The Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016) will be convened from 19 to 21 April 2016 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The program of side events begins on 18 April 2016 with an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) forum. The UNGASS 2016 will feature a general debate plenary and five interactive, multi-stakeholder round tables conducted in parallel with the plenary.
Representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC are invited to participate in the special session. Representatives of civil society and the scientific community, academia, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders may participate, in accordance with the rules of procedure and established practice of the General Assembly.
To that end, registration is now open for representatives of organizations actively working on drug-related matters from ECOSOC and non-ECOSOC accredited NGOs, civil society, the scientific and academic communities, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders.
All organizations wishing to attend UNGASS 2016 will need to register by applying here. Applications for general registration are being accepted from 1 February to 28 March 2016.
Furthermore, a selection process is now open to identify speakers from civil society, the scientific community, academia, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders that may participate in the special session. Eleven (11) speakers will be selected: six (6) for the plenary and five (5) - one for each of the interactive round tables. Please note that travel funding is available for speakers chosen through this process. The final selection of speakers will be made by the Office of the President of the General Assembly, in collaboration with the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) for UNGASS 2016.
To apply to speak at UNGASS 2016, please complete the form available here by midnight EST on 7 March 2016. When applying for a speaker role, please make sure to register for the UNGASS at the link above as well.
For more information about the special session, please visit the UNGASS 2016 official website.
