harm reduction, and justice initiatives. We urge all governments and donors to step up and divest from the militarised and criminal justice approach to drugs and invest to ensure the future of harm reduction. Investing in harm reduction is not just a moral obligation; it is an investment in global health, security, and human dignity.
Harm Reduction Australia: My name is Scott Wilson. I am an Indigenous person from Australia and the Chairperson of the International Indigenous Drug Policy Alliance. Indigenous Peoples have long endured disproportionate harms from drug policies and law enforcement, while our cultural knowledge, lived experiences and communities’ needs remain overlooked.The consequences are severe: inequitable health outcomes, overrepresentation in criminal justice, increased drug related harms and racist systemic barriers. When engaged, Indigenous Peoples have shaped human rights and international policy for the better, as demonstrated by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. While the UN has made progress in recognising Indigenous Peoples, significant barriers still prevent meaningful participation in global drug policymaking. CND Resolution 67/3 encouraged Member States to include Indigenous Peoples in drug policy decisions, considering our cultures, knowledge, and traditions. UN resolutions – including CND resolutions 61/7 on vulnerable groups and 66/4, General Assembly resolution 79/191 adopted in December 2024 and Human Rights Council resolution 56/20 on HIV and 52/24 on drug policy – have reaffirmed Indigenous Peoples rights, yet implementation remains inadequate. Structural barriers such as consultative status requirements, limited engagement platforms, language obstacles, and insufficient funding hinder our participation. To uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which guarantees self-determination and decision-making rights, these barriers must be removed. To conclude, I’ll share a case study. Australia’s 10-year National Agreement on Closing the Gap commits governments and Indigenous Peoples representative bodies to systemic reform to achieve equal health and social outcomes. Priority Reform 1 focusses on formal partnerships and shared decision making. Results so far show that Indigenous-led responses and shared decision-making transform systems and policies and improve outcomes. As the only Indigenous person speaking in the CND68 plenary, I see this as an urgent call to action. Systemic change, inclusion, and resources are essential for Indigenous voices to shape drug policy to meet our community’s needs. I invite you to our side event this week. I urge you, let’s work together on drug policy solutions that respect and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples rights, cultures, and aspirations. Thank you
Frontline AIDS (with MENAHRA and Skoun): Thank you Chair. Excellencies, my name is Michelle Wazan and I am delivering this statement on behalf of Frontline AIDS, MENAHRA and Skoun, a harm reduction organization operating in Lebanon since 2003. Lebanon has been facing compounded crises for years and is now grappling with the devastation of war. In times of crisis, the rights of people who use drugs are deprioritized or forgotten. Yet, as highlighted in the UNODC’s World Drug Report as well as the OHCHR 2023 report, crisis and conflict increase both substance use and the risk of developing a substance use disorder. The European Web Survey on Drugs, conducted in Lebanon in the summer of 2024 found a rise in cannabis and cocaine use among individuals who have been affected physically or psychologically by the airstrikes. Crisis also fuels gender-based violence—as we’ve seen during Covid, Lebanon’s financial collapse, and during war. Women, particularly those from marginalized groups, and gender-diverse people face heightened risks, exacerbated by the criminalization of drug use. UNODC, UNAIDS, and the WHO—as well as civil society and communities—have emphasized the link between Gender Based Violence and substance use, with women who use drugs being up to 24 times more at risk of violence than women who don’t, yet this remains overlooked in policy responses. Similarly overlooked in policy and practice are the sexual and reproductive health and HIV-related needs of women who use drugs. To address these overlapping vulnerabilities, in line with the commitments made in the Ministerial Declaration to “leave no one behind” and to encourage different UN entities to contribute to addressing the world drug problem, a coordinated UN response is essential—one that meaningfully involves human rights and humanitarian agencies. Harm reduction must not be an afterthought but an integral part of humanitarian and GBV response efforts and must receive adequate funding. Incarcerated individuals must also not be left behind, a recent study conducted by MENAHRA on harm reduction services for women in prisons across the MENA region highlights the severe gaps in access to essential healthcare, including HIV prevention, Opioid Agonist Therapy, and mental health support. Women in detention—many of whom are incarcerated for drug-related offenses—face heightened stigma and gender-based violence, with little to no protection or tailored harm reduction interventions. These findings reinforce the urgent need for gender-responsive harm reduction strategies and prison reform that prioritizes the health and rights of women who use drugs. Finally, repressive drug policies perpetuate harm rather than reduce it, pushing already vulnerable populations further into cycles of violence, poverty, and exclusion, and increasing their risk of acquiring HIV and other blood borne viruses. We therefore urge Member States to decriminalize drug use as a necessary step to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of women and gender-diverse people. Governments must shift resources away from punitive drug enforcement and invest in community-based health, and harm reduction. Thank you.
