At the opening of the high-level segment of the sixty-seventh session of the Commission, in March 2024, Member States adopted by consensus the high-level declaration by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the 2024 midterm review, following up to the Ministerial Declaration of 2019. In the high-level declaration, Member States reaffirmed the commitments made in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019 and emphasized the need for accelerated, scientific evidence-based and comprehensive actions to address persistent and emerging drug-related challenges. In addition, they called for enhanced cooperation at all levels, recognized the importance of leveraging technological innovation and highlighted the need for improved data collection and analysis to drive effective policy decisions, as well as for increased capacity-building and resource mobilization to support Member States in the implementation of existing drug policy commitments.
In the follow-up to the High-level Declaration, the Commission adopted in May 2024 a workplan or the period 2024–2028, deciding to hold an annual meeting dedicated to reviewing the implementation of all international drug policy commitments, with a continued focus on addressing the challenges outlined in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. In addition, time will be allocated at each meeting to “Other substantive matters”, allowing Member States to highlight persistent, new, or emerging issues of particular concern. In 2028, preceding the final review in 2029, the Commission will conduct a comprehensive stock-taking of progress made in implementing all international drug policy commitments, similar to the thematic discussions held in 2023.
The format of the thematic discussions is consistent with the approach used from 2019 to 2023, ensuring continuity in the Commission’s review process.
At its sixty-second session, CND held a ministerial segment to take stock of the implementation of the commitments made to jointly address and counter the world drug problem. Participants adopted by consensus the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on strengthening actions at the national, regional and international levels to accelerate the implementation of joint commitments to address and counter the world drug problem. The Ministerial Declaration consists of three parts: a preamble, a stock-taking section and a section on the way forward.
Member States agreed to focus on the practical implementation of the joint commitments made over the past decade (namely the commitments stemming from the 2009 Political Declaration, the 2014 Joint Ministerial Statement and the 2016 UNGASS outcome document). Member States resolved, in following up to the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, to review in the Commission in 2029 the progress made in implementing all the international drug policy commitments, with a mid-term review in CND in 2024.
The 2019 Ministerial Declaration also reiterates that efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to effectively address the world drug problem are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
In 2016, following the preparatory process led by the fifty-ninth session of CND, the General Assembly held a special session (UNGASS 2016) on the world drug problem and adopted resolution S-30/1, containing the outcome document entitled “Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem”. The outcome document contains operational recommendations for implementation by Member States under seven thematic chapters, as follows:
In 2014, at the high-level review of the progress made in the implementation by Member States of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action, CND adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement identifying achievements, challenges and priorities for further action by the target date of 2019.
The 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation Towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem gave CND the mandate to monitor the world drug situation; develop strategies on international drug control; and recommend measures to combat the world drug problem, including through reducing demand for drugs, promoting alternative development initiatives, adopting supply reduction measures, and strengthening international cooperation. The 2009 Political Declaration set targets to eliminate or reduce significantly and measurably the following:
