Vienna, 8 March 2018 - Journalists are invited to cover the 61st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which runs from 12 to 16 March in Vienna.
The opening session will be addressed by Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Viroj Sumyai, President of the International Narcotics Control Board, among others.
Resolutions under consideration by the Commission address topics including combating the synthetic opioid crisis, protecting children, strengthening drug prevention in schools, measures to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and preparations for the planned ministerial segment at the CND session in 2019.
On Wednesday 14 March, the 61st session will consider scheduling proposals for substances according to the international drug control conventions. Six analogues of fentanyl, including carfentanil, are being considered. The abuse of fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than morphine, has led to thousands of overdose deaths around the world.
The week will bring together more than 1,500 participants from Member States, inter-governmental organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector.
More than 100 side events are planned. UNODC, in close cooperation with the World Health Organization, will be presenting the updated International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and the new edition of the International Standards for Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, as well as a new report on treatment and care for people with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system.
UNODC will also organize the 2018 Youth Forum and a hearing of the informal scientific network.
Media representatives who wish to cover the 61st session of the CND, and who are not accredited to the Vienna International Centre, should email press[at]unvienna.org for accreditation. Journalists can attend plenary meetings and use the M-Building. Member States will make transcriptions and statements available to journalists at their own discretion.
Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #CND61 and follow @UNODC, @YuryFedotov, @CND_tweets and @UN_Vienna for updates.
Further information can be found here.
For further details on scheduling procedures, click here.
For further information please contact:
Brian Hansford
Advocacy Section Chief, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-83225
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3225
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org