International Association Hospice Palliative Care (IAHPC): (…)
EU right of reply. Allow me to reiterate that EU restrictive measures are imposed to counter serious human rights violations. Their aim is to preserve peace and security. We consider restrictive measures as a necessary peaceful tool to uphold the rule of law to prevent WMDs, counter terrorism, and respond to cyber attacks. This is in fulfilment of international law including human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee commitments. EU sanctions are temporary and targeted. They are regularly reviewed and subject to close judicial scrutiny. They do not create obligations for non-EU member states unless their actions are conducted in the EU. Our restrictive measures do not stand in the way of humanitarian measures. Humanitarian exceptions are comparable to those used in UN regimes.
Chair: That brings to conclusion our consideration of item 6.
7: Inter-agency cooperation and coordination of efforts in addressing and countering the world drug problem
Chair: In the Outcome Document of the 30th session of the UN general assembly in 2016, member states expressed appreciation to the UNODC for their assistance to member states. Further, collaboration was encouraged with financial and other institutions. When assisting member states in designing programmes, the Commission also encourages horizontal cooperation with other agencies including ECOSOC. In accordance with the 2024 mid-term review, member states committed to scale up efforts at multiple levels including with financial institutions and regional organisation in accordance with their respective mandates in countering the world drug problem. The UNODC will provide further information on the UN system task team in our consideration of this agenda item.
UNODC: Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The UN remains resolute in its effort to preserve peace and security, human rights, rule of law, and development, the four funding pillars of our organisations. A multifaceted world drug problem requires a truly comprehensive, integrated, balanced, and human rights-based responses. The United Nations secretariat has collaborated effectively over decades, notwithstanding several issues. Last year we presented to the Commission an extensive report on inter/agency cooperation. We can say that collectively we have put people at the heart of responses, recognising that the very nature of our well-intentioned mandates could lead to situations where there could be conflict we decided to speak as one. Based on evidence and research we have recognised that challenges poised by drugs have wide-ranging adverse impacts on security, health, human rights, and development. We have adopted a common position on 8 mutually agreed principles. We have defined an internal position to help support countries in implementing the UNGASS. We have established a task team to implement the Common Position. Our report to the commission this year details the activities under in 2024 under the banner of inter/agency cooperation to address the world drug problem. Some points to highlight: inter-agency cooperation on health aspects remains very strong. THe CHAMPS initiative now includes partners across the UN system such as WHO, UNFPA, UN Habitat, and UNICEF. Roll-out of the initiatives are being initiated in various countries and we look forward to support member states though coordinated work. We have also coordinated on treatment of drug use disorders, management of overdose, protection human rights, and assistance in humanitarian settings and prisons. Second, UNODC ia co-sponsor of the UN Joint Programme on HIV and closely with other co-sponsors to address HIV in challenging situations. Thirdly, UNODC synthetic strategies expanded to reinforce a coordinated and integrated approach.W e work on countering trafficking by air, sharing knowledge on public-private partnerships, as well as the launch of a new programme called UN leaders, a fellowship programme. The UNODC passenger and container programme is helping counter trafficking by sea and air whilst facilitating licit trade. At the same time the Postal Union, WHO, Interpol, and other entities work on different aspects of detecting and deterring trafficking. Alternative Development remains a critical area with different UN entities working on the grant with UNODC to assist people on the ground to access alternative livelihoods. Since the Common Position was adopted in 2018 the global landscape has gone through significant changes. Data attests to these changes. We face the most difficult challenge of the 21st century, synthetic drugs. It has turned the world drug problem into a new dimension. They offer flexibility. They do not require large packages. They are expanding in LMICs, even in countries with good rule of law. We can adopt other strategies to mitigate the impact of the drug problem in societies. In order to leverage expertise and foster coordinated action, these are crucial to maximising the impacts of the UN system to turn commitments into concrete results.
