Item 7. Inter-agency cooperation and coordination of efforts in addressing and countering the world drug problem
Brazilian Network of Harm Reduction and Human Rights (REDUC): The Brazilian Network for Harm Reduction and Human Rights, REDUC, thanks the Commission for the opportunity to contribute to this discussion. Civil society organizations working with affected communities around the world continue to observe the profound human consequences of drug control policies centered primarily on prohibition and punitive enforcement. One issue that demands urgent attention is the growing public financing of institutional treatment models that operate outside public health systems and without adequate safeguards. In several contexts, facilities presented as therapeutic or rehabilitation spaces have been documented engaging in practices incompatible with international human rights standards, including involuntary confinement, compulsory religious activities, forced labor, and the absence of qualified health professionals. Drug treatment must be grounded in scientific evidence, voluntary participation, and respect for human dignity. Public resources should prioritize transparent, rights-based health services rather than institutional models that isolate individuals and operate without proper oversight. Equally concerning are the consequences of militarized approaches to drug control in marginalized urban territories. In many parts of the world, heavily armed security operations take place in densely populated neighborhoods where residents experience armed confrontations, disruption of daily life, and prolonged exposure to violence. Independent monitoring initiatives documenting armed violence in urban areas show that thousands of people are shot each year in contexts where police operations intersect with illicit drug markets. Many victims are residents who are neither participants in criminal activities nor targets of law enforcement but civilians caught in the crossfire of militarized interventions. These patterns highlight the severe human rights risks associated with treating drug markets primarily through the lens of war and national security. The persistence of this violence must also be understood within a broader historical context. Systems of social classification developed over centuries have shaped whose lives are protected and whose lives are considered expendable. In many urban peripheries today, punitive drug policies continue to disproportionately affect poor and racialized communities. Episodes of mass lethal force during security operations are therefore not isolated events but often the predictable outcome of policy frameworks that normalize exceptional levels of violence in marginalized territories. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that disproportionate and indiscriminate uses of force in such contexts violate international standards governing policing and the protection of civilians. At the same time, research on the economic dimensions of prohibition demonstrates the scale of investment in this punitive paradigm. Studies examining the costs of prohibition show that billions are spent annually on enforcement, incarceration, and judicial processes, while illicit markets continue to adapt and persist. These expenditures frequently coexist with underinvestment in health services, social protection, and community-based responses that could more effectively address the social determinants of drug-related harms. For these reasons, it is essential that the international community take seriously the opportunity created by recent initiatives within this Commission to promote independent and evidence-based assessment of the global drug control system. The establishment of mechanisms that allow technical, scientific, and multidisciplinary evaluation of current policies represents an important step toward strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of international cooperation in this field. As preparations advance toward the 2029 review of the global drug control framework, the voices of affected communities, researchers, and civil society must be meaningfully included.Drug policy should not be governed by fear, stigma, or militarized narratives. It must be guided by evidence, human rights, and the protection of life. For the communities living daily with the consequences of punitive drug policies, this debate is not abstract. It is about safety, dignity, and the possibility of building policies that protect rather than endanger human lives. Thank you.
Open Society Foundations: Chair, distinguished delegates, colleagues. I speak on behalf of the Open Society Foundations. Across the world, blunt and myopic efforts to counter the world drug problem continue to entrench—rather than remedy—gender inequality. Women, transgender people, and gender‑diverse communities are punished not because they are dangerous, but because systems of drug control criminalize poverty, marginalization, and survival. These are political choices, not inevitabilities. Our work across regions shows that where punitive drug laws dominate, gender injustice grows. Women and gender‑diverse people who use drugs are pushed away from healthcare through fear of arrest, surveillance, and the threat of losing their children. Measures framed as “protection” too often function as mechanisms of control. Gendered injustice also begins long before consumption. Women cultivating coca, opium poppy, or cannabis are frequently landless, excluded from markets, and left without viable alternatives. Forced eradication destroys their livelihoods, deepens poverty, militarizes communities, and exposes them to violence. Calling this “development” is politically convenient but fundamentally incorrect —it is displacement, not development. Alternative development initiatives that exclude women or ignore structural inequalities simply reproduce the same harms under a new label. Effective, ethical development must guarantee women’s land rights, income, safety, and leadership. Likewise, the rapid rise in women’s incarceration for drug offenses—the fastest‑growing prison population globally—is the predictable result of policies that equate punishment with public safety. They fail on both counts. Punitive drug control is incompatible with gender equality. Interagency cooperation and coordination of efforts aligned with multilateral norms and carried through a broader array of agencies is needed in order to progress the path towards rights, gender justice and peace. The path is already mapped—from the HRC resolution 60/26, the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, the UNGASS outcome document, the UN Common Position on Drugs, which is accompanied by critical normative and technical guidance from UNAIDS, WHO, OHCHR, UN Women and UNDP. Interagency cooperation requires sharing power in ways that accord with relevant expertise and prioritize people’s needs over political gain. We encourage Member States to adopt bold, rights‑based, gender‑just drug policies: decriminalization; community‑led, gender‑responsive harm reduction; protection of parental rights; gender‑specific services programmes and measures; equitable alternative development; meaningful participation; and accountability through gender‑disaggregated data. When governments choose evidence over ideology and rights and democratic participation over punishment, supported by UN entities, communities become safer and women’s autonomy strengthens societies. Thank you.
