56th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs 18 closes with resolutions on international drug control

March 2013 - With a wide and important participation of Colombia and in an auditorium full at the end of the 56th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), stressed the importance of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs under international control in this area. He said that the meetings of the Commission, Central regulatory body within the United Nations system responsible for drug-related issues are the foundation blocks for the development of an international response to illicit drugs.

"We have begun preparations for the high-level review of the implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action of the Commission on Narcotic next year," said Fedotov. Talking about the resolution of the Commission on Narcotic concerning the preparations for this high level review, Mr. Fedotov said: "The resolution is a milestone in our collective path, which starts with the high-level review next year CND, and continues in the special session on drugs in the General Assembly in 2016. "

After congratulating civil society for their contributions, Mr. Fedotov said UNODC has shown its importance in the 56th through the launch meeting of the International Standards for the Prevention of Drug Abuse, which recognize that prevention based science means working with families, schools and communities. He said that these standards are an investment in the future of people. However, they are much more than rules, are an example of how health positions UNODC, treatment and prevention, and human rights at the forefront of their work.

"In each of the past sessions, add, polish, and in doing so, move on strengthening the capacity of nations to deal with illicit drugs, while guarantee the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical purposes and scientists. Our work is based on shared responsibility for all actions of the international community in this area, "Mr. Fedotov said, adding that the international community should not be based on" ... the national size, the economic strength, or even geography, but in the certainty that only international cooperation can help the millions of people around the world who need our help. "

This session of the CND revealed the great diversity of this body's work through resolutions on new psychoactive substances, alternative development, HIV, and shared responsibility of nations to combat illegal drugs, among many others.

The sessions of the Commission on Narcotic attended by over 1,000 representatives of the Member States, distinguished guests, and civil society organizations.

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