Chair: I invite member states to refer to the different initiatives that are taking place in the context of inter-agency cooperation.We know that in the future budgets will be limited, so we will need to invite speakers to focus on individual initiatives.
European Union (on behalf of European Union): Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. The global drug situation is so complex that it requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and future-oriented approach by all actors and at all levels. We cannot work in silos if we want to be effective and we therefore need to further enhance inter-agency cooperation and coordination. This is a commitment that was undertaken during the 2024 mid-term review and set out in the high-level declaration by the CND. We all agreed to encourage further contributions of relevant UN entities, international financial institutions and relevant regional and international organizations, within their respective mandates, to the work of the CND and to addressing the world drug situation as well as to strengthening international and inter-agency cooperation. This should contribute to facilitating the work of the CND and enhancing coherence within the UN system at all levels with regard to the world drug situation. We need to tackle all aspects of the world drug situation, including its health and human rights dimensions. We therefore welcome the participation of representatives of UN entities such as WHO, UNAIDS, UN Women, OHCHR, UNDP in the work of the CND and appreciate their involvement in drug policy in general. We count on increased coordination between the relevant UN bodies in New York, Geneva and Vienna, given the linkages between the topics of drugs, crime, health, gender, development and human rights. We welcome the positive steps in this direction, such as the UNODC-WHO cooperation, for example in the implementation of the joint programme on drug dependence treatment and care. We also welcome the attention by the Human Rights Council to effectively addressing and countering the world drug situation with regard to human rights. In this context, we take note of the reports of OHCHR on Human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem and of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health focusing on drug use, harm reduction and the right to health. Inter-agency cooperation and coordination is vital in a number of specific areas. For example, on the topic of access to and availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, in the last year’s CND resolution 67/2, the UNODC, INCB, WHO and other relevant UN entities were invited to develop guidance for the rational use of controlled substances, with attention to the specific needs of children, and to continue to provide multidisciplinary support to Member States. On the topic of improving data collection on, and responses to, the harmful effects of the non-medical use of pharmaceuticals, in particular synthetic opioids, in accordance with CND resolution 64/4, UNODC, INCB, WHO and other relevant UN entities and regional and intergovernmental organisations were invited to streamline the collection of data, share best practices to enhance global data collection, and provide analysis and reporting on trends and responses to the harmful effects of these substances, thereby strengthening inter-agency cooperation and avoiding duplication of work. On the topic of preventing and responding to drug overdose through prevention, treatment, care and recovery measures, as well as other public health interventions, to address the harms associated with illicit drug use as part of a balanced, comprehensive, scientific evidence-based approach, in accordance with CND resolution 67/4, UNODC, WHO and other relevant UN entities and regional and international organisations were also invited to cooperate and expand existing efforts related to overdose prevention and response[, including by collecting and facilitating the exchange of best practices, scientific evidence-based prevention, demand reduction, treatment, recovery support and other public health interventions. These organisations and Member States were also invited to develop or strengthen systems for the collection, analysis and sharing of information related to drug overdoses, including early warning networks, and the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders to identify trends and emerging threats, and inform public health responses]. Mr Chair, We continue to support the UN Common Position on drug policy and the steps in implementing it. We would welcome more regular briefings on this topic to keep Member States informed, and encourage UNODC to remain actively engaged as the leading entity of the UN Task Team. We invite UNODC to include a mention of the Position in the new version of UNODC’s corporate Strategy. [The EU and its Member States continue to engage in the Global Coalition to address synthetic drug threats, including its working group on public health and the sub-working group on information sharing, inter-agency collaboration and policy formulation.] The EU and its Member States also underline the importance of working with civil society and the scientific community, as well as the private sector, where relevant, in addressing the world drug situation and in shaping drug policies, given their valuable role, practical experience, expertise and networks. Mr. Chair, To conclude, let me underline that the EU will continue to support enhancing synergies, coherence and complementarity within the United Nations system at all levels with regard to the world drug situation. The inter-agency cooperation is key to accelerating the implementation of our joint commitments to address the world drug situation. Thank you, Mr Chair.
