UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. 1192nd Meeting | |
CND Res.43/10. | Promotion of regional and international cooperation in the fight against the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption of synthetic drugs, in particular amphetamine-type stimulants* |
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Recalling the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, devoted to countering the world drug problem together,27 in particular paragraph 13 thereof, in which Member States decided to devote particular attention to the emerging trends in the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption of synthetic drugs, Recalling also the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,28 Alarmed by the rapid and widespread increase in the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption, in particular by youth, of synthetic drugs in most countries and by the high probability that amphetamine-type stimulants, methamphetamine and amphetamine in particular, may become drugs of choice among abusers in the twenty-first century, Deeply concerned that the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption of synthetic drugs, in particular amphetamine-type stimulants, have increased their potential for causing serious harm to both abusers and the public at large, Fully aware that synthetic drugs, including amphetamine-type stimulants, can be easily manufactured anywhere and at low cost, that illicit manufacture can readily be shifted from one country to another because of differing regulations and standards of enforcement and that difficulties are encountered in effectively controlling the manufacture and trafficking of such drugs, owing in particular to the constant proliferation of new molecules, Stressing the importance of the effective control and strict enforcement of synthetic drugs and their precursors as essential measures in combating their illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption, Recognizing that, in the fight against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs and their precursors, regional cooperation is essential in order to prevent the shifting of illicit manufacture from one country to another, Welcoming relevant regional initiatives by Member States in this area, such as the joint action, adopted by the European Union in June 1997, to promote the exchange of information, the assessment of risk and the control of new synthetic drugs, and the four events collectively entitled Anti-drug Conference, Tokyo, held in January 2000, Also welcoming the continuing efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to assist Member States in regional cooperation activities to implement the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors, in particular by convening, as part of the Anti-drug Conference, Tokyo, the Conference on Amphetamine-type Stimulants in East and South-East Asia, held in Tokyo from 24 to 27 January 2000 and hosted by the Government of Japan, Taking note of the resolution and the recommendations adopted by the Conference on Amphetamine-type Stimulants in East and South-East Asia,29 Stressing the necessity of reliable and comparable data enabling an objective understanding of the nature and magnitude of the problem of synthetic drugs and a proper evaluation of the effectiveness of countermeasures, 1. Calls upon Member States and the relevant regional and international organizations to give synthetic drugs, in particular amphetamine-type stimulants, due priority in their drug policies and programmes and to verify the adequacy of their national legislations in relation to the goals set by the Political Declaration27 and the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors;28 adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, devoted to countering the world drug problem together; 2. Urges Member States to implement specific actions mandated in the Action Plan; 3. Invites Member States to enhance programmes, targeting youth in particular, in order to prevent abuse of synthetic drugs, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations that are active in drug abuse prevention; 4. Calls upon Member States to take appropriate measures to facilitate, at the national, regional and international levels, rapid exchange of information concerning the chemical and physical description of new synthetic drugs, the frequency and circumstances of consumption, reported seized quantities, possible risks linked to abuse of such drugs and strategies adopted to curb their diffusion; 5. Invites Member States and relevant regional and international organizations to exchange information on measures taken to ensure rapid identification and assessment of new synthetic drugs and on models used to improve the flexibility of the process of scheduling pursuant to paragraph 23 of the Action Plan; 6. Calls upon Member States to strengthen regional and international cooperation against the illicit manufacture, trafficking and abuse of synthetic drugs and their precursors, in such fields as regulatory control, law enforcement, maritime cooperation and customs control; 7. Invites non-governmental organizations to consider establishing and strengthening regional networks for drug abuse prevention activities; 8. Invites the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, subject to the availability of voluntary contributions, to expand and strengthen further, in cooperation with national authorities and relevant regional and international organizations, its regional projects related to synthetic drugs and their precursors, according to the requirements of each region and with the assistance of Member States that have experience and expertise in this area, and to develop new regional programmes, as appropriate; 9. Requests the Programme, subject to the availability of voluntary contributions, to assist, in cooperation with relevant regional and international organizations, Member States that so request in establishing a regional system or mechanism, as needed, and as far as possible to assist in enhancing existing systems and mechanisms and avoiding duplication, so as to collect reliable and comparable data to enable the assessment of national and regional trends in both the nature and magnitude of drug abuse, including synthetic drugs in particular; 10. Also requests the Programme, subject to the availability of voluntary contributions, to assist Member States that so request in facilitating the exchange of information on measures taken by Governments and relevant regional and international organizations to counter problems associated with synthetic drugs, with a view to promoting regional and international cooperation; 11. Decides to consider these matters at its fortyfourth session on the basis of a report to be prepared by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. 1192nd meeting */ For the discussion, see chap. V, para. 123. |