Legal Tools
A functioning legal system plays a fundamental role in all drug control and crime prevention efforts. It defines what is lawful and what is not under regulatory and penal laws. It creates, limits, or takes away rights or privileges. It confers powers and responsibilities and provides safeguards. Such a system also imposes obligations and provides civil and penal sanctions if laws are violated, as well as establishing the institutions and legal framework for them to function.
International drug control and crime prevention treaties provide the legal foundation for action against transnational organized crime, corruption and drug-related offences. Many countries still lack adequate legal frameworks, which undermines both domestic and international drug control and crime prevention efforts. In addition, global developments in transnational organized crime, corruption and drug abuse and trafficking have dramatically increased the legislative needs of States.
UNODC's Division for Treaty Affairs works with Member States to implement UN Treaties and Resolutions, advises States on the drafting and adoption of drug control and crime prevention legislation and assists governments in ratifying the international drug control and crime prevention conventions as well as in implementing the United Nations Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice .
Status map for Conventions relevant to the work of UNODC (provided by LegaCarta - the International Trade Centre's (ITC) database): English - French - Spanish
Directory of Competent National Authorities
Since the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, UNODC has been collecting information from Member States on competent authorities designated to receive, respond to and process requests for mutual legal assistance, requests for cooperation to suppress illicit traffic by sea, and more recently, extradition requests. Contact information for competent authorities of more than 150 States or dependent territories had been provided to UNODC, including information on specific procedures to be followed in urgent cases.
The Legal Library
UNODC's on-line legal library makes available the full text of laws and regulations promulgated by States to give effect to the three main international drug control treaties. Under the conventions, State Parties have an obligation to communicate their drug control legislation to the United Nations. States that are not parties to the Conventions communicate such legislation to UNODC on a voluntary basis. Legislation adopted since 1948 has been included on-line.
The Legal Advisory Programme
UNODC's Legal Advisory Programme promotes adoption and practical implementation of the Drug Control and Crime Prevention Conventions. It addresses the needs of States that have outdated drug control and crime prevention legislation, are most vulnerable to criminal activity, or lack success in major prosecution and asset forfeiture casework.
The Programme advises States on the drafting, adoption and application of all necessary legislation. It also strengthens the skills of justice and health-system professionals in those States that have already adopted legislation, ensuring that they have sufficient technical understanding to apply new laws. More than 140 UN Member States have received legal assistance.
The UN 1988 Drugs Convention, UNGASS Guiding Principles on Demand Reduction and related Action Plan specifically target drug-abusing offenders and call on governments to take effective multidisciplinary remedial initiatives. Drug Courts can be a very effective element in an overall package of responses.
Other Tools
UNODC's Legal Advisory Programme delivers a useful range of legal assistance products to make its advisory services "tool driven", including comprehensive model legislation, guidelines and implementation tools, database computer tools for casework practitioners, casework best practice guidelines and a "Mock trial" case training tool.