International Network for People Who Use Drugs: Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, colleagues, I speak on behalf of the International Network of People who Use Drugs. Under agenda item 7, on inter-agency cooperation and coordination, it is important to recognise that addressing the world drug problem requires meaningful collaboration across the UN system — particularly between health, human rights, and drug policy institutions. For people who use drugs, the challenges we face sit precisely at this intersection. Across many countries, our communities remain disproportionately affected by HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, tortures, violence, imprisonment and fatal overdose. Yet too often the greatest barrier to effective health responses is not the substances themselves, but the criminalisation of the people who use them. The commitments made in the 2016 UNGASS Outcome Document, reaffirmed in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, HRC Resolution 60/26 and aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development all call for responses grounded in public health, evidence, and human rights. This is where inter-agency cooperation becomes critical. Across the UN system — including World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — there is growing recognition that punitive approaches undermine health outcomes and hinder the global HIV response. Decriminalisation of drug use and possession for personal use is one of the most important evidence-based measures available to Member States to advance these shared objectives. Criminalisation drives people away from health services, fuels stigma and discrimination, increases incarceration, and weakens HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Conversely, where decriminalisation has been implemented, we see improved health outcomes, stronger community engagement, and more effective public health responses. For people who use drugs, this is not an abstract policy discussion. It is a matter of life and death. Strengthened cooperation across the UN system can help support Member States in aligning drug policy with global health commitments and in implementing pragmatic reforms that save lives. In this context, INPUD is pleased to co-host a side event during this session titled “Decriminalizing Drug Use, Improving HIV Responses in Countries – Meeting the Goals of the Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031.”, which will take place in one hour, which is a great example of interagency, but also agencies, civil society ánd communities cooperation.
The event will launch a long-awaited document, new guidance note on decriminalisation in the context of HIV and will take place today from 16:30 to 17:30 in Room M3. We warmly invite all delegations to join this important discussion. And nothing about us without us. Thank you
USA (right of reply): The USA would like to exercise our right of reply in response to the statement by the Special Rapporteur. The US is under attack by organized criminal groups and President Trump has made it clear that all tools are on the table. This was a law enforcement operation consistent with law. President Trump will not tolerate any threat to the lives of american citizens and will take any measures necessary.
Item 8. Recommendations of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission
UNODC: Excelencies allow me to provide a brief overview of the meetings of the CND subsidiary bodies convened in 2025. Last year, the funding required to service the meetings to be held away from Vienna was not available due to the austerity measures that you are all familiar with now and to their impact on intergovernmental meetings. In that context, 4 meetings took place on 4 and 7th of october in a limited format that was endorsed by the extended bureau in May 2025 and communicated to the missions in June. This 4 meetings discussed the current situation of regional and subregional cooperation in addressing and countering the world drug problem, and the meeting of only Europe took place from 28 to 31 October in Vienna in full format, including the considerations of working group topics and the development of related documentation. A summary of the deliberations and actions taken by the subsidiaries bodies in 2025 in contained in a note by the secretary that is before the Comission, you can see on the screen, and during the reconevened session of the Commission in December 2025 memeber states adopted decision 68/8 in which they requested the secretariat to explore all option to ensure the 4 meetings of 2026 to be held with interpretation into the official languages of the respective bodies. We would like to tell you that the CND secretariat is currently in the process of exploring, together with conference management services, all the options to hold this year’s meeting in full format and will comunicate.
Kenya: Honorable Chair, thank you for granting Kenya the floor. Kenya sincerely thanks you for having taken into consideration our recommendations that meetings of subsidiary bodies are held despite the underlying challenges. Kenia recognizes and appreciates the meeting held in September 2025 to counter illicit drug manufacturing and use. The secretariat is facilitating regional collaboration. We commend and appreciate fellow African nations for their collective effort in addressing the world’s drug problem and look forward to next year’s engagement.