Thailand: Since 2021, Thailand has decriminalised drug addiction shifting from punishment to public health care. Our approach focuses on 3 strategies. We build strong relationships with ministries of health, justice and defence to build strong rehabilitation systems, now reaching more than half of those in need. Community-based care is crucial, we launched a project supporting 60,000 patients each year. Key interventions includes reducing stigma and strengthening referral systems. While we have made progress we recognise the need to strengthen efforts to support recovery. We recognise the need to reduce health-related violence. We are ready to collaborate with other states to address stimulant use disorders.
Singapore: We reaffirm the principal role of the UNODC and underscore the role of member states to comply with the three drug control conventions. The UNODC has worked tirelessly to coordinate global partnerships, ensure comparable data. Singapore is committed to advance the welfare of all those who face the scourge of drugs. Singapore recognises the role and work of the WHO and INCB in addressing the world drug problem. Their expertise is crucial in ensuring we are aligned with the treaties. Since 2022, Singapore has co-hosted the UNODC forensic science symposium. Our experts have contributed their inputs. We have organised annual training programs to equip participants from over 30 countries. In 2024, we successfully co-organised a program with the Australian police, bringing over police officers from ASEAN. These signify our unwavering commitment. Over the years, Singapore has benefited from the efforts of partners and we stand ready to do more.
Canada: Distinguished delegates, we recognise that the global situation requires a coordinated approach at all levels. Moreover, we must ensure effective inter institutional cooperation to ensure that responses are aligned with health. We must combat (…)
Nigeria: In our commitments to safeguarding our future and ensuring no one is left behind, Nigeria priorities treatment and prevention. Nigeria has doubled treatment facilities and established telephone centre with hotlines with language-sensitive services to improve quality of life. We have also ensured capacity-building for frontline workers and others to ensure officers trained in the provision of prevention and care. Nigeria coordinates with national authorities and established a centre to ensure seamless coordination. At sub-national level, authorities have been set up to ensure coordination, to strengthen drug control activities. Nigeria works to ensure access to controlled medicines. Nigeria also collaborates with institutes of higher learning.
Republic of Korea: We strongly believe that addressing drug crime is a shared duty. We need to create drug policies that are tailored to every country. Drug trafficking impacts communities. That is why we are fully committed to stop illegal drugs’ spread in societies. Since 1989, ever year we hold a meeting of drug officials, making it the most successful drug conference in Asia. We bring together around 30 countries to share drug-related information and discuss drug-related trends. We will be fighting drug crime. In response to larger drug threats, the prosecutors’ office is working together with 10 Asian countries to support timely information sharing and help countries stop illegal drug trafficking. Furthermore, to dismantle drug trafficking we are trying to expand partnerships with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. By working closely with local authorities, we can take down criminal networks, take more harm, etc. In conclusion, Korea will keep working hard to address crime through team work. Only by working together we can stop this global threat. We help UNODC for this important work.
India: Drug issues transcends international borders and requires an unified approach. India strongly believes that the coordination needs to be carried out at global level. At a global level we have demonstrated our commitment to combating drug-trafficking and abuse. Our efforts are aligned with the objectives and frameworks as per the drug conventions. We participate in workshops and conferences organised by Interpol, etc. We are participating in international platforms too. Additionally, we engage in many multilateral events to strengthen drug control efforts. We are committed to strengthen cooperation with countries in south asia to combat drugs and share best practices in prevention and treatment. We have created a strong collaborative framework and we are committed to coordination and capacity building. Recently, we held a capacity-building initiative for south asia and colombo countries. We also responsibly share real-time information on suspicious shipments through various platforms. We also collaborate with officers from other countries to exchange intelligence. We have established a 40 year coordination mechanism that is helping us in policy and cooperation matters. Our active involvement in international cooperation to combat drug trafficking. Participation in multilateral forums, capacity-building initiatives, et.c, we are playing a critical role to strengthen cooperative work over time.
Cuba: At this stage we should ask ourselves the question: how despite the ahrsh economic blockade on Cuba, can Cuba balance efforts? Cuba has made strong efforts on drug control to exert zero tolerance. Education strategies educate our people and youth to reject this scourge. Cuba neither stores nor produces drugs but is affected as a transit country. We have a system to tackle drugs including synthetic opioids and methamphetamine. To avoid the development of domestic criminal organisations, this systematic work since 2024 has enabled us to thwart attempts to smuggle drugs by air and sea. We have seized 123 parcels of drugs not intended for Cuba, and 1051kg of marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines. We have developed special prosecutor techniques, together with counterparts to exchange real time information. We firmly believe that we will prevail against drugs and guided by our leader Fidel Castro. If we do not do more, drugs will gain ground, that is why we will do what is needed to avoid drugs inflicting our youth.
