I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention 1-4

A. Draft resolution to be recommended by the Council for adoption by the General Assembly 1

B. Draft resolutions for adoption by the Council 2

    I. Review of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme: strengthening the United Nations machinery for international drug          control within the scope of the existing international drug control treaties and in accordance with the basic principles of the Charter of the         United Nations

    II. Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit            manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

    III. International regulation and control of trade in poppy seed

C. Draft decisions for adoption by the Council 3

    I. Report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its forty-second session and provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-third          session of the Commission

    II. Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

D. Matters brought to the attention of the Council 4

    Resolution 42/1. Voluntary international control of norephedrine

    Resolution 42/2. Control of illicit trafficking in and diversion of potassium permanganate

    Resolution 42/3. Monitoring and verification of illicit cultivation

    Resolution 42/4. Guidelines for reporting by Governments on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and on the progress
    achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by  the General     
   Assembly at its twentieth special session

    Resolution 42/5. International action to mitigate the effects of the relationship between drug abuse, illicit trafficking and conflict situations

    Resolution 42/6. Strengthening of information and preventive measures with a view to fostering the reduction of drug demand

    Resolution 42/7. Illicit traffic by sea

     Resolution 42/8. Budgetary matters

    Decision 42/1. Inclusion of dihydroetorphine and remifentanil in Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 and that
    Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol

    Decision 42/2. Clarification of the scope of control of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971

    Decision 42/3. Inclusion of l-ephedrine and the racemate d,l-ephedrine in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971

II. Twentieth special session of the General Assembly: guidelines for reporting by Governments on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and on the progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the Assembly at its special session 5-27

    A. Structure of the debate 5-11

    B. Deliberations 12-22

    C. Action taken 23-27

III. Implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session 28-32

    A. Structure of the debate 28-29

    B. Deliberations 30-32

IV. Strengthening the United Nations machinery for drug control 33-40

    A. Structure of the debate 33-36

    B. Deliberations 37-39

    C. Action taken 40

V. Policy directives to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme 41-66

    A. Structure of the debate 41-42

    B. Deliberations 43-66

VI. Reduction of illicit demand for drugs 67-81

    A. Structure of the debate 67-72

    B. Deliberations 73-79

    C. Action taken 80-81

VII. Illicit drug traffic and supply, including reports of subsidiary bodies of the Commission, and the impact of communication networks, such as the Internet, on the drug problem 82-93

    A. Structure of the debate 82-85

    B. Deliberations 86-92

    C. Action taken 93

VIII. Implementation of the international drug control treaties 94-142

    A. Structure of the debate 94-105

    B. Deliberations 106-139

    C. Action taken 140-142

IX. Administrative and budgetary questions 143-149

    A. Structure of the debate 143

    B. Deliberations 144-148

    C. Action taken 149

X. Other business 150-154

    A. Structure of the debate 150

    B. Deliberations 151-152

    C. Action taken 153-154

XI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-second session 155-156

XII. Organization of the session and administrative matters 157-162

    A. Opening and duration of the session 157

    B. Attendance 158

    C. Election of officers 159-160

    D. Adoption of the agenda 161

    E. Documentation 162

Annexes

I. Attendance

II. List of documents before the Commission at its forty-second session

1. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs recommends to the Economic and Social Council the approval of the following draft resolution for adoption by the General Assembly:

The General Assembly,

Adopts the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction annexed to the present resolution.

ANNEX

PREAMBLE

1. In the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,¹ Member States:

(a) Recognized that demand reduction was an indispensable pillar in the global approach to countering the world drug problem and committed themselves:

(i) To introducing into their national programmes and strategies the provisions set out in the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;²

(ii) To working closely with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to develop action-oriented strategies to assist in the implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;

(iii) To establishing the year 2003 as a target date for new or enhanced drug demand reduction strategies and programmes set up in close collaboration with public health, social welfare and law enforcement authorities;

(iv) To achieving significant and measurable results in the field of demand reduction by the year 2008;

(b) Called upon all States to report biennially to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the above-mentioned goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008.

2. The present Action Plan is offered as guidance to Member States in implementing the above-mentioned commitments. Organizations in the United Nations system,³ other international organizations, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations are invited to provide support to Member States in implementing the Action Plan, according to their available resources, specific mandates and the different roles that they are to play in achieving the goals set out in the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction.

3. The Action Plan reflects the emphasis in the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction on the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach involving demand reduction and supply reduction, each reinforcing the other, together with the appropriate application of the principle of shared responsibility. It stresses the need for services responsible for prevention, including law enforcement agencies, to transmit the same message and use similar language.

4. The Action Plan is guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, in particular respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, human rights and fundamental freedoms and the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.⁴ It allows for flexible approaches to reflect social, cultural, religious and political differences, and it acknowledges that efforts to reduce illicit drug demand are at different levels of implementation in different countries.

5. The Action Plan recognizes that progress to reduce the demand for illicit drugs should be seen in the context of the need for programmes to reduce the demand for substances of abuse. Such programmes should be integrated to promote cooperation between all concerned, should include a wide variety of appropriate interventions, should promote health and social well-being among individuals, families and communities, and should reduce the adverse consequences of drug abuse for the individual and for society as a whole.

6. The Action Plan focuses on the need to design demand reduction campaigns and programmes to meet the needs of the population in general, as well as those of specific population groups, taking into account differences in gender, culture and education and paying special attention to youth.⁵ Demand reduction efforts should be developed with the participation of target groups, giving special attention to a gender perspective.

I. THE COMMITMENT

7. Objective 1. To apply the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction in order to achieve significant and measurable results in reducing the demand for drugs by the year 2008 and to report on those results to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. A greater compliance with the spirit and principles of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and achieving significant and measurable results in reducing the demand for drugs;

(b) Outputs. Biennial reports by each country on the efforts to implement the Declaration and reduce the demand for drugs and on the results achieved;

(c) National action. Applying the Declaration and preparing a biennial report containing measurable results for submission to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs;

(d) International and regional Action. UNDCP to collate national reports and report on its findings to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

8. Objective 2. To secure, at the highest political level possible, a long-term commitment to the implementation of a national strategy for reducing illicit drug demand and to establish a mechanism for ensuring full coordination and participation of the relevant authorities and sectors of society. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Higher priority for and long-term commitment to demand reduction and effective coordination between relevant sectors of society;

(b) Outputs. A mechanism for ensuring ongoing commitment to the strategy through: (i) fostering linkages and integration with other relevant plans and programmes, for instance, those concerning health, including public health issues such as those relating to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis C, as well as education, housing, employment, social exclusion, law enforcement and crime prevention; (ii) encouraging the participation of all sectors of society; and (iii) providing for the assessment and reporting of results and refinement of the strategy as necessary;

(c) National action. Consultation and cooperation with potential partners in developing multisectoral plans and obtaining long-term commitments coordinated by the appropriate national authorities;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to provide appropriate assistance in establishing coordination mechanisms for those requesting it.

9. Objective 3. To develop and implement, by the year 2003, national strategies fully incorporating the guiding principles set out in the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. An integrated, balanced, efficient and effective national strategy for addressing drug issues, with major emphasis on demand reduction;

(b) Outputs. A strategy document tailored to national needs, characteristics and cultures, specifying the role of agencies involved, the time-frame for activities and the goals;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) developing a national strategy by assessing the problem, defining the needs and resources, establishing priorities and goals, setting time-frames for specific activities and results and determining the roles of the agencies concerned; (ii) implementing the strategy through the development of a national action plan with a multisectoral approach, endorsed by an appropriate national body; and (iii) developing a framework for assessing and reporting results and reporting on the strategy and its implementation to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to provide guidance and assistance to those requesting it and to set up a database on national drug control strategies.

II. ASSESSING THE PROBLEM

10. Objective 4. To assess the causes and consequences of the misuse of all substances in each country and to communicate those causes and consequences to policy makers, planners and the general public in order to develop practical measures; to establish a national system to monitor drug problems and trends and to record and evaluate intervention programmes and their impact on a regular basis, using national indicators; and, taking into account existing national and regional data systems for monitoring drug problems and trends, as well as the goals and targets established for the years 2003 and 2008 in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, to work towards establishing a core set of regionally and internationally recognized indicators. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Programmes and policies that are based on precise and timely evidence on the causes and consequences of drug abuse;

(b) Outputs. They would include: (i) a regular national report on the current drug situation and trends; and (ii) a periodic assessment of the health, social and economic costs of drug abuse and the benefits associated with different measures and actions, on both the demand and the supply side;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) establishing a national system for data collection and analysis of drug abuse; (ii) undertaking periodic assessments of the costs to society of drug abuse, and of the medium- and long-term benefits to society if the problem is reduced; and (iii) using the information for drug policy and programme development;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations: (i) to provide advice and technical assistance to countries requesting it on the establishment of national systems for monitoring the drug abuse problem, including regionally and internationally recognized core indicators; and (ii) to promote the development of methodologies for assessing the costs and consequences of drug abuse, and for undertaking cost benefit analyses of various measures and actions.

11. Objective 5. To develop research programmes at the national and regional levels in scientific fields concerning drug demand reduction and to widely disseminate the results so that strategies for reducing illicit drug demand may be elaborated on a solid scientific basis. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Improved drug demand reduction strategies based on scientific evidence;

(b) Outputs. Programmes for research on issues related to drug demand reduction;

(c) National action. Identifying research needs, developing research programmes, mobilizing resources required and promoting the application of research findings;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to encourage research into a wide range of drug demand reduction issues and the dissemination and application of research findings.

III. TACKLING THE PROBLEM

12. Objective 6. To identify and develop programmes for reducing illicit drug demand in a wide variety of health and social contexts and to encourage collaboration among those programmes, which should cover all areas of drug abuse prevention, ranging from discouraging the initial use of illicit drugs to reducing the negative health and social

consequences of drug abuse, and should include continuing education, not only for all educational levels, beginning at an early age, but also in the workplace, the family and the community; and to develop programmes to make the public aware of the problem of drug abuse and of the full continuum of risks involved in such abuse and to provide information on and services for early intervention, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, relapse prevention, aftercare and social reintegration to those in need. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Reduction of drug abuse and related health and social consequences;

(b) Outputs. Easily accessible drug demand reduction programmes, integrated into broader health and social programmes, covering where possible the full spectrum of services, including reducing the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse;

(c) National action. Developing and implementing specific demand reduction activities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention that meet the needs of various target groups and which are integrated into the health, education and other related sectors;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to provide guidance and assistance to those requesting it and to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies.

IV. FORGING PARTNERSHIPS

13. Objective 7. To identify how different national and local institutions and organizations may contribute to efforts to reduce illicit drug demand, and to promote the linking of those institutions and organizations. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. More efficient utilization of resources and local ownership of programmes;

(b) Outputs. Identification of the roles of national and local institutions and organizations and of networking arrangements between them with a view to improving their contribution to, and the effectiveness of, national strategies;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) identifying drug demand reduction programmes run by various agencies, governmental and non-governmental, and defining their role in the national strategy; and (ii) promoting and reinforcing collaboration and networking among them;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to compile a collection of examples of collaborative and cooperative arrangements that are in place in Member States to promote and reinforce networking, and to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies.

V. FOCUSING ON SPECIAL NEEDS

14. Objective 8. To enhance the quality of programmes for reducing illicit drug demand, especially in terms of their relevance to population groups, taking into account their cultural diversity and specific needs, such as gender, age and socially, culturally and geographically marginalized groups. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Improvement in the quality and relevance of services offered;

(b) Outputs. Guidelines for programmes and services, taking into consideration cultural diversity and specific needs;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) establishing guidelines for the development and implementation of programmes; and (ii) monitoring and evaluating programmes according to established guidelines in order to improve programme quality and increase cost effectiveness;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to promote the development of guidelines and to facilitate the sharing of information among Member States.

15. Objective 9. To target the particular needs of groups most at risk of abusing drugs, through the development, in cooperation with those groups, of specially designed communication strategies and effective, relevant and accessible programmes. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Reduction of drug abuse among groups at risk and a reduction in the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse;

(b) Outputs. Development of programmes and communication strategies for specific risk groups, particularly youth;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) identifying risk factors and groups at risk and developing programmes and communication strategies in cooperation with such groups to address their specific needs; and (ii) establishing and supporting mechanisms, including networks that facilitate the participation of young people in the design and implementation of programmes intended for them;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations: (i) to promote the participation of target groups in the design of projects and facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies; and (ii) to facilitate the creation of an international network promoting regular contact among youth involved in demand reduction activities and allowing them to stay informed and learn from each other.

