International Narcotics Control Board launches 2017 Annual Report

 

Vienna, 1 March, 2018 - Every year, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) develops a report that provides analysis of the drug control situation, draws attention to the enforcement of treaties and recommends improvements at national and international levels. INCB is an independent body that oversees the implementation of the UN Drug Conventions.

The 2017 Annual Report emphasizes the importance of treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug users rather than focusing solely on prevention. According to the report, only one in six users have access to treatment programmes and, if there are programmes, these are often of poor quality and do not meet international standards, INCB points out.

The INCB President, Viroj Sumyai, explains in the report that "it is crucial that governments protect and enhance the rights of all people with disorders due to use of drugs."

In this regard, INCB considers that access to treatment against drug addiction is a right to the health of every person, established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

In that context, it calls on all countries to ensure that measures to control drug use fully comply with human rights standards, which is a "proportionate response" to drug-related offenses.

The Reports are based on information that governments and international organizations send to INCB. The Annual Report is supplemented by detailed reports on drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances and chemical precursors - which can be used in illegal drug production.

Learn more about this publication in the link: www.unvienna.org/incb

"We thank our UN Online Volunteer, Juliana Nogueira, for her contribution to the translation of this article. Juliana is an online volunteer mobilised through www.onlinevolunteering.org"

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