UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. 1209th Meeting | |
CND Res.44/11. | International cooperation on the elimination of illicit drug crops and on alternative development* |
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Recalling that the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, reaffirmed in its Political Declaration36 the need for a comprehensive approach to the elimination of illicit drug crops and, at the same time, stressed the special importance of cooperation in alternative development, Recalling also that the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development37 asserts that States with illicit drug crops will need continued financial assistance, on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility, to support national efforts to eliminate such crops, Bearing in mind that the Action Plan states that the purpose of alternative development is to promote lawful and sustainable socio-economic options for communities and population groups that have resorted to illicit cultivation as their only viable means of obtaining a livelihood and to contribute thereby in an integrated way to the eradication of poverty, Emphasizing that the Action Plan also states that the international community, the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, multilateral financial institutions and regional development banks should assist States in combating illicit drug production by providing financial and technical assistance for alternative development, Reaffirming that alternative development as a process to prevent and eliminate the illicit cultivation of plants containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by adopting rural development measures that are specifically designed for that purpose and that are carried out in the context of sustained national economic growth and sustainable development efforts in countries taking action against drugs, recognizing the particular socio -cultural characteristics of the target communities and groups, within the framework of a comprehensive and permanent solution to the problem of illicit drugs, Recognizing that action to curb illicit cultivation and foster alternative development should be consistent with the rational use of natural resources and protection of the environment, Taking note of General Assembly resolution 55/65 of 4 December 2000, Bearing in mind Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 43/6 of 15 March 2000, Taking into account the development by countries with illicit drug crops of national programmes aimed at implementing coordinated alternative development projects, drawn up in accordance with the Action Plan, Welcoming the efforts deployed by countries with illicit drug crops to reduce and even eradicate such crops, Calling attention to the threat of the appearance of, reappearance of or relocation to other zones of illicit crops unless alternative occupations are found that are also decent, lasting, economically profitable and sustainable, 1. Calls upon Member States in which alternative development projects are under way and, in some cases, are already successful to continue their considerable efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation with a view to reintegrating the affected population groups into the licit economy of their respective countries; 2. Requests multilateral financial institutions and regional development banks, in accordance with the principle of the integrated approach, to provide financial assistance for alternative development programmes and for preventing the reappearance of illicit crop cultivation or its relocation to other zones; 3. Encourages the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to use available voluntary resources to increase its technical assistance to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes; 4. Urges the international community, including regional organizations, to undertake a greater and more determined financial and technical cooperation effort to support and promote alternative development projects, drawn up as part of national programmes, on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility as a pillar of international cooperation in countering the world drug problem; 5. Encourages States to open their markets to products that are the object of alternative development programmes, and which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; 6. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fifth session on the implementation of this resolution. 1209th meeting */ For the discussion, see chap. V, para. 114. |