UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. 1193rd Meeting | |
CND Res.43/4. | International cooperation for the prevention of drug abuse among children* |
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Recalling the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, Bearing in mind the Convention on the Rights of the Child,16 which provides in article 33 that States parties should take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children against the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances, Reaffirming the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s, adopted at the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,17 in particular the solemn commitment, set forth in paragraph 24 of the Plan of Action, to protect children, specifically those in especially difficult circumstances, against the menace of production, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Convinced of the priority that must be assigned to the prevention of drug abuse among children, within the framework of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,18 Taking into account General Assembly resolution 54/149 of 4 November 1999, Noting with grave concern the global increase in the use of minors in the illicit production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as in the number of children starting to use drugs at an earlier age and in the access to substances not previously used, Underlining the need to prevent and counter drug abuse among children because of its effects on their physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, Recognizing that the timely prevention of drug abuse among children will protect this population group from developing addictions at an earlier age or upon reaching adulthood, Recognizing also that collaboration among Governments, international organizations and all sectors of society at large, is necessary for the implementation of plans and initiatives to counter drug abuse among children and the use of minors in illicit drug production and trafficking, 1. Exhorts all States to give effect to the measures envisaged in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;18 2. Also exhorts all States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing drug and inhalant abuse among children with a view to giving effect to the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; 3. Further exhorts all States to implement prevention programmes, training plans, grass-roots activities and treatment and rehabilitation projects targeted at children and young people and designed to promote self-management, healthy lifestyles and improved living conditions, within their family environment and communities, drawing on international cooperation as necessary, in particular that provided by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme; 4. Urges all States to promote participation by children and young people in all drug abuse prevention activities; 5. Also urges all States to implement special drug abuse prevention projects targeted at children in difficult circumstances, in particular street children and children affected by conflict situations, as well as, where appropriate, programmes to counter the use of children and young people in the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 6. Requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to submit, on the basis of existing reporting instruments, at its forty-fourth session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution, as well as on the situation with regard to drug and inhalant abuse among children and on prevention and treatment programmes, indicating global trends, organized according to geographical regions, and containing proposals for international cooperation aimed at prevention. 1193rd meeting */ For the discussion, see chap. III, para. 70. |