16. Objective 10. To provide prevention, education, treatment or rehabilitation services to offenders who misuse drugs, whether in prison or in the community, as an addition to or, where appropriate and consistent with the national laws and policies of Member States, as an alternative to punishment or conviction; and to provide, in particular, drug-abusing offenders held in prison with services to enable them to overcome their dependence and to facilitate their reintegration in the community. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. A reduction of drug abuse among offenders and, where appropriate, positive social integration or reintegration;

(b) Outputs. Comprehensive drug prevention, education, treatment, rehabilitation and social integration programmes for offenders;

(c) National action. Cooperation among institutions and organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, offering health, social, justice, correctional, vocational training and employment services, in order to provide preventive care, education, treatment and rehabilitation for offenders and, where appropriate, programmes to enable their integration into the community;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations, to facilitate sharing of information on best strategies.

VI. SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE

(a) Impact. Enhanced knowledge and awareness of the drug problem, of the need to take action, and of the available support mechanisms;

(b) Outputs. Appropriately targeted public information campaigns based on knowledge acquired from research to promote greater awareness of the drug problem and to provide information on available resources and services;

(c) National action. Assessing needs and including and evaluating public information activities as part of national drug strategies;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies.

18. Objective 12. To develop information campaigns that are relevant and precise so that they take into account the social and cultural characteristics of the target population: That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Increased knowledge and awareness among drug users and specific social and cultural groups about drugs and the adverse health and social consequences of drug use, as well as the availability of services;

(b) Outputs. Effective and culturally appropriate information campaigns that encourage and help drug users to reduce their involvement with drugs and prevent or reduce adverse health and social problems and inform them about available services;

(c) National action. Providing information on drugs and drug abuse and on how to obtain help for those most in need, particularly drug users. Information should be based on knowledge acquired from research and developed in collaboration with the target audience;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies.

19. Objective 13. To promote information, education and communication programmes for social mediators, for example, political, religious, educational, cultural, business and union leaders, peer educators, and representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media worldwide, so that they may convey appropriate and accurate messages about drug abuse. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Enhanced knowledge and skills among social mediators in conveying information about drug abuse;

(b) Outputs. Programmes and other activities to inform and educate social mediators and to develop their communication skills;

(c) National action. Developing training strategies for social mediators;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies in this field.

VII. BUILDING ON EXPERIENCE

20. Objective 14. To train planners and practitioners of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and others within the community on a permanent basis in all aspects of demand reduction activities and strategic programming by identifying local, national, subregional and regional human resources and using their experience in the design of programmes in order to guarantee their continuity and to create and strengthen regional, subregional, national and local training and technical resource networks; and, with the possible assistance of regional and international organizations, to facilitate the exchange of experiences and expertise by encouraging States to include demand reduction personnel from other States in training programmes that they have developed. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Improved knowledge and skills of practitioners in demand reduction, facilitating the development of more efficient, effective and sustainable services;

(b) Outputs. Strategies for the development and expansion of the pool of technical expertise supporting planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of national demand reduction programmes;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) identifying those involved in planning and implementing programmes, from planners to practitioners and institutions and individuals involved with service delivery, in order to enhance their capacity to respond to the problem; (ii) supporting the design and implementation of training programmes, reviewed and updated on a regular basis, to form part of a continuing education programme for trainers; and (iii) designing and instituting training programmes for the various sectors involved in demand reduction programmes;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations: (i) to facilitate sharing of information on best strategies, (ii) to facilitate the development of guidelines on the development of curricula and training programmes, including distance learning, and assistance for those requesting it; and (iii) to facilitate the intercountry exchange of experts for training purposes and the participation of foreign personnel in national training programmes developed by Member States.

21. Objective 15. To evaluate strategies and activities for reducing illicit drug demand and to develop mechanisms for intercountry, regional and interregional advocacy coordination, cooperation and collaboration in order to identify, share and expand best practices and effective activities in the development and implementation of drug demand reduction programmes. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Demand reduction programmes that are soundly based on validated experience and evidence;

(b) Outputs. They would include: (i) domestic evaluation results of strategies and activities and mechanisms for cooperation and data sharing; and (ii) mechanisms for facilitating the exchange of evaluation results and other data assessing the effectiveness of strategies and activities at the domestic, regional and interregional levels;

(c) National action. This would include: (i) monitoring and evaluating demand reduction strategies and activities and utilizing the results to inform and improve national plans; and (ii) participating in coordinating mechanisms for inter-country, regional and international exchange of information;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to facilitate the exchange of information by establishing coordination mechanisms.

22. Objective 16. To create an international system of information on illicit drug demand reduction by linking existing databases managed by international, regional and national organizations in order to provide a network of information on knowledge and experiences that, to the extent possible, would use the above-mentioned core set of regionally and internationally recognized indicators and to enable comparisons of national experiences to be made. That would entail the following:

(a) Impact. Improved access to information, experiences and practices to facilitate the better design of programmes and policies;

(b) Outputs. National, regional and international mechanisms allowing easy access to databases and networks for the exchange of knowledge and experience of demand reduction;

(c) National action. Establishing and maintaining databases and facilitating linkages for international networking;

(d) International and regional action. UNDCP and other relevant international and regional organizations to participate in the creation of an international mechanism by facilitating networking and linkages between databases.

2. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolutions:

DRAFT RESOLUTION I

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting that the General Assembly, at its twentieth special session, conferred additional mandates on the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and strengthened both its role as the global forum for international cooperation in combating the world drug problem and its functions as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and as a treaty organ,

Stressing the need to enhance the functioning of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to enable it to discharge its new mandates emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, at which Member States were called upon to report biennially to the Commission on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the Assembly at the special session,⁶ on 10 June 1998,

Noting that the twentieth special session of the General Assembly has been designated as a major global conference within the framework of the United Nations system and that follow-up will be reviewed in that context,

Recognizing the crucial role of the International Narcotics Control Board in monitoring the implementation of the international drug control treaties,

Noting with concern that the low level of contributions to the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme has adverse consequences for the ability of the Programme to fulfil its mandates and to respond to emerging priority needs,

Reiterating the need to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system to counter the world drug problem,

Recalling its resolution 1997/37, in which the Secretary-General was requested to convene a high-level expert group to review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control,

Commending the work carried out by the high-level expert group and expressing appreciation for its report and comprehensive recommendations,⁷

I

ENHANCING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS

1. Decides that the normative functions of the Commission should be made distinct from its role as governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and that, to that end, the agenda of the Commission should be structured in two distinct segments, as follows:

(a) A normative segment, during which the Commission would discharge its treaty-based and normative functions, including mandates received from the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, and deal with emerging drug control issues;

(b) An operational segment, during which the Commission would exercise its role as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and consider issues related to the provision of policy guidance to the Programme;

2. Recommends that the Commission convene, whenever appropriate, ministerial-level segments of its sessions to focus on specific themes related to the follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, and requests the Commission at its forty-third session to consider the timing of and theme for any such ministerial-level segment;

3. Decides that, with effect from the year 2000, the Commission should, at the end of its session, elect its bureau for the subsequent session and encourage it to play an active role in the preparations of the regular as well as the informal inter-sessional meetings of the Commission, so as to enable the Commission to provide continuous and effective policy guidance to the Programme. The Chairman should, whenever appropriate, invite the chairmen of the five regional groups to participate in the meetings of the bureau.

II

ENHANCING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS

CONTROL BOARD

1. Invites the Secretary-General to provide the International Narcotics Control Board with resources commensurate with its mandates emanating from the international drug control treaties and from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly;

2. Encourages the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the President of the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their mutual efforts to develop closer cooperation in order to take full advantage of the potential synergies between the Board and the Programme;

3. Invites Member States and the World Health Organization, when selecting candidates for the International Narcotics Control Board, to ensure the necessary multidisciplinary expertise and the required independence and impartiality for the effective discharge of the responsibilities of the Board.

III

STRENGTHENING THE FINANCING OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL

DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME

1. Recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to enable it to fulfil its mandates;

2. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial support to the Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions;

3. Requests the Executive Director, in pursuance of Commission resolution 10 (XXXIX), to continue his efforts to broaden the donor base and increase voluntary contributions to the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme;

4. Invites Member States, as beneficiaries of technical assistance provided by the Programme, to contribute through an agreed cost-sharing mechanism to the financing of that assistance;

5. Encourages the Executive Director to explore ways and means to obtain additional funds from the private sector and non-governmental organizations;

6. Requests the Executive Director to analyse the implications of instituting a results-based budget for the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, including the identification of possible performance indicators, taking into account the practices of other funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and to report to the Commission at its reconvened forty-second session;

7. Recommends that the budget of the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme continue to be harmonized with the budgets of other funds and programmes of the United Nations system;

8. Requests the Secretary-General and the Executive Director, with the assistance of the Chairman of the High-level Expert Group to review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to strengthen the United Nations Machinery for Drug Control, to continue to explore innovative means of increasing the resources for drug control programmes, including the creation of a global drug facility, for example, along the lines of the Global Environment Facility, and to report thereon to the Commission at its forty-third session.

IV

FRAMEWORK FOR INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION AND COORDINATION

1. Recommends that the Administrative Committee on Coordination ensure that the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control⁸ develops into a strategic planning tool, and that drug issues are considered in the formulation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;

2. Recommends also that Member States report on the implementation of measures arising from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly in line with the Political Declaration adopted at the special session and consider the world drug problem as a cross-cutting issue in the context of the integrated and coordinated follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summit meetings;

4. Invites the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to increase its cooperation with United Nations agencies working in the field of development in implementing alternative development programmes;

5. Calls for a significant increase in cooperation between the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the United Nations Development Programme, in view of the special role of the latter body as a coordinator for development activities within the United Nations system, and to that effect recommends that:

(a) Drug-related indicators be jointly developed by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the United Nations Development Programme for inclusion in the human development report of the United Nations Development Programme;

(b) United Nations resident coordinators, in close consultation with Governments, give higher priority to the reduction of the demand for and supply of illicit drugs;

6. Requests the Executive Director to continue his efforts, in cooperation with Member States, to forge closer cooperation with regional and international financial institutions engaged in the field of development, in order to secure increased funding for drug-related activities as proposed by the High-level Expert Group to Review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to Strengthen the United Nations Machinery for Drug Control, and to encourage those institutions, in particular the World Bank, to accord higher priority to funding such activities.

V

OPERATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME

1. Encourages the Executive Director to further strengthen the information strategy of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme along the lines suggested by the High-level Expert Group to review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to strengthen the United Nations Machinery for Drug Control;

2. Requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to strengthen its evaluation capacity, as proposed by the High-level Expert Group, so as to focus more on the medium-and long-term impact of projects rather than on the completion of the project process.

DRAFT RESOLUTION II

The Economic and Social Council,

Convinced that the Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, adopted by the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East at its thirty-fourth session, held in Lucknow, India, from 1 to 5 February 1999, will contribute to the enhancement of the struggle against illicit drug trafficking in the region,

1. Takes note of the Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, annexed to the present resolution;

2. Invites the Secretary-General to inform all Member States, relevant specialized agencies and other entities of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations of the adoption of the Lucknow accord by the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East at its thirty-fourth session, held in Lucknow, India, from 1 to 5 February 1999;

3. Invites Member States to consider the Lucknow accord when implementing article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,⁹ in accordance with their existing national legislation;

4. Also invites Member States to promote awareness within the chemical industry concerning the provisions of the Lucknow accord;

5. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board to consider the necessary measures, in accordance with article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, for the transfer of acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate from Table II to Table I of the Convention.

