International Narcotics Control Board Learning holds regional training seminar in Quito, Ecuador for countries in Latin America

VIENNA, 3 June 2019 (UN Information Service) - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) today launched a training seminar in Quito, hosted by the Government of Ecuador, for more than 40 drug control officials from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru.

The seminar was opened by Dr. Verónica Espinosa Serrano, Minister of Public Health of Ecuador, Ambassador Mireya Muñoz, Under-Secretary of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, and Arnaud Peral, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Ecuador. Luis Alberto Otárola Peñaranda, member of the Board, addressed participants in a video message. Representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) also joined the opening session.

The training seminar is the first activity of the global INCB Learning project to be implemented in South America, and is supported by a contribution from the United States. The goal of the training seminar is to support the participating countries in improving monitoring and reporting, and in ensuring that controlled substances are available for medical purposes while at the same time preventing diversion into illicit channels, abuse or trafficking.

Over four days, INCB Learning will provide specialized training on the requirements of the three international drug control conventions relating to the regulatory control and monitoring of licit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals. Participants will also receive hands-on training on the Board's global online tools: the  International Import Export Authorisation System (I2ES) , the   Pre-export Notification (PEN) Online System , the  Precursor Incident Communication System (PICS)  and the  Project Ion Incident Communication System (IONICS) . These systems are made available free of charge to Member States.

On 7 June, following the seminar, INCB Learning will hold an awareness-raising workshop on the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes. The event is co-organized with and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador and will bring together participants from national authorities, international organizations and civil society to discuss the importance of ensuring access to medicines containing substances under international control.

Launched in 2016, INCB Learning is an initiative of the Board to assist Member States in implementing the provisions of the three international drug control conventions, as well as the recommendations of the  2016 General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem  and the Supplements on availability to the INCB Annual Reports for  2015  and   2018 , which are available on the INCB website in all six official languages of the United Nations. INCB Learning addresses barriers to adequate availability of controlled substances, especially lack of training and awareness. Past activities include regional training seminars for authorities from countries in   East Africa ,  South and East Asia and the Pacific ,  Europe ,  Oceania , Central America (  first - and  second -phase training) and  West and Central Africa .

INCB Learning has benefited from contributions by the Governments of Australia, Belgium, France, the Russian Federation and the United States, and further support from Member States is required to sustain and expand project activities.

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INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,  the thirteen members of the Board  are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.

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For further information, please contact:

INCB Secretariat 
Telephone for media inquiries: (+43-1) 26060 4163 
Email:   incb.secretariat[at]un.org  
Website:   www.incb.org  

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This article is related to the Sustainable Development Goals: 3 (Health and Well-being) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

To know more:  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals  

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