11 March 2009 - One hundred years have passed since the first international drug control conference, the International Opium Commission in Shanghai, China. A decade has passed since the 1998 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem. Today, there is a high level of international consensus on drug control.
Although drug use and production have stabilized over the past few years, there are too many illicit drugs in the world, too many people suffering from addiction, and too much crime and violence associated with the drugs trade. The 2009 Annual Report provides an overview of what UNODC is doing to address the threat posed by drugs and crime.
UNODC has rallied regional and international cooperation to stem the flow of Afghanistan's opium (through the Paris Pact), and to address the threat posed by drug trafficking to the security of West Africa. Moreover, UNODC is also are stepping up its engagement in Central America and the Caribbean to reduce the vulnerability of these regions to drugs and crime.
In 2008, fighting human trafficking was an important priority for UNODC. This cause gained considerable attention and momentum as a result of the Vienna Forum to fight Human Trafficking.
UNODC is expanding its portfolio of crime control activities to strengthen the rule of law. This is not only an important end in itself, it is the basis for socioeconomic growth. In that sense, it can be considered a prerequisite for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The Annual Report 2009 also provides glimpses of other projects, resource mobilization, strategy implementation and development of strategic partnerships.
---
Full report (pdf).