Republic of Korea: The Korean government participates actively in meetings of the subsidiary bodies. Money laundering has become prevalent in Korea, and established specific teams to more effectively trace and seize proceeds of organized crime. Digital technologies, such as AI, which is used and impacts the growing involvement of youth in drug use, the gov is providing drug education. Regarding vaping, taking preventive measures. Two police officers will participate in the UNODC Youth Forum. As part of efforts to disrupt trafficking, the Korean government hosts an international conference. We will further develop an effective platform for joint initiatives among law enforcement agencies. INTERPOL’s Mayak project with participation from 18 countries resulted ins seizure of 76 tons of drugs. Signed MoU with UNODC to strengthen collaboration in transnational organized crime.
China: We hope this year’s HONLAP meeting can take place, so agencies can meet to exchange information. China has consistently supported law enforcement collaboration. We hope arrangements can be made accordingly.
Thailand: Thailand continues to face challenges from domestic demand and geographical location as the route to third countries. Amphetamines were the most widely used drug, followed by ketamine and …. International cooperation has further expanded alongside financial investigation. 23 thousand drug-related arrests were made. 600 kg of ketamine and 11 kg of heroin were seized. Cooperation among law enforcement agencies, education to prevent individuals from returning to criminal activities. International cooperation is essential in information sharing, precursor control, and capacity building among MS. In this regard, a call for HONLAP to be convened in person rather than virtually to be more effective. Reaffirm strong commitment to working with partners to dismantle transnational criminal networks and advance our shared goal of safe, secure and drug-free communities.
France: It is essential to highlight work of subsidiary bodies including HONLAP. These meetings are very important to share activities, best practices, and draft the recommendations. Two offices took part in the HONLAP meeting held in Vienna. This is an interministerial entity composed of judges and police officers. This office has established cyber patrols. When it comes to money laundering, these efforts try to eradicate financial crime. We strengthened our system by establishing our headquarters. At the last meeting, it was possible to improve our work by preventing the recruitment of minors, the use of technology to allow the illicit manufacture of drugs, and managing financial crimes through the use of cryptocurrency.
Uruguay: Latin America and the Caribbean has been very clear at not categorizing a 3-hour meeting without interpretation as a high authority meeting. We recognize and thank the secretariat for their efforts. But calling the whole of the UN system here, so we can’t have a proper meeting without the necessary requirements. We are aware of the budgetary limitations and the liquidity crisis, but it’s still a subsidiary that should operate in a proper manner, and the system should provide for what’s necessary. We hope that this year we can have a proper meeting. Last year, it wasn’t a proper meeting.
Item 9. Contributions by the Commission to the work of the Economic and Social Council, including follow-up to and review and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Chair: The General Assembly established the coordination segment. It is intended to provide guidance to subsidiary bodies… This year’s coordination segment was held on 28 of January 2026. The High Level Political,,,
UNODC: …. Advancing sustainable development and addressing the world drug problem are mutually reinforcing. As custodian of 16 SDG indicators across 5 goals, UNODC leads development of measurement methodologies and increases country data coverage for global SDG databases. ARQ data is used for estimates in 100+ countries in partnership with WHO. On SDG3, good health and wellbeing, ARQ collects comprehensive data on demand, supply and regulatory issues. UNODC improved measurement of indicators on SDG16 peace justice and strong institutions. Together with OHCHR, UNODC works on expanding relevant and comparable data. Major data gaps persist. By highlighting links between trafficking, organised crime and illicit financial flows aimed at reducing illicit flow, reclaiming assets and countering flow. In 2025, the office released a regional study on the balkan route, highlighting opiate and methamphetamine flows from Afghanistan to Europe. We reiterate that UNODC is ready to continue supporting MS.
European Union: On behalf of Albania, … Serbia and Ukraine align themselves with the statement. The Eu reiterates strong commitment to accelerated implementation of 2030 agenda. We stress that efforts ton sdgs and the world drug stiutation are complementary and mutually reinforcing. SDG3 and 16 are especially relevant. The EU recalls SDG5 on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls. We recognize the impacts and need to address specifically. We call for mainstreaming a gender perspective. Human rights are essential to achieving SDGs. We support human rights based approaches, our strategy is guided by the right to health. We need to combat stigma against people who use drugs, people with disabilities, LGBTQI, people with…. Effective drug policy should tackle socioeconomic factors. Need to complement guiding principles on alternative development, sustainability, fostering meaningful involvement of women and girls in alternative development … The EU encourages strengthening CND contribution to follow-up on SDG agenda in line with broader UN80 initiative
Colombia: Member States have recognized that efforts at tackling the world drug problem and SDGs are complementary and mutually reinforcing. As subsidiary of ECOSOC, the CND has a responsibility in implementation and follow up of SDGS. drug policies have a direct impact on human rights. Decent work, human development and building solid institutions, it is essential to strengthen collaboration with other ECOSOC bodies, particularly CSW and the Development Commission to allow exchange of best practices, optimize resources and formulate joint recommendations. Colombia continues to strengthen the quality, relevance and … We reiterate our call for a comprehensive vision with people at its heart.