ANNEX

We, representatives of the States members of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East and observers attending the thirty-fourth session of the Subcommission, held in Lucknow, India, from 1 to 5 February 1999,

Having considered the Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Deeply concerned about the diversion of precursors and other chemicals from licit to illicit channels, especially in the course of international trade, for the manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Deeply concerned also about the lack of uniformity in monitoring the international trade among various States parties to the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,

Reaffirming our commitment to combat the diversion of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Have agreed on the following:

1. In accordance with General Assembly resolution S-20/4 B, adopted by the Assembly at its twentieth special session, and considering the problems being faced on account of different control mechanisms being adopted by Member States, there should be uniformity in the control of international trade in precursors, and a minimum uniform procedure, in conformity with the domestic law of each country, should be adopted to effect such control. The following steps should be taken to achieve those objectives:

(a) International trade in all substances in Table I of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, as well as international trade in acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate, substances in Table II, should be subject to control by the competent authorities in all States, irrespective of whether those substances are prone to being diverted;

(b) The competent authorities may require all importers and exporters to notify them about each transaction prior to shipment and to furnish the particulars of the trading party in the other country, such as the name of the trading party, the mode of payment and proof of authorization by the competent authority of that country;

(c) On receipt of such a notification, the competent authority of the exporting country should send a pre-export notification to the competent authority of the importing country;

(d) Each Government should clearly identify and make known its competent authority responsible for international trade;

(e) On receipt of the pre-export notification, the competent authority of the importing country should investigate and assure itself of the legitimacy of the transaction and should inform the competent authority of the exporting country;

(f) If, fifteen days after having sent the pre-export notification, the competent authority of the export country has received no reply from the competent authority of the importing country, it will be presumed that there is no objection to the proposed export. In the case of a specific request by the competent authority of the importing country related to a particular consignment, however, the time-limit of fifteen days will not apply;

(g) Each State should establish a system of penalizing companies in its territory that do not comply with the condition of notification. Timely notification will ultimately help such trade, as it will be easy for the competent authorities to verify the legitimacy of the transactions and provide timely responses to the competent authorities of other countries;

(h) For a select percentage of imports of precursors in a country, the competent authorities should verify the ultimate use of the precursors. This step is necessary to ensure that the chances of precursors being diverted to illicit channels are minimized and that the companies do not resort to recording inflated figures for precursors used for legitimate purposes. Competent authorities may consider carrying out such an investigation at levels up to and including the level of wholesale trade and, in some cases, even at levels up to and including the level of retail trade.

2. In respect of substitute chemicals, which were discussed and identified by the Subcommission at its thirty-fourth session using, as a basis, the limited international special surveillance list of substances currently not in Table I and II of the 1988 Convention and for which substantial information exists of their use in illicit drug trafficking, established by the International Narcotics Control Board pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/29 of 24 July 1996, a procedure for monitoring the international trade of substitute chemicals and the format to be used for such monitoring should be approved by the parties to the 1988 Convention. States may also consider notifying the Secretary-General with a view to including such substances in Table I and Table II of the 1988 Convention where appropriate;

3. The International Narcotics Control Board is urged to take the immediate measures necessary to transfer acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate from Table II to Table I of the 1988 Convention.

DRAFT RESOLUTION III

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,¹⁰ article 22, on the prohibition of the illicit cultivation of the opium poppy, and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development, contained in resolution S-20/4 E adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, on 10 June 1998,

Recalling also that the International Narcotics Control Board, in its report for 1995,¹¹ expressed its concern about trade in seeds obtained from the Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) plant in countries where cultivation of the opium poppy is prohibited, and that the Board urged Governments to be vigilant in order to ensure that poppy seeds traded for food purposes are not derived from illicitly cultivated poppy plants,

Emphasizing the need to fight the illicit cultivation of the opium poppy by all possible means,

Noting that poppy seeds are still being exported on a large scale from countries where cultivation of the opium poppy is prohibited,

Aware that under the terms of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, trade in poppy seeds is not subject to international control,

Recognizing that there is a need to prohibit international trade in poppy seeds from sources of illicit cultivation of the opium poppy,

Recognizing also that the poppy plant of low morphine content that is used for food purposes is unsuitable for the production of opium or illicit use by drug abusers,

Resolving to fight the international trade in illicit poppy seeds by practical measures, such as attempting to ensure that export only be made from countries authorized to cultivate the opium poppy,

1. Calls upon Member States to take the following measures to fight the international trade in poppy seeds from countries where no licit cultivation of opium poppy is permitted:

(a) Poppy seeds should only be imported if they originate from those countries where opium poppy is grown licitly in accordance with the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961;

(b) Encourages Governments to the extent possible, and where national circumstances so require, to obtain an appropriate certificate from the exporting countries on the country of origin of Papaver somniferum seeds as the basis for importation, and also to give notification of export Papaver somniferum seeds, as far as possible, to the competent authorities of the importing countries;

(c) Information on any suspicious transactions involving poppy seeds should be shared with other Governments concerned and with the International Narcotics Control Board;

2. Urges all Member States that have not already done so to prohibit the cultivation of the opium poppy in accordance with article 22 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, or to permit the cultivation of the opium poppy for purposes other than the production of opium, taking all the necessary measures as stipulated in article 25 of the 1961 Convention;

3. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to take appropriate measures to ensure the full implementation of article 22 of the 1961 Convention by concerned Member States;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the text of the present resolution to all Governments for consideration and implementation.

DRAFT RESOLUTION IV

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1998/25 of 28 July 1998 and previous relevant resolutions,

Emphasizing that the need to balance the global licit supply of opiates against the legitimate demand for opiates for medical and scientific purposes is central to the international strategy and policy of drug abuse control,

Noting the fundamental need for international cooperation and solidarity with the traditional supplier countries in drug abuse control in general, and in the universal application of the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961¹² in particular,

Having considered the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1998,¹³ in which the Board points out that in 1997 a balance between consumption and production of opiate raw materials was achieved, and noting that efforts were made by the two traditional supplier countries, India and Turkey, to maintain, together with other producing countries, the balance between supply and demand,

Noting the importance of opiates in pain relief therapy as advocated by the World Health Organization,

1. Urges all Governments to continue contributing to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials for medical and scientific needs, the achievement of which would be facilitated by maintaining, in so far as their constitutional and legal systems permit, support to the traditional supplier countries, and to cooperate in preventing the proliferation of sources of production of opiate raw materials;

2. Urges Governments of all producing countries to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and to take effective measures to prevent illicit production or diversion of opiate raw materials to illicit channels, especially when increasing licit production;

3. Urges consumer countries to assess their licit needs for opiate raw materials realistically, and to communicate those needs to the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to ensure easy supply, and further urges concerned producing countries and the Board to increase efforts to monitor the available supply and to ensure sufficient stocks of licit opiate raw material;

4. Recommends that, at the request of traditional suppliers, consumer countries provide continued or new support to efforts to estimate yields and supplies of licit opiate raw materials in future years;

5. Commends the Board for its efforts in monitoring the implementation of the relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions and, in particular:

(a) In urging the Governments concerned to adjust global production of opiate raw materials to a level corresponding to actual licit needs and to avoid unforeseen imbalances between licit supply of and demand for opiates caused by the exportation of products manufactured from seized and confiscated drugs;

(b) In inviting the Governments concerned to ensure that opiates imported into their countries for medical and scientific use do not originate from countries that transform seized and confiscated drugs into licit opiates;

(c) In arranging informal meetings, during sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, with the main States importing and producing opiate raw materials;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the text of the present resolution to all Governments for consideration and implementation.

3. The Commission recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:

DRAFT DECISION I

The Economic and Social Council takes note of the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its forty-second session and approves the provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-third session of the Commission set out below, on the understanding that informal inter-sessional meetings would be held at Vienna, at no additional cost, to finalize the items to be included in the provisional agenda and the documentation requirements for the forty-third session.

AGENDA

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

Annotated provisional agenda

3. General debate (theme to be identified).

Documentation

[Note by the Secretariat (as necessary)]

4. Policy directives to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.

Activities of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme: report of the Executive Director

5. Overview of the follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly: reporting by Governments on progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the Assembly at its special session, and on implementation of the Global Programme of Action.

Documentation

[Note by the Secretariat (as necessary)]

6. Reduction of illicit demand for drugs: world situation with regard to drug abuse:

Follow-up to the twentieth special session: Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction.

7. Illicit drug traffic and supply, including reports of subsidiary bodies of the Commission.

8. Implementation of the international drug control treaties:

(a) Changes in the scope of control of substances;

Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999

Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999 on the Implementation of article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988

(d) Follow-up to the twentieth special session:

(i) Measures to prevent the illicit manufacture, import, export, trafficking, distribution and diversion of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;

(ii) Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors;

Documentation

[Note by the Secretariat (as necessary)]

Documentation

9. Administrative and budgetary questions.

Documentation

[Report of the Executive Director (as necessary)]

10. Provisional agenda for the forty-fourth session of the Commission.

11. Other business.

12. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-third session.

DRAFT DECISION II

The Economic and Social Council takes note of the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1998.

4. The following resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission are brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council:

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recognizing that the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants continues to be a serious global issue,

Reaffirming that prevention of the diversion of precursor chemicals is one of the most effective means of curtailing the illicit manufacture of drugs,

Noting that increased control of the precursor chemicals ephedrine and pseudoephedrine has had a significant impact upon their availability for the illicit production of methamphetamine,

Noting with concern that increased trafficking and diversion of norephedrine for use as a substitute in the illicit production of amphetamine-type stimulants has been observed,

Noting also that until international control of norephedrine is implemented, diversion of norephedrine will continue and most likely increase,

Noting further that norephedrine has been added to the limited international special surveillance list of non-scheduled substances established by the International Narcotics Control Board,

Recognizing the legitimate use of norephedrine in pharmaceutical products,

1. Requests Governments to recognize the danger of diversion of norephedrine as a precursor;

2. Urges all Governments, in close cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board and relevant branches of trade and industry, to establish or strengthen measures and codes of conduct governing trade in norephedrine, in accordance with their national legislation, to prevent the illegal diversion of norephedrine as a precursor;

3. Calls for vigilance on the part of all Governments in monitoring suspicious movements of norephedrine;

4. Urges Governments, to the extent possible under their national laws to initiate pre-export notification of norephedrine shipments between counterpart government agencies in exporting, importing and transit countries;

5. Urges all Governments, to the extent possible under their national laws, to collect information on the extent of the licit production of, trade in and use of norephedrine, and to provide such information to the International Narcotics Control Board.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Deeply concerned by the continuing abuse of and traffic in cocaine worldwide,

Recognizing that the traffic in cocaine is an international criminal activity that must be curbed in order to prevent its harmful effects on the socio-economic systems and political institutions of all societies,

Taking note of resolution S-20/4 B of 10 June 1998, on control of precursors, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,

Reaffirming that measures involved in effectively preventing the diversion of chemicals have to form an integral part of the development of national drug control strategies,

Aware that the diversion of chemicals occurs in countries that import, export and serve as transit States for those substances, and that it is therefore necessary for all States to cooperate in the prevention of such unlawful activity,

Aware also that potassium permanganate, a chemical included in Table II of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,¹⁴ is an essential oxidizing agent in the processing of cocaine,

Determined to prevent producers of illicit drugs from having access to potassium permanganate,

Decides to adopt the temporary measures for the control of potassium permanganate that are set out below:

TEMPORARY MEASURES FOR THE CONTROL

OF POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE

1. In conjunction with paragraph 8 below, Governments are encouraged to adopt, as soon as possible, special measures to prevent the diversion to illicit activities of potassium permanganate, an essential substance for the processing of cocaine, which is included in Table II of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

A. Legislative aspects

2. Governments are encouraged to take, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution S-20/4 B and the Guidelines of the International Narcotics Control Board, the necessary steps to strengthen the monitoring and control of potassium permanganate, including penal, civil and administrative sanctions, in order to prevent the illicit trafficking in and diversion of that substance for the illicit manufacture of drugs.

B. Information exchange

3. Governments of countries exporting potassium permanganate, consistent with their domestic legislation, may notify on a voluntary basis the competent authorities in the transit or final importing countries, where these are known, of any shipment of that substance, sending a copy of the relevant communication to the International Narcotics Control Board.

4. With regard to paragraph 3 above, in accordance with their domestic legislation, Governments should use the voluntary form circulated by the International Narcotics Control Board with its note of 12 March 1998.¹⁵

5. Governments are encouraged to strengthen cooperation measures aimed at establishing precisely the origin and final destination of shipments of potassium permanganate. In that connection, Governments are called upon to collect data on seizures of potassium permanganate carried out at points of origin or transit or at centres for the processing of cocaine for the purpose of determining the country of origin of substances that have been or may have been diverted to illicit activities and the company producing such substances. Studies on licit requirements should be carried out by Governments of importing countries and studies on actual production of potassium permanganate by Governments of producing countries.

C. Operational aspects

6. Governments should consider the possibility of establishing special joint teams comprising relevant and competent law enforcement authorities, such as police and customs, as well as the competent regulatory authorities, with a view to increasing the monitoring and control of commercial transactions involving potassium permanganate. Governments are called upon to undertake additional efforts to increase cooperation with the chemical industry and to inform it of any illicit movements and use of potassium permanganate in the manufacture of cocaine.

