Yearbook of the United Nations, 2002. Part 3, Economic and social questions. Chapter 14, International drug control

Abstract

During 2002, the United Nations, through the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), continued to strengthen international cooperation and increase efforts to counter the world drug problem. Drug control activities throughout the UN system focused mainly on implementation of the 1999 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, which served as a guide for Member States in adopting strategies and programmes for reducing illicit drug demand in order to achieve significant results by 2008. UNDCP's technical cooperation programmes supported Member States and the international community in implementing the strategy agreed upon by the General Assembly's special session on the world drug problem, held in 1998. States were assisted in complying with international drug control treaties, and national efforts and initiatives to reduce or eliminate illicit drugs, suppress drug trafficking and prevent drug abuse were supported. UNDCP encouraged donor nations and development institutions to support national efforts to reduce or eliminate illicit crops. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs—the main UN policy-making body dealing with drug control—adopted resolutions on such issues as reduction of demand for illicit drugs and prevention of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and supply, implementation of the international drug control treaties and strengthening UN machinery for international drug control. In July, the Economic and Social Council urged Governments to continue contributing to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials for medical and scientific purposes. It requested UNDCP to assist States most affected by the transit of drugs, particularly developing countries. INCB reviewed the impact of illicit drugs on economic development and continued to oversee the implementation of the three major international drug control conventions, to analyze the drug situation worldwide and to draw Governments' attention to weaknesses in national control and treaty compliance, making suggestions and Economic and social questions Economic and social questions recommendations for improvements at the national and international levels.