Thailand: The work of the CND has never been more relevant. ….. This is a result of over a decade of exchange and expert meetings that UNODC has supported. We would appreciate the support of MS for this resolution to advance progress towards the 2030 agenda. Thailand believes that the SDGs can be strengthened through experience and cooperation from its partners. Thailand conducted and presented its approach in the high level forum and will continue to participate in this forum. We remain committed to advancing global drug policies that leave no one behind.
United States: As noted during agenda item 2, the US reiterates that it has a direct opposition to the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. We consider this infringes the sovereignty of Member States and distracts the CND against its mandate. Namely: countering the world drug problem.
INTERPOL: The International drug landscape continues to evolve. The proliferation of synthetic drugs, the proliferation of precursors and all these issues undermine the SDGs. Our global policing capabilities provide practical tools that strengthen national, regional and local efforts. These efforts were complemented by intelligence analysis that has informed member states against these partners. The same premises used for exploitation were used for drug trade, underlying how drug trade uses … In 2025, INTERPOL together with UNODC launched a handbook against international cooperation against money laundering. It provides details about how authorities in the US and India… as the world drug problem continues to evolve, Interpol improves its capabilities to empower law enforcement worldwide.
Argentina: As we said at the opening of this session, Argentina would like to say that the Agenda 2030 is made of non-legally binding aspirations that each Member State has the right to interpret. We call on the CNd to adhere to its mandate.
Pakistan Youth Organization: Speaking on behalf of themselves and other civil society organizations working on local drug responses. Synthetic drugs are re-shaping illicit markets worldwide. These can be produced anywhere at any costs, making them easy to transport and trade. This increases pressure on drug systems. The high risks are fatal overdose. For NGOs working with affected communities, this unpredictability is incredibly dangerous. Young people are particularly vulnerable, especially as they are marketed online as safe alternatives. Stronger support and management is extremely important. We have the following recommendations: (…) This challenge requires coordinated global action. Every second costs lives.
Association Proyecto Hombre: Drug use is still one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Drug use increased by 28% over last decade. This underscores urgency of responses comprehensive balanced and evidence-based. We advocate for an approach that integrates prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery and law enforcement measures. But progress faces barriers, political resistance and fragmented implementation. To overcome this we must foster open and evidence-based dialogue, clarify concepts and reduce misconceptions. Sharing successful cases can show the impact of approaches and promote a narrative that frames this as a health problem and social wellbeing and human rights. Member states, organisations, civil society, academia, all have key roles in operationalizing this goal in different levels. We ensure each pillar if we work together (…)
Corporación Mujeres Libres: on behalf of Women Leaders for Justice, we are working with the commission of work on ECOSOC following up on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. We will speak of goal 16 which airms to promote peaceful societies and facilitate access to justice and effective institutions that ensure the right to live without violence regardless of gender or social standing. Women Leaders for Justice are a human rights organisation that promotes alternatives to imprisonment. Drug policies that criminalize those with low wages do not dismantle organized crime nor reduce money laundering. Free Women is an organisation of women deprived of liberty or involved in drugs or other behaviours. We are poor women who need to make ends meet, have low levels of education and precarious work conditions. This leads women to participate in criminal organisations to have income. We need to reform punitive drug laws to achieve goal 16. Prison practices that harm deprived and families have been documented by us. The results of UNGASS recommend incorporating agenda perspective into drug policy but we are concerned to note that little progress was made. Member states should promote alternative measures to imprisonment, as well as international regulations to achieve sustainable development goals
European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies: The 100 years of prohibition of cannabis have resulted in a profound harm to humanity in all fields. Criminalization has limited access to treatments and causes impact in mental health and family structures and increases incarceration and marginalises entire communities. Indigenous peoples have been particularly affected. Today science is pending to understand the potential of cannabis. Promote multidisciplinary dialogue that contrasts with decades of repression. Debate about the need for historical reparation is growing. We need to invest in health, education, research, social inclusion and support those more impacted by prohibition. This would be a step towards social justice and more human and evidence-based policies. International law calls for urgent reflection on global drug control frameworks in the light of scientific evidence and deep human rights consideration and discussion on rescheduling and more flexible interpretation of treaties to align drug policy with health dignity and freedom, and aligned with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development contributing to more sustainable communities. Giving voice to human rights and reflecting on policies that promote dignity, equity and social responsibility. Always remember the fundamental principle of loving your neighbour as well
Chair: Tomorrow we start at 10am. First we will address agenda item 10. Then agenda item 11. After, it’s the adoption of resolutions and report under agenda item 12. I would like to remember that this commission works paperless and parts of the report will be posted on the website. Meeting adjourned.