Yearbook of the United Nations, 2003. Part 3, Economic and social questions. Chapter 14, International drug control

Abstract

During 2003, the United Nations, through the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reaffirmed its commitment 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. UNODC assisted States in complying with international drug control treaties and supported the international community in achieving the objectives of the measures adopted by the General Assembly at its 1998 special session on the world drug problem. Through its technical cooperation programmes, UNODC promoted drug control activities at the national, regional and international levels and initiatives to suppress drug trafficking, prevent drug abuse and strengthen treatment and rehabilitation services. It supported national efforts to reduce or eliminate illicit cultivation of opium poppy, coca bush and cannabis through alternative development projects and to estimate the extent of illicit crop cultivation in key illicit production areas. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs — the main UN policy-making body dealing with drug control - recommended a number of draft resolutions to the Economic and Social Council and adopted resolutions on such issues as the reduction of demand for illicit drugs and prevention of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and supply, implementation of the international drug control treaties, administrative and budgetary matters and strengthening UN machinery for international drug control. In July, the 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. 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 analyse the drug situation worldwide and to draw Governments' attention to weaknesses in national control and treaty compliance, making suggestions and recommendations for improvements at the national and international levels.