World Drug Report: Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET

1. ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL

The drug control system is governed by a series of treaties adopted under the aegis of the United Nations which require that governments exercise control over production and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances, combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking, maintain the necessary administrative machinery, and report to international organs on their actions.

The existing treaties are: the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, which inter alia established the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

The United Nations helps countries find innovative ways of controlling the supply of and demand for drugs. The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), a treaty body, is the main policy-making body for all matters of international drug control. The International Narcotics Control Board strives to restrict the availability of drugs to medical and scientific purposes, to prevent their diversion into illegal channels and to combat illicit trafficking. All United Nations drug control activities are coordinated by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP).

2. THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME (UNDCP)

Established in 1990, UNDCP became operational in 1991. It provides leadership in international drug control, monitors trends in drug production, consumption and trafficking, and promotes the implementation of drug control treaties. It serves as the worldwide centre of expertise and information on international drug control.

In particular, UNDCP:

constitutes the central organizational element of the United Nations in matters of drug control, with exclusive responsibility for effectively coordinating and directing all United Nations actions against illicit drugs;

acts on behalf of the Secretary-General in carrying out the responsibilities assigned to him under international treaties and resolutions by United Nations bodies on international drug control; monitors implementation and ensures that these functions are fully carried out;

provides secretariat and substantive support services to the governing body of the Programme (the Commission on Narcotic Drugs) and to the International Narcotics Control Board;

provides advice to Member States concerning implementation of the international drug control treaties and assists States to accede to them;

Designs and implements, world-wide, technical cooperation programmes relating to drug control intended to reduce the illicit production, manufacture, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to enhance the efficacy of measures to control illicit supply of drugs and substances of abuse;

coordinates technical cooperation strategies in drug control at the regional and world levels;

manages the financial resources of the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and maintains its accounts;

is the repository of technical expertise on drug control for the Secretariat - including the regional economic commissions and other United Nations bodies - and for Member States and, in this context, advises them on national and international drug control matters;

maintains on-going contacts with research institutes, associations and universities outside the Organization in order to obtain and exchange information on the most recent findings of research on drug control, and launches or, if necessary, participates in joint research projects;

promotes coordination and cooperation with regional and interregional organizations carrying out activities relating to drug control outside the United Nations system.

3. ORGANIZATION AND PRESENCE

The UNDCP Secretariat is located in Vienna. As from its establishment, in 1991, is headed by Under-Secretary General Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli, Executive Director, appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations.

As from November 1996 the Programme has been divided in three Divisions as follows:

- Division for Programme Planning and Support. The Division comprise programme support, planning and evaluation, the CND Secretariat and legal affairs. Director of the Division is Mr. Bertrand Juppin de Fondaumière, who in addition has the functions of Deputy Executive Director.

- Division for Treaty Implementation and Policy Development. The Division comprise the Secretariat of INCB, technical services and information, resource management. Director of the Division is Mr. Francesco Bastagli.

- Division for Operations and External Relations. The Division comprise operational activities, including the Field Offices network, external relations, including resources mobilization, as well as inter-agency cooperation and NGO's. Director of the Division is Mr. Christian Kornevall.

UNDCP currently maintains 19 Field Offices located as follows:

Afghanistan Country Office
Bolivia Country Office
Brazil Country Office
Colombia Country Office
Lao PDR Country Office
Lebanon Country Office
Myanmar Country Office
Nigeria Country Office
Peru Country Office
Regional Office for the Caribbean (Barbados)
Regional Office for North Africa (Egypt)
Regional Office for South Asia (India)
Regional Office for East and Southern Africa (Kenya)
Regional Office for Baltic States (Latvia)
Regional Office for Mexico and Central America (Mexico)
Regional Office for South West Asia (Pakistan)
Regional Office for Central and Western Africa (Senegal)
Regional Center for South East Asia (Thailand)
Regional Office for Central Asia (Uzbekistan)

The UNDCP also has a liaison office located in New York (USA).

4. PERSONNEL

The number of UNDCP staff is as follows:

Headquarters: 145
Field offices: 122
Total: 267

5. RESOURCES

The financial resources of UNDCP come from two distinct sources: the regular budget of the United Nations, and voluntary funded budget, supported by contributions mainly from governments. Voluntary funds represent approximately 90% of all resources available to UNDCP.

Regular budget 1996-1997: US$ 16 540 200
Voluntary funded budget 1996-1997: US$ 141 235 100

Regular budget 1998-1999 (proposed): US$ 16 372 000
Voluntary funded budget 1998-1999: US$ 162 298 000

6. UNDCP IN ACTION: ONGOING PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS PER REGION

UNDCP supports governments and NGOs in the design and implementation of national, regional and global technical cooperation programmes aimed at the reduction of production, manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

Sectors and Categories:

Demand Reduction: Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Social Integration of former addicts
Control Measures: Law Enforcement, Legislation, Money Laundering, Trafficking, Precursor Control
Supply Reduction: Alternative Development, Institution Building
Multisector: Policy and Planning, Master Plans, Institutional Strengthening

Number and Financial Breakdown of Ongoing Programmes and Projects per Region:

Biennium 1996-1997	Africa		Asia and the Pacific		Europe and the Middle East		Latin America and the Caribbean		Global Projects		Total
	Budget US$ '000	No.	Budget US$ '000	No.	Budget US$ '000	No.	Budget US$ '000	No.	Budget US$ '000	No.	Budget US$ '000	No.
Demand Reduction	1 523,5	12	6 877,2	17	1 007,5	5	22 193,1	32	2 678,3	18	34 279,6	84
Supply Reduction	0	0	15 853,3	7	740,1	1	10 224,1	19	251,4	3	27 068,9	30
Control Measures	2 969,5	14	5 411,5	20	5 716,4	13	6 483,4	15	5 595,4	9	26 176,2	71
Multisector	4 089.6	7	8 675,1	12	3 196,4	14	2 228,3	6	3 344,5	8	21 533,9	47
Total	8 582,6	33	36 817,1	56	10 660,4	33	41 128,9	72	11 869,6	38	109 058,6	232