Malaysia: At the national level, the MoHA plays a central role in coordinating efforts including with the police, departments of health. We provide rehabilitation services and prevention efforts to raise awareness. We encourage innovative collaboration with NGOs and other agencies. Under the ASEAN umbrella, Malaysia is a member of ASEAN NARCO which serves as a coordinating platform. Malaysia also contributes data to the ASEAN drug monitoring report, and participates in international platforms. This year, Malaysia will host the inaugural meeting on toxicology in April which brings together experts from the field. Malaysia is committed to strengthening inter-agency cooperation, by enhancing collaboration amongst law enforcement agencies, we can implement comprehensive strategies. Our commitment to multi-sector partnership will enhance our commitments to ensuring a healthy society.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: The UK remains committed to strengthening inter-agency cooperation. Our NCA and other enforcement agencies continue to deliver international law enforcement to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs. Strengthened cooperation and enhanced intelligence-sharing have allowed us to target organised crime more effectively. We continue to work closely with our advisory council on misuse of drugs, as well as a range of national and international experts and analysis, to ensure we are responsive to emerging challenges. Inter-agency cooperation is indispensable to tackle the complex threats posed by illicit drugs. We thank the UNODC for providing the space to discuss this important issues.
Trinidad and Tobago: As a small developing state situated amongst trafficking routes recognise that no country can combat this issue alone. An approach rooted in strong partnerships is essential. At the national level we have strengthened coordination at law enforcement level to ensure a balanced approach to drug control. Our national drug council plays a critical role, while our agencies work together to enhance intelligence sharing and provide intelligence-based responses. We continue to collaborate with CARICOM, the OAS, the UNODC, Interpol to strengthen border security and combat trafficking networks. Through our engagement with CICOP we have strengthened operational capacity by providing equipment to law enforcement. This has improved border/control measures and strengthened support for threats. However, inter-agency cooperation extends to law enforcement. With our agency-sharing date we would not have been able to develop our Early Warning System. Data-driven insights that our responses remain proactive rather than reactive. Moreover, we recognise the indispensable role of young people in sha[ing a drug-free future. Financial limitations should not be a barrier to their involvement. We must explore innovative ways to integrate their perspectives. Chair, inter-agency coordination whether through intelligence-sharing, capacity-building, is invaluable. We urge continued investment in technical assistance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms. By strengthening inter-agency cooperation we can bring more resilient evidence-driven responses.
Morocco: Thank you Justice Tettey for his comprehensive presentation on this item. I would like to make 3 comments and 1 question. We concur that cooperation is vital between all the relevant UN organisations and specialised institutions to address the world drug problem. Second, all the documents we have adopted since 2009 and 2016 underline the issue of drugs as a public health issue but at the same time we need to take measures to fight drug trafficking and explore the nexus between drugs and crime, including transnational organised crime. The 2019 Declaration and the 2024 mid-term review underlines the importance of coordination and the collaborative approach amongst all organisations dealing with health. But member states still have difficulties to have an emergency preparedness response due to a lack of planning amongst UN agencies dealing with this. May i ask you in view of 2029 and the review of the SDGs in 2030, is the UNODC planning to propose an action plan on building new partnership between the relevant UN organisations to strengthen the synergy and this collaborative approach amongst all the relevant organisations?
Colombia: As stated previously, it appears that collectively we are repeating the same formula while expecting different results. The UN cannot keep on focussing on activities that lack significant impact. The current drug control system has been unable to meet its goals nor has it the sufficient flexibility to keep pace with the dynamic evolution of drug-related matters. Hence our appeal that inter-agency collaboration focus on work and dialgoue to broaden our understanding and inform actions. We urge two matters: continue the work started with the OHCHR, special procedures and treaty bodies and to invite the UN environment programme to engage with this Commission. The existential threat to life on the planet does not leave us sufficient margin to fail. Ambitious action is needed to preserve our environment. We underscore the signing of the MOU between UNODC and UNIDO to harness synergies.