D. Follow-up

7. Governments are invited to collect data on trends in the market for potassium permanganate, including, to the extent possible, the market for its substitutes, and forward such information to the International Narcotics Control Board.

8. The International Narcotics Control Board is requested to prepare, in accordance with its mandate under the 1988 Convention, a report on the effects of the measures described above, based on the information submitted by Governments pursuant to the present resolution, and to submit that report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-third session as part of its general report on the implementation of article 12 of the Convention.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Reaffirming the full validity of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular full respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling that Member States, in paragraph 19 of the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,¹⁶ on 10 June 1998, welcomed the global approach by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to the elimination of illicit crops, committed themselves to working closely with the Programme to develop strategies with a view to eliminating or reducing significantly the illicit cultivation of the coca bush, the cannabis plant and the opium poppy by 2008, and affirmed their determination to mobilize international support for their efforts to achieve those goals,

Recalling also that Member States, in section IV of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,¹⁷ on 10 June 1998, invited Governments in the producing areas to design efficient and accurate monitoring and verification mechanisms and to share information on illicit drug crop assessment with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and reciprocally with other Governments in order to increase cooperation to eliminate such cultivation,

Bearing in mind that the General Assembly, in its resolution 53/207 of 28 December 1998, approved the proposed revisions to programme 13, international drug control, of the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001,¹⁸ in which the United Nations International Drug Control Programme was called upon to establish and maintain a repository of data and information on cultivation of illicit crops, including those located on enclosed sites, and to conduct assessments and analyses to provide Governments with an independent, neutral and objective source for measuring the extent, causes and effects of illicit production, as well as the impact of alternative development interventions,

Welcoming the preparatory work undertaken by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme since the twentieth special session of the General Assembly to provide assistance to Governments that request it, and, in particular, noting the agreement signed by the Programme and the European Space Agency for placing civilian satellite imagery technology at the disposal of Governments so requesting for the purpose of monitoring illicit crops and preventing the transfer of illicit cultivation to neighbouring areas,

1. Urges Governments in all areas producing coca bush, the cannabis plant and the opium poppy to design, formulate and implement effective national mechanisms for the high-precision monitoring and verification of illicit crops used in the production of drugs, including appropriate methodologies combining ground and aerial surveys, satellite monitoring and remote sensing, with a view to implementing the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;

2. Recommends that the United Nations International Drug Control Programme collaborate with Governments that so request, through an agreement setting out guidelines for the collection and dissemination of information, and with relevant governmental, intergovernmental, regional and technical organizations in establishing an international network for monitoring the cultivation of illicit crops;

3. Requests that the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, within the limits of available resources, establish a central data bank and information system on the basis of information furnished by Governments on the cultivation of illicit crops, including those located on enclosed sites, and that it report annually to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the current world situation regarding illicit crops and on the impact of strategies developed by Governments for their elimination and substitution;

4. Also requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, within available resources, to provide requesting Governments with the technical assistance that they require and to take steps to mobilize international logistical and financial support, as necessary, with a view to establishing national mechanisms for monitoring and verification of the cultivation of illicit crops used in the production of drugs and developing an international network for the control of illicit cultivation for the purpose of implementing the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;

5. Suggests that any reporting requirement be consistent with the conclusions on follow-up reporting adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Bearing in mind the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol,¹⁹ the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,²⁰ and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,²¹

Aware of the need to establish adequate procedures to fulfil the mandates assigned to it with regard to the examination of reports submitted in accordance with the above-mentioned treaties,

Recalling the Political Declaration,²² the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,²³ and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,²⁴ adopted at the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, on 10 June 1998,

Recalling also the Political Declaration and the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session,²⁵ on 23 February 1990, devoted to the question of international cooperation against illicit production, supply, demand, trafficking and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Bearing in mind that the General Assembly, in paragraph 20 of the Political Declaration adopted at its twentieth special session, called upon all States to take into account the outcome of that session when formulating national strategies and programmes and to report biennially to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration, and requested the Commission to analyse those reports in order to enhance the cooperative effort to combat the world drug problem,

Taking into account General Assembly resolution 53/115, of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly requested the Commission and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to elaborate guidelines in order to facilitate reporting by Governments on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration of the special session, and to have an efficient collection of reliable data, increase the number of Governments that report updated information on a regular basis, improve the quality of their responses and avoid the duplication of activities,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the guidelines for reporting on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and on the follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly,²⁶ the report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session²⁷ and the report of the intergovernmental working group on the elaboration of an action plan for the implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,²⁸

Stressing the need for an expeditious national and international implementation of the goals and targets agreed in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,

1. Decides to establish an inter-sessional working group, within available resources, open to all States members of the Commission and observers, to elaborate guidelines in order to facilitate reporting by Governments on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session, and on progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration of the twentieth special session;

2. Requests the working group to submit to the Commission, for consideration and adoption at its reconvened forty-second session, unified draft guidelines based, in particular, on the following general criteria:

(a) The need to design a mechanism that will allow the Commission to comply fully with the provisions of paragraph 20 of the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session and with Assembly resolution 53/115, by, inter alia, analysing the national reports and any regional and subregional reports in a productive and effective manner;

(b) Full recognition of the mandates assigned to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board under the international drug control treaties, the Global Programme of Action and the decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session;

(c) Full recognition of the tasks assigned to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, in its capacity as secretariat of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in particular the compilation and analysis of information submitted by Governments and the preparation of reports requested by the Commission and the General Assembly;

(d) The need to design a simple and efficient system of reporting by Governments that will encourage a greater number to report, in a coordinated and integrated way, on their efforts and achievements in the area of drug control, avoiding, to the extent possible, duplication of efforts, by duly taking into account existing reporting procedures, in particular within the framework of the International Narcotics Control Board and regional mechanisms;

(e) The advisability of reviewing the questionnaire on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, in order to reflect the outcome of the twentieth special session;

(f) Full recognition that, in paragraph 9 of the Political Declaration, the General Assembly called for the establishment or strengthening of regional or subregional mechanisms, with the assistance of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, and invited those mechanisms to share experiences and conclusions resulting from the implementation of national strategies and to report on their activities to the Commission;

3. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/115, to provide all necessary support to the inter-sessional working group, including suggestions on the guidelines on reporting, so that it can fully perform its tasks.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recalling the continuing importance of the Political Declaration and Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session,²⁹ on 23 February 1990, as well as the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, adopted at its twentieth special session,³⁰ on 10 June 1998,

Fully aware that the international community is confronted with the problem of conflict and war in some parts of the world, especially in Africa and Asia, and with the threat to civil society posed by illicit drugs,

Recognizing in certain circumstances the strong interrelationship between armed conflict, the abuse of illicit drugs, terrorism, transnational crime, money-laundering and the illicit arms trade,

Realizing that in some regions of the world, illicit drug traffickers take advantage of the situation in strife-torn countries to expand their illicit trade, and use money acquired illegally to initiate and sustain conflicts and wars,

Acknowledging that in conflict situations the abuse of illicit drugs is widespread among soldiers and the population, and especially among child victims,

Concerned that demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs and psychotropic substances continue to seriously threaten the socioeconomic and political systems, stability, national security and sovereignty of an increasing number of States, especially those involved in conflicts and wars, and that trafficking in drugs could make conflict resolution more difficult,

Aware that self-medication or long-term prescriptions by medical personnel in treating victims of conflict and war may lead to drug dependence,

Reaffirming the leadership role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme as the main focus for concerted international action for drug abuse control and as the international coordinator of drug control activities, especially within the United Nations system,

Stressing the importance of the measures already taken to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, especially during conflicts and wars,

Convinced of the continuing need to strengthen the measures already taken to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, especially during conflicts and wars,

1. Requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, when implementing the global drug abuse assessment programme, to pay particular attention to the issue of abuse of and trafficking in illicit drugs during conflicts, with a view to determining the need for assistance for soldiers and the population, especially children who are victims of drug abuse;

2. Also requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, when implementing the global drug abuse assessment programme, in conjunction with other relevant United Nations organizations:

(a) To assess the relationship between illicit drugs, conflicts, wars, transnational crime, terrorism, money-laundering and the illicit arms trade;

(b) To analyse their findings and propose appropriate measures to counter the adverse impact of illicit drugs on those involved in conflicts and wars.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recalling the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution S-20/2 of 10 June 1998, in which the Member States sanctioned a balanced approach to supply control and demand reduction and recognized that demand reduction is an indispensable pillar of the global approach to countering the world drug problem,

Considering that at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, Member States agreed on a package of measures and objectives aimed at significantly reducing demand for and supply of illicit drugs within a specific time-frame,

Considering also that programmes for reducing illicit drug demand must be an integral part of a global strategy concerning all drugs, and that such programmes must be integrated in order to promote cooperation among all the bodies involved,

Aware of the need to strengthen all forms of international cooperation and assistance in the fight against drug abuse,

1. Recommends that the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution S-20/3 of 10 June 1998, should be fully implemented, as well as the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction with its new objectives, strategies and programmes for future activities;

2. Invites Member States, when implementing the national prevention strategies and programmes in accordance with the above-mentioned Action Plan, to pay particular attention to the need for thorough and extensive preventive education campaigns at all levels, to include measures aimed at raising the awareness of the public and targeted population groups of the risks linked to the use of drugs, as well as measures to enhance the quality and accuracy of the information circulated by the mass media and to limit and counterweigh by positive messages the damage caused by information that conflicts with those strategies, especially information circulated on the Internet, and to use the Internet for the purpose of disseminating factual information in accordance with the strategies and conveying positive lifestyle messages, particularly for youth;

3. Also invites Member States to consider focusing on the above-mentioned subject in training programmes both for police and judiciary responsible for preventive information and for persons working in social and youth services and school and health facilities and to ensure proper coordination.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Concerned about the threat posed by the increasing use of vessels in the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Convinced that effective cooperation to counteract this threat is desirable and necessary,

Noting with approval the report of the Fourth Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Europe, held in Vienna from 14 to 18 September 1998,³¹

Recalling that in its resolution S-20/4 C of 10 June 1998, the General Assembly adopted measures to promote judicial cooperation that called upon States, inter alia, to review their national legislation to ensure that the legal requirements of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988³² were met, for example, the identification of competent national authorities, the maintenance of ship registries and the establishment of adequate law enforcement powers,

Recalling also that in paragraph 6 (b) of its resolution S-20/4 C, the General Assembly recommended that States review communication channels and procedures between competent authorities to facilitate coordination and cooperation with the objective of ensuring rapid responses and decisions,

1. Urges all Member States, in accordance with article 17, paragraph 7, of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, to supply to the Secretary-General for inclusion in the directory of competent national authorities³³ full and accurate details of the authority authorized to receive and respond to requests to board vessels engaged in the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;

2. Requests all Member States to expeditiously notify changes of competent authorities to the Secretary-General in order to ensure that the published directory is accurate;

3. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to ensure that changes notified to the Secretary-General are transmitted to all Member States;

4. Urges all Member States to consider improving and implementing procedures to allow a timely response to requests in cases where the nationality of a vessel is in doubt or where registration cannot be confirmed.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Taking into account the integrated and balanced approach to tackling the world drug problem adopted at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly,

Bearing in mind the administrative and financial functions entrusted to it by the General Assembly in its resolution 46/185 C, section XVI, paragraph 2, of 20 December 1991,

Having considered the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme containing the proposed revised biennial

programme budget for 1998-1999,³⁴ the proposed revised biennial support budget for 1998-1999³⁵ and the proposed outline for 2000-2001³⁶ for the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,

Taking into consideration the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions relating to the proposed revised biennial support budget for 1998-1999 and proposed outline for 2000-2001 for the Fund,³⁷

I

REVISED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 1998-1999 FOR THE FUND OF

THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL

DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME

1. Endorses the revised programme strategy for the biennium 1998-1999, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/207 and the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission at its forty-second session;

3. Notes that implementation of the budget is subject to the availability of funding;

4. Supports a distribution of resources that reflect a balanced approach;

5. Welcomes UNDCP efforts to draw down the fund balance of the Fund of UNDCP.

II

REVISED BIENNIAL SUPPORT BUDGET FOR

1998-1999 FOR THE FUND OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG

CONTROL PROGRAMME

1. Approves an amount of 34,065,700 United States dollars for the revised 1998-1999 biennial support budget funded under the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the purposes indicated below:

United States dollars

Programme support

Field offices 18,123,300

Headquarters 6,699,700

Subtotal 24,822,000

Management and administration 9,242,700

Total 34,065,700

2. Approves an amount of 4,199,300 United States dollars for the revised 1998-1999 biennial support budget funded under the Fund for programme support provided to agencies;

3. Notes that implementation of the budget is subject to the availability of funding;

4. Authorizes the Executive Director to redeploy resources between budget lines up to a maximum of 5 per cent of the budget line to which the resources are redeployed.

