Vienna (Austria), 14 March 2024 — The High-Level Segment of the 67th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) opened today with a focus on the Midterm Review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, with nearly 140 countries gathering to assess progress made in the implementation of all international drug policy commitments set forth in the declaration.
The 67th session of the CND began with a high-level opening with interventions from the President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis; Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres (video message); Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly; President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Prof. Jallal Toufiq; Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (video message); and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
The Chair of the Commission, H.E. Philbert Johnson of Ghana, opened the discussions by stressing that: “In the current global landscape, marked by unprecedented complexities and interconnected challenges, the importance of multilateralism cannot be overstated. The world drug problem is a multifaceted issue that transcends borders, affecting millions of lives across nations. It is a stark reminder that no single entity, no one nation, can confront this challenge in isolation. It is through international collaboration, cooperation, and solidarity that we can achieve sustainable solutions.”
“I cannot over-emphasize that we should seize this moment to reimagine multilateral cooperation, and to secure a better future for both the present and future generations,” said the President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis.
In his video message, António Guterres called on Member States to strive to put people first, by ending stigma, discrimination and stressing prevention, stressing rehabilitation, upholding human rights of people who use drugs, and expanding prevention and treatment programmes, and all services.
In her opening remarks, Ghada Waly underscored the need to promote effective responses that respect the rights and dignity of all, without surrendering the health and security of our communities to drugs and drug traffickers.
“The international drug control conventions have a timeless goal at their heart: the health and wellbeing of humankind,” she said. “And they represent a global common ground, at a time when international cooperation is needed most. In this time of divisions and frictions, I urge you to appreciate the value of having a common framework, and to unite around that framework."
As part of the General Debate, nearly 60 countries will be pledging concrete action towards addressing and countering the world drug problem as part of the Chair’s Pledge4Action initiative.
During the regular 67th session, the CND will consider the recommendations of the WHO and INCB on the placing of five substances and eighteen precursor chemicals under control by the international drug control conventions.
The Commission will also consider resolutions on topics such as alternative development; rehabilitation and recovery management programmes; improving access to and availability of controlled substances for medical purposes; and preventing and responding to drug overdoses.
12 high-level side events, 33 exhibitions and more than 160 regular side events will be held during the session.
The CND is the main drug-policymaking body of the United Nations (UN) and a governing body of UNODC. The commission is the forum for Member States to exchange knowledge and good practices in addressing and countering the world drug problem.
CND Side Events and Exhibitions
Opening Remarks of UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly