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL): As a neutral international organisation we have been at the forefront of addressing the world drug problem to address drug problems. Additionally, we oversee 19 policy databases including 160 million data points on wanted individuals and other facts. These databases were searched 80 billion times by law enforcement bodies. Providing capacity-building for law enforcement and providing threat analysis were key. We used these tools to prevent illicit drug trafficking including through enhanced inter-agency cooperation. A powerful example is project Poseidon to analyse the SKYECC database in Africa. We used this to identify a 750 kg cocaine shipment from Latin America to Benin. We issued 26 purple notices related to drug trafficking as well as 5 intelligence packages in partnership with UNODC and world customs organisation. 6 reports were issued on pink cocaine nitazenes…water. We brought together 26 countries and inter-governmental organisations to combat the threats of supply. We identify emerging trafficking groups and ensure that our response is strong and coordinated. We have played a vital role in tackling the world rug problem. By utilising our network and strong partnerships, we have supported efforts for a safer world. Thank you.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, The UN Human Rights Office continues to collaborate with UN partners to advocate for a human rights-based approach to drug policy, as provided for in the Common Position. OHCHR is an active member of the United Nations Task Team on drug related matters. Throughout the last year, OHCHR participated in several meetings of the Task Team on drugs. OHCHR appreciates UNODC’s leadership in advancing the implementation of the Common Position under the umbrella of the Task Team. In collaboration with UN partners, OHCHR also supported the national authorities, CSO partners and other stakeholders including the community of people who use drugs to advance human rights centred drug policy. In Colombia, for example, OHCHR coordinated its drug policy programmes with UNODC at the municipal level, in particular to share analyses from a human rights perspective. In Pakistan, in cooperation with national entities andUNODC, UNAIDS and UNDP, OHCHR contributed to a conference held in 2024 on the topic “Reimagining justice: a public health- and human rights-centred drug policy”. In January this year, a follow up high level consultation on drug policy and law reform in Pakistan was held, at which OHCHR, UNDP and UNAIDS participated and recommended Pakistan to consider alternative to incarceration for minor drug offences, and introduce rehabilitation and harm reduction services In Sri Lanka, OHCHR collaborated with UNDP and the Office of the UNRC to develop a policy brief on drug policy in the context of the Sustainable Development Goal 2023 Agenda and human rights. In Jordan, OHCHR provide a briefing on human rights-based approach to drug policy to members of the UNCTconvened by the UN Resident Coordinator Office. Throughout the last year, the dissemination, promotion, and dialogues on the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy continued to be delivered by OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP and WHO and other partners. In this regard, the Office particularly recognizes the support of the governments of German, Switzerland and the Open Society Foundation. Finally, the OHCHR is very concerned about the decrease in funds for international aid, including for the health sector. Cutting funding at this fragile moment is like cutting off the future for so many people around the world. For many people, it is a matter of life and death. For example, drug use is the cause of one in ten new HIV infections. To deal with HIV and drug use effectively, governments should make sure that people who inject drugs can access harm reduction, treatment and medical care services. Adequate and sustained funding for such services is urgently needed to save lives. At this critical juncture, OHCHR is committed to working with UN partners. We sincerely believe that we can overcome this crisis if we strengthen our cooperation and join hands to promote and protect the human rights of all, especially vulnerable people such as people who use drugs. Thank you, Chair.
UNAIDS: (Pre-recorded video message)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. On behalf of a network of over 190 societies, we reiterate our commitment to addressing HIV and substance use. We support a strong collaboration between the UNODC and other agencies. The IFRC supports updating the guidelines for addressing HIV within humanitarian settings. Within our work in disaster stricken regions and migratory routes, we witness the need for emergency responses to HIV. Community support is vital in addressing substance use and HIV. Compassion and science should guide our efforts. We support an evidence-based approach to substance use and HIV. Substance abuse remains a critical public health concern especially in emergency where trauma and lack of healthcare. Harm reduction services including OST and NSP and psychosocial support must be integrated into the response to improve health outcomes. We recognise the funding challenges however sustainable and early interventions are key.