III

OUTLINE FOR THE BIENNIUM 2000-2001 FOR

THE FUND OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL

PROGRAMME

1. Endorses the programme and budget strategy for the biennium 2000-2001 which supports the objectives established by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, in accordance with resolution 53/207 and the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission at its forty-second session;

2. Takes note of the outline for the biennium 2000-2001, totalling 213,416,400 United States dollars, for the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, in the following areas:

United States dollars

Programme 170,000,000

Programme support 33,123,300

Management and administration 10,293,100

Total 213,416,400

3. Considers that the proposed outline provides a basis for the submission of the proposed initial budget for the biennium 2000-2001 by the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme;

4. Reaffirms the objective of improving the impact of operational activities of the Programme in the field, and recommends that measures be adopted regarding the expenses related to the support budget for the purpose of facilitating any possible saving of resources and their reallocation for operative programmes;

5. Recommends that a share of the regular budget of the United Nations, commensurate to the increased mandate of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, be allocated to the Programme;

6. Notes that implementation of the budget is subject to the availability of funding;

7. Welcomes the additional income in 1998 and 1999 and urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial support to the United Nation International Drug Control Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, in order to enable the Programme to fulfil the budget priorities for 2000-2001.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recalling that the medium-term plan of the United Nations for the period 1998-2001 seeks to respond, on a priority basis, to the emerging challenges of drug control, crime prevention and terrorism,

Recalling also that the Secretary-General has designated Vienna as the centre of the United Nations fight against uncivil society,

Convinced that civil society, including non-governmental organizations, can make an effective contribution to, and should play an active role in, addressing the serious problems of drug abuse, crime and terrorism, and that it should continue to promote awareness of those issues,

Wishing to recognize and encourage the vital efforts of individuals and civil society in the battle against drug abuse, crime and terrorism,

Recognizing the special significance of establishing an award to honour those who have assisted in United Nations efforts aimed at curbing the actions of uncivil society and to reward outstanding contributions in fostering justice and social progress,

Acknowledging the prominent and supportive role of Austria, as the host country of the United Nations Office at Vienna, and of the city of Vienna,

1. Welcomes the joint initiative of the United Nations Office at Vienna, the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the United Nations Secretariat, the host Government of Austria and the city of Vienna in establishing the United Nations Vienna Civil Society Award to honour individuals, institutions and organizations for their outstanding contributions in the fight against drug abuse, crime and terrorism;

2. Notes that the annual award will consist of an award medal, an award certificate and prize money to be funded from voluntary contributions raised by the co-sponsors of the award;

3. Notes also that the selection committee for the United Nations Vienna Civil Society Award will be composed of the Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, a representative of the Government of Austria, the mayor and governor of the city and province of Vienna, and a limited number of other eminent persons representing the major geographic regions of the world, including the chairmen of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

At its 1163rd meeting, on 16 March 1999, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided that:

(a) The scope of control of Schedule I of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 should be clarified by the addition of the following phrase:

(b) With regard to stereoisomers of substances in Schedules II, III and IV of the 1971 Convention, interpretation guidelines should be developed by the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to eliminate the confusion arising from the inconsistencies in the present nomenclature of those Schedules.

At its 1163rd meeting on 16 March 1999, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided:

(a) Not to vote on recommendations of the Director-General of the World Health Organization to include (1R,2S)-2-methylamino-1-phenylpropan-1-ol (also known as l-ephadrine) and the racemate (1R,2SR)-2-methylamino-1-phenylpropan-1-ol (also known as dl-ephedrine) in Schedule IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971;

(b) To request the World Health Organization, in consultation with the International Narcotics Control Board, as appropriate, to undertake for its consideration a further review of l-ephedrine and the racemate d,l-ephedrine regarding their inclusion in Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention.

(a) Note by the Secretariat on the guidelines for reporting on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and on the follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly (E/CN.7/1999/2);

(b) Report of the Executive Director on the follow-up to the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Crops and on Alternative Development (E/CN.7/1999/3).

6. At the 1163rd meeting, on 16 March, statements were made by the representatives of Cuba (on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Egypt (on behalf of the Group of African States), Cuba Pakistan, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Australia and Venezuela and the observers for Saudi Arabia and Peru.

7. At the 1164th meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Egypt, Switzerland, Turkey, the Republic of Korea, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Colombia, Germany (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union) and France and the observers for Senegal, the Philippines and Slovakia.

8. The observers for the International Criminal Police Organization and the European Commission also made statements.

9. At the 1165th meeting, on 17 March, statements were made by the representatives of Romania, the United States of America, Canada, Tunisia, Malaysia, South Africa, the Islamic Republic of Iran, China, Bolivia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia, Ghana and Tunisia and the observers for Myanmar, the Dominican Republic, Angola, Jordan, Madagascar and Slovenia.

10. At the 1166th meeting, on 18 March, statements were made by the representatives of Ukraine, Lebanon, Algeria, India, Bulgaria and Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of Arab States) and the observers for Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Croatia and Panama.

11. The observers for the Council of Europe, the Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior and the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome also made statements.

12. The major challenge facing the Commission and the international community was to sustain the high level of political commitment to fighting the world drug problem following the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. The special session represented a landmark in international efforts to achieve a drug-free world. It had adopted a balanced approach between supply and demand reduction and established specific objectives and target dates, to be achieved in a spirit of shared responsibility and interdependence. It had given new mandates to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to assist Governments in translating their commitments into action at the national, regional and international levels.

13. The Commission had been called upon by the General Assembly to play a critical role in the follow-up to the special session and to ensure that the objectives were met by the agreed target dates. Member States were called upon to report biennially to the Commission on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the special session (General Assembly resolution S-20/2, annex), and the Commission was requested to analyse those reports in order to enhance the cooperative effort to combat the world drug problem.

14. Several representatives informed the Commission of steps taken by their Governments to meet the above-mentioned goals and target dates. In several countries, the national drug strategy was being updated to integrate the goals and the balanced approach adopted. In other cases, national strategic plans, covering all the targets and objectives of the special session, involving governmental institutions, the private sector and individuals, had been initiated or finalized. Such national plans covered alternative development, reduction of the supply of and demand for drugs and strengthening of the legislative framework. Particular reference was made to the enactment of comprehensive laws and regulations to comply with the international drug control treaties. At the institutional level, efforts were being made to strengthen internal coordination and to develop national master plans as a tool for coordination at the national level. To facilitate analysis of the drug problem, nationwide collection of data on the extent of illicit cultivation and drug abuse had been initiated.

15. It was of critical importance for Member States and the Commission to establish an effective follow-up process, so as to maintain the political momentum and commitment generated by the twentieth special session.

16. The note by the Secretariat (E/CN.7/1999/2) covered approaches that the Commission could take in its consideration of the reports of Governments on the implementation of the action plans and measures adopted at the special session, and was considered a good basis for further work by the Commission. There was general support for the proposed piecemeal approach, whereby the Commission would consider the implementation of each action plan or set of measures as a comprehensive, self-contained set of recommendations. That approach would be facilitated by the fact that each action plan or set of measures corresponded to a separate item on its agenda. UNDCP should consider how the government reports might be consolidated into a comprehensive summary providing a global overview of the implementation process for consideration by the Commission. It was suggested that the Commission would need to adjust its agenda to enable it to review the government reports under separate items.

17. States should establish their own benchmarks against which to measure progress in meeting the objectives set out in the action plans. As each State would be assessing its own progress by the year 2002, several Governments would have to make significant progress in the collection of reliable information on, and in the analysis of, the drug problem in their countries.

18. Several representatives considered that the Commission should establish a common methodology, an agreed set of principles and indicators to monitor progress. In that regard, reference was made to the experience of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. They could serve as models for other regions, and also provide valuable lessons for the Commission. It was indicated that CICAD was contributing to the development of a regional multilateral evaluation mechanism to provide a common regional framework for measuring progress in tackling the drug problem.

19. It was critically important to establish an international mechanism to monitor progress made in the eradication of illicit cultivation of the coca bush, the opium poppy and cannabis, as called for at the special session. A systematic effort should be made in the collection of data and the setting of benchmarks to facilitate the assessment of progress towards that goal. Accordingly, the capacity of UNDCP should be strengthened to enable it to cooperate more effectively with interested Governments in establishing or strengthening national capacities to assess progress made in reducing illicit cultivation, in identifying difficulties encountered and in undertaking remedial action. Such national systems would form part of an international network under the aegis of UNDCP, which would serve as an independent, accurate, objective and neutral source for measuring the extent, causes and effects of illicit production, as well as the impact of alternative development programmes.

20. UNDCP was commended for initiating the implementation of action plans adopted at the special session, for example, by developing programmes to support the efforts of Governments to eliminate illicit crops by the year 2008, as reflected in the report of the Executive Director on the follow-up to the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development (E/CN.7/1999/3). UNDCP also played a critical role in developing the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction and in the launching of a new initiative to assist Governments in establishing a basic epidemiological infrastructure, to ensure that demand reduction programmes were based on a regular assessment of the nature and magnitude of drug abuse and drug-related problems. The Action Plan was expected to provide an essential framework for achieving significant and measurable results in the field of demand reduction by the year 2008. Several Governments had developed national strategies aimed at significantly reducing drug abuse during the coming decade, by focusing on young people and involving their families, schools and the whole of civil society.

21. The measures to promote judicial cooperation adopted at the special session formed the linchpin of international efforts to combat the world drug problem. To counteract the threat posed by powerful drug-trafficking organizations, there was an imperative need for all Governments to establish an honest, effective and impartial judicial system and professional law enforcement services. The establishment of the necessary judicial and enforcement infrastructure was crucial for the effective implementation of the international drug control treaties, in particular the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.³⁸

22. With regard to measures to control precursors, traffickers must not be allowed to subvert legitimate chemical industries to obtain precursor chemicals required for the illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, particularly heroin, cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants. The Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors (General Assembly resolution S-20/4 A) provided an excellent framework for cooperation in controlling precursors. It was essential for the International Narcotics Control Board to continue to monitor progress in the control of precursors and to analyse trends on the basis of information on seized shipments provided by national authorities. Effective communication between the Board and competent national authorities were of critical importance in stemming the flow of precursor chemicals into illicit channels.

28. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda, entitled "Implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session", at its 1168th meeting, on 19 March 1999. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session (A/53/382);

(b) Note by the Secretariat on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session (E/CN.7/1999/4).

29. At the 1168th meeting, on 19 March, statements were made by the representatives of Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Mexico, Turkey and the Netherlands.

30. The Secretariat made an introductory statement recalling that the Commission, at its informal inter-sessional meeting held on 17 November 1998, had decided that the implementation of the Global Programme of Action (General Assembly resolution S-17/2, annex) should be considered as a separate item of its agenda. As requested at that meeting, the Commission had before it a note prepared by the Secretariat (E/CN.7/1999/4) indicating those provisions which had not been covered by the action plans and measures adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, the implementation of which would still require separate reporting under the Global Programme of Action. The mandates contained in the Global Programme of Action were shown to have been incorporated into those action plans and measures. A separate report on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action therefore appeared unnecessary. The only measures in the Global Programme of Action that might still require reporting concerned the prevention of illicit and covert transfers of arms and explosives and their diversion to activities related to drug trafficking. Similarly, measures to be taken by States to prevent the forging of links between drug trafficking, the illegal activities of mercenaries and subversive and terrorist activities, as provided for in paragraphs 87 and 88 of the Global Programme of Action, were not covered by the provisions of action plans and measures adopted at the twentieth special session.

31. The Commission noted the substantial overlapping between the measures contained in the Global Programme of Action and the action plans and measures adopted by the Assembly at its twentieth special session, and supported the rationalization of reporting requirements to reduce unnecessary efforts by both Governments and the Secretariat. It was agreed that in future, reporting on the Global Programme of Action should be integrated with the follow-up to the action plans and measures adopted at the twentieth special session.

32. Some representatives informed the Commission of measures taken by their Governments to implement the provisions of the Global Programme of Action.

33. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda, entitled "Strengthening the United Nations machinery for international drug control", at its 1166th and 1167th meetings, on 18 March 1999. It had before it a note by the Secretary-General containing the report of the High-level Expert Group to Review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to Strengthen the United Nations Machinery for International Drug Control (E/CN.7/1999/5).

34. At the 1166th meeting, on 18 March, the Chairman of the High-level Expert Group to Review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to Strengthen the United Nations Machinery for International Drug Control made an introductory statement.

35. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Cuba (on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Germany (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union), Malaysia, Pakistan and Cuba.

36. At the 1167th meeting, on 18 March, statements were made by the representatives of India, South Africa, France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, Japan, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Spain, Australia, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Canada and Sweden and the observer for Slovenia.

37. There was general agreement on the need to strengthen the capacity of UNDCP by providing it with increased and predictable funding, to streamline the functioning of the Commission, and to activate the United Nations system in order to provide a coherent response to the global drug problem. The recommendations of the High-level Expert Group to Review the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and to Strengthen the United Nations Machinery for International Drug Control, coming immediately after the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, would provide a new impetus for UNDCP to play its catalytic and leadership role in the field of drug control.

38. The recommendations of the Expert Group were broadly endorsed, except with regard to the following four issues:

(a) Whether to have a ministerial segment as part of a proposal to establish a three-tier structure of the agenda of the Commission. There was, however, agreement on the two-tier structure of the agenda, dealing first with the normative, treaty-based functions of the Commission, including the follow-up to mandates given to the Commission by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, and secondly with its functions as the governing body of UNDCP. The proposal to have a ministerial segment was intended to maintain the political momentum on the drug issue following the twentieth special session of the General Assembly;

(b) Whether or not to have a three-year budget cycle for the budget of UNDCP. Most representatives did not consider that desirable. The objective was to ensure that UNDCP was provided with a predictable source of funding that would enable it to plan its activities and ensure the sustainability of its programmes;

(c) Whether to establish a global drug facility modelled on the Global Environment Facility. The objective was to make a quantum leap in the financing of UNDCP. The Expert Group had reached the conclusion that since its establishment, UNDCP had been operating at a low-level equilibrium of funding; its capacity to meet its mandates, let alone the new mandates arising out of the twentieth special session, was questionable. Its precarious financial situation undermined its catalytic role and its ability to provide assistance and guidance to Member States;

(d) Whether to establish an expanded bureau, consisting of the bureau of the Commission and representatives of donors to the Fund of UNDCP and of recipient countries, to provide guidance to the Commission during inter-sessional periods. Another important objective was to determine how to increase participation by the international community at large in providing UNDCP with guidance befitting a multilateral agency. A related issue was how to ensure the broader participation of Member States in the policy direction of UNDCP, thereby promoting true ownership of the Programme by the international community as a whole. Currently, the Fund of UNDCP was dependent on a small pool of donors.

39. Some representatives expressed the view that the Commission should initiate, whenever appropriate, a meeting of parliamentarians in parallel to its sessions, with the aim of promoting, at the national level, implementation of the measures adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, and of further harmonizing national legislation with the international drug control treaties. The Inter-parliamentary Union should be consulted with regard to that initiative.

40. At its 1175th meeting, on 24 March 1999, the Commission approved for adoption by the Economic and Social Council a draft resolution entitled "Review of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme: strengthening the United Nations machinery for international drug control within the scope of the existing international drug control treaties and in accordance with the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations" (E/CN.7/1999/L.13), submitted by the Chairman (for the text of the draft resolution, see chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution I).

41. The Commission considered item 6 of its agenda, entitled "Policy directives to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme", at its 1167th and 1168th meetings, on 18 and 19 March 1999. It had before it the report of the Executive Director on the activities of UNDCP (E/CN.7/1999/6).

42. At the 1167th meeting, on 18 March, statements were made by the representatives of Morocco and the United States of America. At the 1168th meeting, on 19 March, statements were made by the representatives of Germany (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Bolivia, the Russian Federation, Colombia, Jamaica, Italy, Nigeria, Spain, Tunisia and Ghana and the observers for Slovenia, Peru and Ethiopia. The observer for the International Labour Organization also made a statement.

43. Several representatives reiterated the strong support of their Governments for the strategy pursued and programmes implemented by UNDCP, as well as their commitment to strengthening its operational activities and backstopping capacity as a centre of expertise. The Executive Director of UNDCP was commended for his dynamic leadership and novel initiatives in mounting concerted action to counter the world drug problem. His vision and bold plans had invigorated UNDCP and the international community, as reflected by the action plans and measures adopted at the twentieth special session.

44. It was emphasized that while the Commission should provide clear policy directives and guidance to UNDCP, individual Governments should resist the temptation to micromanage the Programme. The Executive Director of UNDCP should be provided with the necessary flexibility and scope in managing UNDCP, so as to enable him to take initiatives and exploit opportunities as they arose.

45. UNDCP was commended for developing a comprehensive strategy and set of programmes to support Governments in meeting the goals and targets agreed upon at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. As UNDCP strengthened its role as the focal point for the follow-up to the special session, its operational capacity should be enhanced to enable it to fulfil its new mandates.

46. The Commission welcomed the decision of the Secretary-General, following the special session, to designate drug control as a major cross-cutting priority, and looked forward to receiving broad support within the United Nations system in following up the action taken to meet the agreed goals and target dates.

47. Several representatives considered it essential to establish an effective mechanism for the implementation of the agreed measures. Accurate and reliable information, covering both demand and supply, were required to evaluate the progress made in implementing the new strategy. It was suggested that UNDCP should take the initiative in establishing a global monitoring and assessment mechanism, in order to accurately gauge the extent of the drug problem, and in developing a set of early warning indicators to ensure timely interventions.

48. The provision of support and legislative assistance to Governments in the implementation of the international drug control treaties should continue to remain the central pillar of the UNDCP global strategy, pursued in close cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board. While some countries still required assistance in developing the basic legal and institutional infrastructure to address the drug problem, others should continue to learn by the exchange of experiences and by undertaking joint initiatives. In that regard, UNDCP should continue to play a critical role, by providing expert advice and training, in assisting States in their efforts to meet their treaty obligations, and in supporting the development of national laws and regulations, drawing on the model laws that it had developed. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran commended UNDCP for organizing two legal workshops on judicial cooperation for judges and prosecutors from the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as from States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

49. UNDCP cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board, particularly in the field of precursor control, was commended. As a result of the professional advice and training programmes provided, an increasing number of Governments had been able to ensure effective control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as prevent the diversion of precursors frequently used for their illicit manufacture. UNDCP was invited to give due consideration, in its programme of work, to the priorities and needs identified by the Board in its annual report. The critical role of UNDCP in the collection and analysis of data provided by Member States on the implementation of the action plans and measures adopted at the twentieth special session was emphasized.

50. During 1998, UNDCP had devoted increased resources to assisting government efforts to counter drug abuse. Countering demand for illicit drugs was central to the balanced strategy pursued by UNDCP, which had a critical role to play within the framework of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction. UNDCP was invited to assist Governments in establishing an epidemiological infrastructure that would provide a reliable database on the worldwide extent of drug abuse. UNDCP should also contribute to raising global awareness of the drug problem through programmes such as those involving the use of sports to convey a drug-free message to young people.

51. UNDCP was urged to continue to assist Governments in countering money-laundering, in accordance with their obligations under the 1988 Convention. It was requested to develop specific programmes and provide the required training and advice to ensure that all countries adopted legislation against money-laundering by the year 2003, as called for by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session. Such programmes should be carefully coordinated with the Financial Action Task Force against Money Laundering.

52. Effective control of precursors used for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was of critical importance in countering drug trafficking. Several representatives considered that national and international control systems for potassium permanganate and acetic anhydride should be strengthened. UNDCP, in close cooperation with the Board, was invited to support government efforts to meet the goals and targets established by the special session with regard to precursors.

53. UNDCP should continue to focus on delivering a high-quality portfolio of technical assistance in drug control. It was commended for the decentralization of resources from headquarters to the field, with a view to strengthening the capacity for programme delivery. UNDCP played a useful role in the collection, analysis and dissemination of information, and that function should prove useful to Governments in the development and implementation of their national drug control strategies.

54. UNDCP was urged to develop, as a matter of priority, technical assistance programmes for countries that had clearly demonstrated their commitment to countering the drug problem, taking into account their absorptive capacity. It should, however, resist the temptation to be active in as many countries as possible, spreading its projects too thinly to be effective. The undertaking of relatively small projects should be in the context of wider national or international efforts in the country concerned, and the catalytic impact of its intervention should be clearly identified.

55. There was strong support for the assistance provided in the development of business plans to eliminate illicit crops, through alternative development, in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. UNDCP was invited to continue to play an active role in developing programmes to eliminate the illicit cultivation of narcotic crops. Such programmes provided essential support to Governments in their efforts to meet the target date of 2008 for the eradication of illicit cultivation.

56. Support was expressed for the establishment of a global crop-monitoring system as part of a comprehensive set of measures to assist Member States in implementing strategies to eradicate the illicit cultivation of the opium poppy, coca bush and cannabis by the year 2008. In that regard, the capacity of UNDCP should be strengthened to enable it to support Governments in establishing a national mechanism to monitor efforts to eradicate illicit crops, as part of an independent, neutral, reliable, objective, multilateral system for assessing progress in the global eradication of illicit cultivation. Such an effort called for the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as remote sensing, which required substantial investments. It was considered, however, that UNDCP should not establish such a system on its own, but should draw on existing systems and data to ensure cost-effectiveness.

57. UNDCP was commended for its expanded regional approach to assisting Governments in countering the drug problem, as reflected in the launching of new projects in various sectors. The regional approach had enabled UNDCP to play a catalytic role in enhancing cross-border cooperation and in the pursuit of a balanced approach to the drug problem.

58. The subregional programmes for cooperation in drug control in south-east Asia, covering activities in the fields of law enforcement, elimination of illicit cultivation of the opium poppy, institution-building, training and cross-border cooperation, were considered crucial for more effective cooperation in drug control. UNDCP was commended for taking the initiative in developing a programme framework for technical cooperation among States members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, through a regional initiative to counter illicit drugs.

59. Eliminating illicit cultivation at its source remained a key objective for drug control in south-west Asia. The Government of Pakistan was commended for the efforts made to meet its goal of eradicating the illicit cultivation of opium poppy by 2000, and for its continued willingness to cooperate with UNDCP and bilaterally with other States to that end. UNDCP was encouraged to continue its pilot programme for Afghanistan and to work with other agencies in common programming, with clear, verifiable and achievable anti-narcotics objectives. The Programme should continue to undertake its activities in line with the principles laid out in the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan. The Commission was informed that at the fourth meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group, donor countries and international organizations had reaffirmed their strong commitment to humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and the drug issue had been given a high priority in the United Nations common programming framework.

60. UNDCP was commended for initiating regional programmes, involving States members of ECO, to counter the illicit traffic in opium and heroin from Afghanistan, and for initiatives undertaken during 1998 to field a high-level mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran, involving a recognition of the large investment made to counter the flow of illicit drugs, mainly from Afghanistan. A comprehensive follow-up programme was being developed to strengthen regional cooperation, particularly cross-border cooperation between Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

61. The Governments of Bolivia, Colombia and Peru were commended for their efforts to eliminate the illicit cultivation of opium poppy through alternative development. The Barbados Plan of Action had provided a successful framework for UNDCP to forge strong working partnerships with OAS, other regional organizations and bilateral donors in supporting Governments in their efforts to counter drug trafficking and drug abuse in the Caribbean region.

62. The UNDCP strategy in Africa should continue to be based on a regional approach, such as the provision of training and legal assistance for east and southern Africa, and providing a broader programme to address the crime and drugs nexus in South Africa. UNDCP was called upon to give greater attention to supporting African States, which had become increasingly vulnerable to drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Innovative measures were required to counter the growing problem of illicit cultivation of cannabis in several countries. Accordingly, current UNDCP offices should be maintained and strengthened, to act as effective channels for the provision of technical assistance portfolios commensurate with the needs of African Governments. Several representatives expressed appreciation, on behalf of their Governments, for the assistance and guidance being provided by UNDCP to African States. Particular reference was made to the close cooperation established by UNDCP with the Organization of African Unity, the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community.

63. In central Europe, UNDCP continued to be closely involved in coordinating the provision of technical assistance by different donors, and to play a catalytic role through the implementation of its 29 programmes in the region. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNDCP had made significant progress in implementing projects in cooperation with the International Police Task Force and in support of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Programmes initiated under the joint UNDCP and European Union programme for strengthening drug law enforcement capabilities in south-eastern Europe, launched in Sophia in February 1999, would further enhance regional cooperation.

64. UNDCP was invited to continue strengthening its efforts to evaluate its own programmes. To that end, specific goals must be established and outside experts should participate in the evaluation process. Greater emphasis should be given to the systematic evaluation of both the impact of each project on the drug control situation and the sustainability of the results achieved.

65. UNDCP should address the lack of scientific knowledge and the issue of availability of reliable information on drug abuse, illicit traffic and supply. The Programme was invited to play a more active role in the analysis and dissemination of information and its exchange between Governments and international agencies. In that regard, the initiative to publish manuals for use by national laboratories and to assist Governments in establishing a basic epidemiological infrastructure were strongly supported.

66. The Commission welcomed the 35 per cent increase in the income of the Fund of UNDCP during the 1997-1998 period. It was emphasized that the success of UNDCP depended on strong and continued political support to ensure that it received the funding required to meet, in particular, the new mandates arising from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. Accordingly, the donor base of the Fund of UNDCP must be strengthened and increased resources provided. UNDCP was invited to continue its efforts to encourage countries that received assistance to assume an increasing share of the financial burden in the development and implementation of technical assistance programmes at the national level.

(b) Report of the Secretariat on youth and drugs: a global overview (E/CN.7/1999/8).

68. At the 1169th meeting, on 19 March, statements were made by the representatives of Cuba (on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), India (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77), Colombia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Australia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Cuba, Bolivia, Poland, France, Egypt, Canada, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Ecuador and South Africa and the observers for the Philippines, New Zealand, Finland and Guatemala.

69. The observer for the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions made a statement on behalf of the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs and also a statement on its own behalf.

70. At the 1172nd meeting, on 23 March, statements were made by the representatives of Canada, Australia, Nigeria, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico, Sweden, South Africa, Germany, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Pakistan and Jamaica and the observers for Ethiopia, the Holy See, Slovenia and Costa Rica.

71. The observers for the United Nations Children's Fund, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the World Organization of the Scout Movement also made statements.

72. At the 1173rd meeting, on 23 March, the observer for Zimbabwe made a statement.

76. The Commission commended the Secretariat for the concise and comprehensive overview of the problem of drug abuse among youth contained in its report on the world situation with regard to drug abuse. The report made good use of the data submitted by Member States through the annual reports questionnaire. It also provided a sound basis for the deliberations of the Commission, particularly with regard to the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction.

77. Recognizing the seriousness of the problem of drug abuse, many representatives emphasized the need for efforts aimed at reducing the demand for drugs among youth. In that connection, UNDCP was commended for organizing the Youth Vision Jeunesse, Drug Abuse Prevention Forum, held in Banff, Canada, in April 1998, and welcomed the involvement of young people in the process of defining policies and identifying effective approaches to drug demand reduction. Several representatives reiterated their support for such initiatives, and pledged to assist UNDCP in its efforts to establish a global network of youth programmes for the prevention of drug abuse.

78. Some representatives indicated that drug abuse among youth was on the increase in their countries. In particular, cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants were singled out by many as the major drugs of concern involving the health and development of young people. Other representatives noted that, in their countries, drug abuse among youth was not yet a serious problem, but that did not diminish their commitment to carry out prevention programmes directed at young people.

79. Several representatives reported on the initiatives taken in their countries to reduce demand for drugs among youth. Most of them emphasized that considerable human and financial resources were dedicated to preventive measures, and that there was a strong commitment to the implementation of long-term programmes for young people.

81. At the same meeting, the Commission recommended to the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly a draft resolution entitled "Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction" (E/CN.7/1999/L.12), submitted by the Chairman (for the text of the draft resolution, see chap. I, sect. A).

82. The Committee of the Whole considered item 8 of the agenda, entitled "Illicit drug traffic and supply, including reports of subsidiary bodies of the Commission, and the impact of communication networks, such as the Internet, on the drug problem", at its fifth meeting, on 19 March 1999, and the Commission considered the item at its 1173rd meeting, on 23 March 1999. The Committee of the Whole and the Commission had before them a report of the Secretariat on the item (E/CN.7/1999/9 and Add.1).

83. At the fifth meeting of the Committee of the Whole, on 19 March, an introductory statement was made by the Secretariat.

84. At the 1173rd meeting of the Commission, on 23 March, the Secretariat made a statement on trends in drug trafficking and on the work of the Committee of the Whole.

85. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Nigeria, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Turkey, Malaysia, Canada, the Sudan, the United States of America, Egypt, India, Bolivia and Pakistan and the observers for Finland, Myanmar, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

86. The Secretariat introduced both the report of the Secretariat (E/CN.7/1999/9) and a publication entitled Global Illicit Drug Trends,³⁹ which built upon the document (commonly referred to as the "Red Book") that had been introduced to the Commission at its forty-first session, in 1998, including a review of trafficking data relating to 1996. The new publication was more comprehensive, not only dealing with all available supply data relating to 1997, but also considering trends projected from available data for 1998. It also included data on and trends in drug consumption, thereby reflecting the balanced approach to supply and demand reduction emphasized in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session.

87. It was stated that, globally, the availability of illicit opiates, cocaine and cannabis on drug markets appeared to have stabilized, albeit at high levels, but availability of amphetamine-type stimulants was increasing virtually worldwide. Demand for opiates in North America was rising, while that for cocaine appeared to be in decline; the reverse of that trend was observed in western Europe. Should the demand for both drugs in those traditional consumer regions remain while demand for them in other geographical areas, such as Africa and south-east Asia, continued to rise, this could have serious implications for future illicit cultivation and production. Currently, global interception rates for opiates and cocaine were estimated to be 14 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.

88. It was noted that seizure data continued to reflect known production trends accurately, and were a key diagnostic tool in assessing the flow of illicit drugs and the potential threat to transit countries. They provided invaluable indicators of, inter alia, trafficking routes, modi operandi, criminal organizations, diversion of precursors, illicit manufacture and emerging trends in local drug abuse. Member States were urged to maintain and improve the timeliness and accuracy of their responses to the annual reports questionnaire submitted to the Secretariat. The Secretariat reported implementation, with effect from 1 January 1999, of the individual drug seizure data-sharing project involving UNDCP, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the Customs Co-operation Council (also known as the World Customs Organization).

89. Representatives described supply reduction initiatives embarked upon since the forty-first session of the Commission and welcomed the publication by the Secretariat of Global Illicit Drug Trends, though some representatives emphasized that the document would need to be studied in greater depth and that the accuracy of some data might require later comment and clarification. It was important for the Secretariat to endeavour to confirm the accuracy of national data with the Governments concerned. However, there was general agreement that it was incumbent upon all Member States to ensure that the Secretariat was provided with the most comprehensive and accurate national data available. Some representatives wished to submit official data later. Reference was made to the need for national law enforcement agencies to adopt common performance indicators so as to reflect more accurately the effectiveness of their efforts to combat trafficking and for improvement in judicial cooperation in order to keep pace with progress being made at operational levels. Particular mention was made of emerging trafficking routes, including passage through the northern part of the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean, and the need to locate possible new sites of illicit heroin manufacture. An explanation was provided of the rationale behind the Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, proposed by the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East at its thirty-fourth session, held in Lucknow, India, from 1 to 5 February 1999. This accord urged the adoption of measures to control precursor chemicals that included re-scheduling acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate to Table I of the 1988 Convention.

90. The Internet continued to exert a negative influence on supply reduction efforts through the ready availability of Web sites providing information on, inter alia, formulae (recipes), chemicals and equipment for manufacturing psychotropic substances, current street prices of illicit drugs and suppliers of cannabis seed and materials used in the hydroponic cultivation of cannabis with a high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. The issue of drug control and required measures relating to the Internet was discussed at the Expert Meeting on Amphetamine-type Stimulants, organized by UNDCP and held in Shanghai, China, in 1996, and again at the informal meeting of the Commission held on 17 November 1998. The recommendations arising from the informal meeting were subsequently incorporated into the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and their Precursors approved by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session (Assembly resolution S-20/4 A). It was emphasized that the threat posed by drug material on the Internet should be viewed not only from the perspective of supply reduction, but also from a demand reduction viewpoint, since a false image of illicit drugs and their effects could be projected, in particular to youth.

91. While concerned about the risks inherent in Internet facilities, some representatives considered that many predictions concerning the use of new technologies were still speculative. Nevertheless, one national study had indicated that such facilities had indeed been helpful to traffickers. Comments were expressed regarding the potential of the Internet as a tool for facilitating financial crimes. Support was expressed for positive measures such as those set out at the Expert Meeting held in Shanghai, and later incorporated into the above-mentioned Action Plan adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, and for cooperation between UNDCP, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies, inter alia, in creating a clearing-house for information concerning amphetamine-type stimulants. There was also support for effective action to be taken at the national level against the use of encryption software in Internet communications.

92. Four highly successful meetings of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission were held in 1998 following its forty-first session. There was overwhelming support for such meetings and appreciation for the opportunity that they provided for regional law enforcement personnel to consider illicit drug phenomena and to bring areas of concern or difficulty to the attention of the Commission. However, it was the view of one Member State that the Secretariat should once again emphasize the need for heads of national drug law enforcement agencies to attend such meetings and for the reading-out of country reports to be obviated by their prior submission and circulation. This might facilitate wider, more focused debate and make it possible to reduce the duration of the meetings from five to three days. Greater efforts should be made to ensure practical follow-up action on the part of States to the recommendations arising from the meetings of the subsidiary bodies. In that regard, it was recalled that an Australian delegate to the Twenty-second Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific, held at Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 30 October 1998 had undertaken to prepare proposals for improving future meetings of that particular forum.

93. At its 1176th meeting, on 25 March 1999, the Commission approved for adoption by the Economic and Social Council a draft resolution entitled "Lucknow accord on the adoption of uniform measures to control international trade in precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances" (E/CN.7/1999/9/Add.1, sect. II), based on a text submitted to the Commission by the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East (for the text of the draft resolution, see chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution II).

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on changes in the scope of control of substances (E/CN.7/1999/10 and Add.1 and Corr.1);

(b) Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1998;⁴⁰

(c) Precursors and Chemicals Frequently Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances: Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1998 on the Implementation of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.⁴¹

96. At the 1162nd meeting, on 16 March, statements were made by the representatives of Ukraine, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Colombia, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(a) Isomers, except where expressly excluded, of substances listed in those Schedules, whenever the existence of such isomers was possible;

(b) Esters and ethers of substances in those Schedules, except where included in another Schedule, whenever the existence of such esters or ethers was possible;

(c) Salts of those esters, ethers and isomers, under the conditions stated above, whenever the formation of such salts was possible;

(d) A substance resulting from modification of the chemical structure of a substance already in Schedule I or II and which produced pharmacological effects similar to those produced by the original substances.

110. The report also contained the assessments and recommendations of WHO concerning the proposal of the Government of Spain, as well as comments received by the Secretary-General from Governments on the assessment of WHO and the proposed recommendations for action by the Commission. Some comments concerned the proposal of Spain itself.

112. The Commission took note of the majority required for a decision under article 17, paragraph 2, of the 1971 Convention, and decided, by 43 votes to none, with 2 abstentions, with regard to isomers, to add a phrase for substances in Schedule I of the 1971 Convention to read:

114. With regard to stereoisomers of substances in Schedules II, III and IV of the 1971 Convention, the Commission decided, without a vote, that interpretation guidelines should be developed by WHO in collaboration with the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to eliminate the confusion arising from the inconsistencies in the present nomenclature of those Schedules (for the text of the decision, see chap. I, sect. D, decision 42/2).

126. Several Governments shared their concern over the increasing consumption of methylphenidate. Some Governments informed the Commission of their efforts to examine the reasons behind that increase, including the monitoring of prescription practices and the collection of data to evaluate whether prescriptions for methylphenidate were medically valid. WHO was requested to evaluate the diagnostic criteria for attention deficit disorder and the various conditions treated by means of methylphenidate, as well as the use of stimulants for the treatment of children.

128. Several Governments referred to the importance of demand reduction. Effective demand reduction programmes should complement and be coherent with law enforcement strategies and drug regulations. Frequent interaction was necessary between the agencies entrusted with action against the drug problem, and measures should be mutually reinforcing.

139. Finally, some Governments provided the Commission with updated information on seizures of precursors, the identification and destruction of illicit drug laboratories, and new controls in place or planned in their respective countries as a supplement to the information given in the report of the Board on the implementation of article 12.

143. The Commission considered item 10 of its agenda entitled "Administrative and budgetary matters", at its 1174th meeting, on 24 March 1999. It had before it the following documents: E/CN.7/1999/11-14, and E/CN.7/1999/CRP.1-3 and 7.

Chairman: Mohammad S. Amirkhizi (Islamic Republic of Iran)

Vice-Chairmen: Marie Kostalova (Czech Republic)

Camilo Vázquez (Spain)

Roberta Lajous Vargas (Mexico)

Rapporteur: Abubakr Salih Nur (Sudan)

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

3. Twentieth special session of the General Assembly: guidelines for reporting by Governments on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, on the progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the Assembly at its special session, and on the implementation of the following:

(a) Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;

(b) Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and their Precursors;

(c) Control of precursors;

(d) Measures to promote judicial cooperation;

(e) Countering money-laundering.

4. Implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session.

5. Strengthening the United Nations machinery for drug control.

6. Policy directives to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.

7. Reduction of illicit demand for drugs:

(a) Consideration of an action plan for the implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;

(b) World situation with regard to drug abuse, with particular emphasis on youth and drug abuse.

8. Illicit drug traffic and supply, including reports of subsidiary bodies of the Commission, and the impact of communication networks, such as the Internet, on the drug problem.

9. Implementation of the international drug control treaties:

(a) Changes in the scope of control of substances;

(b) International Narcotics Control Board;

(c) Other matters arising from the international drug control treaties.

10. Administrative and budgetary questions.

11. Other business.

12. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-second session.

Algeria Mokhtar Reguieg, Salah Francis El-Hamdi, Lotfi Boufedji, A. Rahmouni

Australia Lance Joseph, Jane Elizabeth Atkins, Peter James Patmore, Roger John Hughes, David L. Hammond, Christine Marsden-Smedley, Graham Strathearn, Helen Stylianou, Julie Haustead, Leonie D'Cruz, Julian Green, Julian O'Reilly

Bolivia Guillermo Canedo, Sergio Medinacelli, José Decker Márquez, Jaime Niño de Guzmán, Mary Carrasco Monje, María Lourdes Espinoza Patiño

Brazil Oswaldo E. B. Portella, Maria Etelvina Reis de Toledo Barros, Jose Jorge Alcazar Almeida

Bulgaria Ivan Naydenov, Philip Lazarov, Margarita Eftimova, Rossitsa Ivanova, Alexander Peytchev, Traiko Spasov

Canada Paul Dubois, Diane Jacovella, Alan Morgan, Carole Bouchard, Philip Pinnington, Marilyn White, Derk Doornbos, Michel Perron, Lisa Mattar, Jacques Lecavalier

Chile Guillermo Pickering, Osvaldo Puccio, Pablo Lagos, Vitalia Puga, Luciano Parodi, Patricio Powell, Gloria Navarrete, Rodrigo Donoso

China Zhang Yishan, Wang Gang, Lee Mei-mei, Lui Yinghai, Wang Qianrong, Zhao Jian, An Guojun, Kong Fanpu, Yang Liuying, Xu Yong, Chen Xinmin, Tian Zhuang, Song Jianxin, Zhai Xingfu

Colombia Carlos Holmes Trujillo García, Rubén Olarte Reyes, Augusto Pérez Gómez, Felipe Piquero, Maria Claudia Pavajeau, Sandra Alzate, Hernando Rodríguez, Antonio José Chacón, Carlos Rodriguez, Diana Mejia Molina

Cuba Ernesto Senti Darias, Luis Garcia Peraza, Enrique Jardines Macías, Aurora Gramatges López, José Luis Galván Pérez, Eliseo Zamora Hernández

Czech Republic Mari Kostálová, Alexander Slabý, Josef Radimecký, Jan Kohout, Eva Maresová, Ladislav Gawlik, Ivana Krahulcová, Gabriel Berzsi, Ludmila Slabá, Jírí Némec, Jírí Kapr, Alena Ondrousková

Ecuador Alfredo Santoro Donoso, Patricio Palacios, Juan Holguín

Egypt Mostafa El-Feki, Farouk H. Abu Al Atta, Ibrahim A. Khairat, Aly Hegazy, Khaled Sarwat, Fathy Naguib, Soheir Lofty Ali

France Nicole Maestracci, Bérengère Quincy, Jean-Michel Dasque, Philippe Delacroix, Alice Guiton, Patrick Sansoy, François Poinsot, Bénédictine Contamin, Jean-Paul Roy, Thierry Ourgaud, Gilles Aubry, Claude Taxis, Michel Bouchet, Florence Mourareau, Frédéric Barrois, Catherine Bonheur, Françoise Vance, Roger Sanchez, Pierre Goudin, Patrick Deunet, Chantal Gatignol, Dominique Gubler

Germany Helmut Butke, Hans Peter Plischka, Christoph Jacobs, Michaela Schreiber, Milan Simandl, Hans-Georg Maassen, Sabine Heise, Birgit Gerhardus, Elke Deffner, Olaf Stallkamp, Barbara Singer, Carola Lander, Christoph Berg, Anke Jacobi, Andreas Reuter

Ghana T. C. Corquaye, S. J. Afari, Joseph J. Nwaneampeh

Greece Andromache Antoniadou, Konstantinos Piperigos

India K.M.R. Janarthanan, J. A. Chowdhury, H. P. Kumar, N. K. Singh, A. K Pande, R. Bhattacharji, J. Y. Umranikar

Indonesia Rhousdy Soeriaatmadja, Mr. Soedaryono, Sapartini S. Kuntjoro Jakti, Thomas Sugijata, N.R.M. Nasrun, Samuel Ismoko, Sadewo Joedo, Lasro Simbolon

Iran (Islamic Republic of) Mohammad S. Amirkhizi, Reza Nazarahari, Gholamhossein Sadeghi-Ghaharah, Mohammad Ali Shafeei-Pourfard, Parviz Maleki, Ghodratollah Assadi, Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, Mohammad Fallah, Majid Darakshnan

Italy Valentino Martelli, Vincenzo Manno, Leonardo Baroncelli, Giorgio Malfatti, Renato Castellani, Gioacchino Polimeni, Luciano Galli, Virginia Rizzo, Claudio Vaccaro, Mauro Passerotti, Irma Dramissino, Giorgio Fidelbo

Jamaica Charles Thesiger

Japan Yuji Ikeda, Akira Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Ushijima, Yasunori Orita, Kiyoshi Koinuma, Takeo Nishiyama, Satoshi Nakajima, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kaoru Misawa, Nobuhiro Watanabe, Toshiyoshi Tominaga, Yoichi Ishikawa, Kazuo Yamagishi, Hiroki Sakai, Yujiro Oki, Osamu Hashimoto

Lao People's Democratic Republic Soubanh Srithirath, Viloun Silaprany, Anonth Khamhung

Lebanon Samir Hobeica, Sami Daher, Michel Katra, Gulnar Sinno

Malaysia Melanie Leong Sook Lei, Dato´Mohamad Bakri Haji Omar, Anis Ahmad, Abdul Rashid Mat Adam, Ahmad Anwar Adnan

Mexico Roberta Lajous, Miguel Ruiz-Cabañas, Haydée Rosovsky, María Elena Medina, Victor Arriaga, Marcela Mora Córdoba, Marta Peña Jaramillo, Dulce María Valle

Morocco Abderrahim Benmoussa, Fouad Hamadi, Jamal Taoufik, Abdellatif Saadi, Haddou Hrouch, Mohamed Benchaffi, Amal Bahij

Netherlands Hans Förster, Dick Kaasjager, Steven van Hoogstraten, Annemieke van Bolhuis, Rob Lousberg, Wil Boonstra, Michiel Bierkens, Gert Bogers, Anke ter Hoeve

Nigeria C. E. Eze, O. O. Onovo, A. A. Anopuechi, E. O. Adegbokun, I. Ebenibo, I. U. Babangida, A. Y. Shehu, U. D. Sambo, Lot Peter Egopija, C. C. Udegbunam, A. A. Ayoko, B. Enewally, E. I. Adiogu

Pakistan Tariq Aziz, Zafar Abbas, Iffat Imran Gardezi

Poland Janusz Rydzkowski, Witold Wieniawski, Mariusz Skowronski, Boguslawa Bukowska, Adam Bozewicz, Jaroslaw Strejczek, J. Kolczyniski

Portugal Alvaro Mendonça e Moura, Alexandre Cantigas Rosa, Manuel Oliveira Hespanhol, Carlos Pais, Rodrigo Coutinho, Alfredo de Brito, António Gageiro, Célia Ramos, Ana Castela Rodrigues, Fátima Trigueiros, Vera Reis Leal, Leonor Ribeiro da Silva

Republic of Korea Ban Ki-moon, Chung Dal-ho, Moon Hyo-nam, Yuh Jae-hong, Kim Byung-wook, Sohn Jung-joon, Kim Sun-dong, Hur Young-bum, Lee Young-soo

Romania Traian Chebeleu, Adrian Vierita

Russian Federation Pavel G. Dzyubenko, Alexander V. Yakovenko, Alexander N. Sergeev, Victor Dolmatov, Anatoliy G. Radatchinski, Viacheslav V. Sergeev, Andrey Y. Averin

South Africa N. J. Mxakato-Diseko, F. W. Kahn, G. Mason, E.M.J. Steyn, P. Viviers, I. van Vuuren, N. P. Notutela

Spain D. Antonio Ortiz, Camilo Vázquez, D. Gonzalo Robles, Cristino Ortiz, D. Germán Zurita, D. José Cabrera Forneiro, D. Ignacio Baylina, Luis Dominguez Arques, Augusto González Alonso

Sudan Sayed El Hussein Osman Abdalla, Abubakr Salih Nur, Kureng Akuei Pac

Sweden Martin Wilkens, Jakob Lindberg, Jan Olov Agrell, Annika Mansnérus, Ylva Arnhof, Hans Lundborg, Marina Smedberg, Stefan Johansson, Inger Buxton, Niklas Herrmann

Switzerland Marianne von Grünigen, Paul J. Dietschy, Urs Breiter, Ueli Locher, Awilo Ocheng Pernet, Martin Büechi

Syrian Arab Republic Ali Al Darbuli

Thailand Payont Pantsri, Komgrich Patpongpanit, Kovit Piromwongse, Viroj Sumyai, Chitra Lubpairee, Rachanikorn Sarasiri, Morakot Sriswasdi

Tunisia Abdelaziz Chaabane, Nidhal Jedda, Taoufik Zid, Amor Ben Mansour

Turkey Yasar Yakis, Kemalettin Akalin, Sahin Sezer, Inci Tümay, Mehmet Kumlu, A. Asim Arar, Aydin Özbay, Filiz Elgezdi, Haldun Ersoy, Mustafa Turguter, Macide Erdener, Cengiz Yildirim, Ö. Faruk Mühürdar, Ilker Özbay, Nilüfer Erdem Kaygisiz

Ukraine Vasyl Levoshko, Tetiana Victorova, Rostyslav Tronenko, Vladimir Bieliavsky, Dina Martina, Victoria Kuvshynnykova

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Jonathan Duke-Evans, John Freeman, Michael Ryder, Mike Trace, Geoff Cole, Neil Kernohan, Linda Ward, Tony Cooper, Danny Wells, Susan Hewer, Annabelle Bolt, Simon Goddard, Len Hynds, Steve Welch

United States of America Rand Beers, John B. Ritch III, Laura E. Kennedy, Daniel T. Fantozzi, Terrance Woodworth, June Sivilli, Nick Reuter, Kathleen Pala, Ann Blackwood, Wayne Raabe, Mark Outlaw, Frank Sapienza, Adrienne Stefan, Kit Traub

Uruguay Fructuoso Pittaluga-Fonseca, Elena María Fajardo Castaing

Venezuela Demetrio Boersner, Fidel Garófalo, Neiza Pineda

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Holy See

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Centre for International Crime Prevention, International Narcotics Control Board, United Nations International Drug Control Programme, Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, United Nations Children's Fund

International Labour Office, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Health Organization, Universal Postal Union, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Colombo Plan Secretariat, Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior, Council of Europe, Customs Cooperation Council (also known as the World Customs Organization), European Community, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Europol, Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, International Criminal Police Organization, League of Arab States, Organization of American States, Southern African Development Community

General consultative status:

Special consultative status:

Roster A:

International Inner Wheel, International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, Inc.

Roster C:

³⁴ E/CN.7/1999/13.