Dejusticia: (…)
Open Society Institute:Thank you, Mr Chair, for giving me the floor. Open Society Foundations are a private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity and justice. OSF are a strong proponent of inter-agency cooperation and coordination of efforts, particularly when it comes to harm reduction and reducing criminal sanctions for people who use drugs in addressing the world drug situation. For the past 30 years OSF has sought to promote harm reduction as a set of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. Our work helped pioneer the first needle and syringe services, methadone programs and take-home naloxone programs in multiple countries, as well as drug checking services and overdose prevention centers. This work is in service of defending personal dignity, advancing public health AND community safety. In this room last year, a majority of CND members voted to pass a historic CND resolution that included the language of ‘harm reduction’ — a distinct set of strategies rooted in principles of non-judgement, inclusion and social justice. Distinguishable from abstinence-based approaches, harm reduction has a humane and pragmatic focus on preventing overdose and transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C and other BBV’s. Harm reduction has an unparalleled track record of saving and transforming countless lives. We need to acknowledge the diversity of people’s use and experiences with drugs and the absolute imperative of saving lives irrespective of whether people want treatment or not. We also need to acknowledge the wide scale of risk. Indigenous peoples have long used substances currently scheduled under international control for spiritual and healing purposes, without health risks. The world is dealing with bigger problems than it has for decades: seismic political shifts, conflict, and growing fault lines, compounded by shrinking budgets for multilateral cooperation. In such a climate, interagency coordination is more critical than ever. To have a cohesive and coordinated definition of harm reduction across UN agencies matters. A sense of common and shared responsibility matters. All UN agencies should consider harm reduction as a stand-alone and essential component of a country’s response that meet people where they are at and without judgment.
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am delivering this statement on behalf of the International Drug Policy Consortium, a global network of over 190 NGOs that come together to promote drug policies grounded in human rights and social justice. Thank you Chair for your commitment to civil society participation. Despite funding cuts and an increasingly hostile environment, civil society remains essential to this Commission – bringing evidence, and highlighting the real-world impacts of drug policies. Excellencies, the world is changing. The United Nations is at a crisis moment. Many norms, practices and long-standing consensuses that seemed unmovable in Vienna may not survive. The crisis stems from geopolitical change. But make no mistake – it also comes from the UN drug control system’s failure to live up to its own goals.Last year, the midterm review of the 2019 MInisterial Declaration on drugs revealed a broken system that works for no one. Despite billions spent in drug control, production continues at historical highs. Prohibition has fueled the proliferation of new – and extremely potent – synthetic drugs. The race to schedule substances and precursors has been futile. This failed system has had catastrophic human rights consequences. Every year hundreds of people are subject to the death penalty for drug offences, to extrajudicial killings, and to violence and displacement resulting from the militarisation of drug control. Indigenous peoples’ plants, including the coca leaf, remain prohibited. People who use drugs are criminalised and stigmatised. Life-saving harm reduction and treatment services are chronically underfunded – increasing risks and harms for people who use drugs, and fuelling overdose deaths. While 75% of the world population has no access to controlled medicines for palliative care and pain relief. Excellencies, the UN drug control system cannot survive this crisis without urgent reform. Despite the historical votes last year, too little has changed in Vienna. The human rights impacts of drug control remain largely unacknowledged. The UNODC falls to unequivocally call for the decriminalisation of people who use drugs, despite this being enshrined in the UN System Common Position on Drugs. Harm reduction does not receive adequate political or financial support, despite the landmark resolution adopted by this Commission last year. Vienna continues to operate in isolation from the rest of the United Nations system. This is why the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has recognised several times that the ‘War on Drugs has failed, completely and utterly´, and has called for ‘transformative change’ – while the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health has called for a revision of the international legal framework on drug control to best align with human rights and harm reduction approaches. So what must be done in this moment of crisis? A comprehensive review of the global drug control regime is more urgent than ever. This review must integrate the perspectives of civil society, affected communities, and UN entities with mandates on health, human rights, and development. At the last session of the CND, 62 Member States acknowledged that the global drug control system ‘needs rethinking’ and should be ‘collectively reviewed’. The resolution tabled by Colombia this year is a unique opportunity to move in this direction. The role of the UN human rights system must be strengthened. The policies and guidance emerging from Geneva must form the foundation of a new drug policy approach, truly based on the health and welfare of humankind. The mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner must be strengthened to ensure that it can more systematically engage in this important topic. Last but not least, Member States must step in by protecting and funding life-saving harm reduction responses and community-led services that have proven to save lives. Thank you very much.
Chair. Several delegations made very useful interventions. Some of them focused on national interventions, other focused on international cooperation. In the future iterations of the Commission I would encourage all speakers in particular from the CSO to identify gaps in coordination. I would like to refer to the question for Morocco on whether their way strategies in place. Hand the floor to Justice Tettey to refer to this questions
UNODC: In our experience as UNODC we started by pointing the floor pillars of UN: peace and security, human rights, rule of law, and development. If there are two things we have learnt about the world drug problem is that it is diverse and gathers different areas. National measures are not enough. They can be harmful to the work we are doing. A few years ago the Task Team that oversees the Common Position that is supposed to support you ended up being reduced to just a few areas. It did not cover the four pillars of the United Nations. Surely we cannot make progress by picking one or two areas. In terms of what we can do to address this ‘ under the leadership of Mss Ghada Wally we are trying to expand the membership of the Task Team to cover issues of peace and security. And we are pleased to see actors like the Postal Union, also the United National Development Agency coming from the development angle. But your excellency, it is about being relevant to emergent issues. Synthetic drugs is a big issue. What we are doing as a community to support you. We need to support everyone in doing this. You mentioned 2029 – what are we doing to head there. There is a reason why we are doing this. We are prod to say that UNODC is everywhere when there is a call to support countries. We are trying to bring their 23 agencies to the table, and if we can do more to address the four pillars of our organisations, that is even better., With no pillar being more important than the other. We need you to be able to ensure that when we work with ou we are not cherry’icking. We are taking a comprehensive approach to dealing with the problems.
8: Recommendations of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission
Chair. There were no regional meetings in 2024 due to a lack of budget. Some of you have articulated that these meetings play an important role and I encourage the Secretariat to do their utmost to ensure the meetings are held this year.
Kenya. We note with concern that we were not able to hold meetings of subsidiary bodies in 2024. While we understand the financial constraints, the opportunities for regional engagement was lost. They could have generated capacity building and operational strategies. We encourage all to continue their engagement despite the liquidity crisis. This should enable us to realise our vision for a world free from drugs.
China. HONLEA is a subsidiary body of the Commission and played a positive role. China has always supported HONLEA to carry out its work and to play a greater role in intelligence exchanges amongst law enforcement agencies. We notice that it could not be held in 2024 and regret this. We note that the UNODC is facing financial constraints and hope that fundraising efforts will continue, and that arrangements c
Colombia. We note the ongoing failure to convene the regional heads of law enforcement meetings in Latin America and the Caribbean. LA and C have substantially contributed to the Commission’s work and the ongoing cancellations negatively affect our region. We hope they will be carried out in 2025.
Republic of Korea Honorable chairs, on behalf of the Korean agency I am happy to share the recommendations of subsidiaries bodies. We are committed to protect all people around the world from drug consumption. In our case key criminals are often abroad, which means that we need to increase international cooperation. We are working to ensure that our international conferences will host meaningful conferences. Additionally we co-host in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Agency the KNPA took the initiative to establish the Asian Counter Narcotics Alliance and we plan to strengthen this effort. The KNPEA also contributes to global police efforts by funding Interpol´s MAYA project, where we target synthetic drugs in southeast asia. This lead to the seizure of synthetic drugs and making a significant impact in addressing issues. We encourage all nations to join our efforts. Meanwhile, with the increasing use of virtual assets, we make significant efforts to track and seize illicit products. We are strengthening cooperation with partners. Additionally we are utilising the pre indictment confiscation to block criminal proceeds from the early stage of investigations. The KNPEA is actively discussing counter-measures with UNODC. We remain committed to support international efforts to combat drug crimes and welcome opportunities cooperate with your organisations.
Thailand. Thailand has faced this evere impact of diversified criminal activities, particularly in the northern triangle. In 2024 the UNODC World Drug Report shows the alarming increase in Southeast ASia shows the the spread of cybH. Regional spaces have been long valuable spaces for cooperation within law enforcement. The subsidiary body from the CND had to be postponed to 2025 due to the liquidity crisis in the UN budget. Thailand adheres to the joint commitment to multilateral cooperation to disrupt drug trafficking approach and enhance cooperation in the region.
Chair: We have no indication that these subsidiary bodies will be able to convene this year. ANy contribution that MS can do to support UNODC would be appreciated. I’m sure that I reflect the opinion of most countries in the room when I highlight that (…)