International Cooperation Against the World Drug Problem

A/RES/56/124View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 111 International drug control, published in 2002.

What other versions does this mandate have?

18 versions · 1999–2016

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/70/182

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2016	A/RES/70/182	International cooperation against the world drug problem	7,448	79%Compare
2015	A/RES/69/201	International cooperation against the world drug problem	6,578	54%Compare
2014	A/RES/68/197	International cooperation against the world drug problem	6,129	82%Compare
2013	A/RES/67/193	International cooperation against the world drug problem	5,521	76%Compare
2012	A/RES/66/183	International cooperation against the world drug problem	4,807	69%Compare

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

14 reports · 2003–2016

Year	Symbol	Title	Mandate resolution
2016	A/71/316	International cooperation against the world drug problem report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/70/182
2015	A/70/98	International cooperation against the world drug problem report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/69/201
2014	A/69/111	International cooperation against the world drug problem report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/68/197
2013	A/68/126	International cooperation against the world drug problem report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/67/193
2012	A/67/157	International cooperation against the world drug problem report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/66/183

What’s in this document?

52 operative paragraphs

I.Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem

Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility which must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requiring an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Calls upon all States to take further action to promote effective cooperation at the international and regional levels in the efforts to counter the world drug problem so as to contribute to a climate conducive to achieving that end, on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect;

Urges all States to ratify or accede to and implement all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,¹² the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 197110 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of l988;¹³

¹²Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152.

¹³See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November–20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5).

II.International cooperation to counter the world drug problem

Urges all States to take appropriate action to address the linkages between the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and the illicit trade in narcotic drugs through, inter alia, increased international cooperation and by ensuring full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;5

Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium Declaration¹⁴ to counter the world drug problem;

¹⁴See resolution 55/2.

Urges competent authorities, at the international, regional and national levels, to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, within the agreed time frames, in particular the high-priority practical measures at the international, regional or national level, as indicated in the Political Declaration,1 the Action Plan2 for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction3 and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,4 including the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,¹⁵ the 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,¹⁶ the measures to promote judicial cooperation,¹⁷ the measures to counter money-laundering¹⁸ and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;8

¹⁵Resolution S-20/4 A.

¹⁶See resolution S-20/4 B.

¹⁷Resolution S-20/4 C.

¹⁸Resolution S-20/4 D.

Urges all Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction in their respective national, regional and international actions and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs among their population, in particular among children and young people;

Recognizes the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in developing action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration, and requests the Executive Director of the Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fifth session on the follow-up to the Action Plan;

Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth session aimed at the enhancement of its functioning, in particular regarding Commission resolution 44/16;¹⁹

¹⁹See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28), chap. I, sect. C.

Renews its commitment to further strengthening international cooperation and substantially increasing efforts to counter the world drug problem, in accordance with the obligations of States under the United Nations drug control conventions, on the basis of the general framework given by the outcome of the special session, and taking into account experience gained;

Calls upon all States to adopt effective measures, including national laws and regulations, to implement the outcome and the goals of the special session, within the agreed time frame, to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States and in accordance with United Nations drug control conventions;

Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions and other concerned intergovernmental and international organizations, within their mandates, and all actors of civil society, notably non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, sports associations, the media and the private sector, to continue their close cooperation with Governments in their efforts to promote and implement the outcome of the special session and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, including through public information campaigns, resorting, inter alia, where available, to the Internet;

Urges Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other international organizations to assist and support States, upon request, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support, with the aim of enhancing their capacity to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, taking into account national plans and initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of subregional, regional and international cooperation in countering illicit drug trafficking;

Reaffirms that preventing the diversion of chemicals from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacture is an essential component of a comprehensive strategy against drug abuse and trafficking, which requires the effective cooperation of exporting, importing and transit States, notes the progress made in developing practical guidelines to prevent such diversion of chemicals, including those of the International Narcotics Control Board and the recommendations on implementing article 12 of the 1988 Convention, and calls upon all States to adopt and implement measures to prevent the diversion of chemicals to illicit drug manufacture, in cooperation with competent international and regional bodies and, if necessary and to the extent possible, with the private sector in each State, in accordance with the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008 in the Political Declaration and the resolution on the control of precursors adopted at the special session;15

Calls upon States in which cultivation and production of illicit drug crops occur to establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops, and requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fifth session, in March 2002, on the follow-up to the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;

Encourages States to open their markets to products that are the object of alternative development programmes, and which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty;

Calls upon States, the international community, international organizations, regional organizations, international financial institutions and regional development banks to support the implementation of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development by States affected by illicit crop cultivation to enable them to apply fully measures for drug eradication and sustainable alternative development;

Encourages States further to cooperate through bilateral, regional and multilateral means to avoid displacement of illicit drug crop cultivation from one area, region or country to another;

Calls upon all States to report biennially to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the special session, in accordance with the terms established in the guidelines adopted by the Commission at its forty-second and forty-fourth sessions;

Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to submit a report to the General Assembly in 2003 and 2008²⁰ on the progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration;

²⁰Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, para. 8.

Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;

Calls upon the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective into all its policies, programmes and activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue integrating a gender perspective into all documentation prepared for the Commission;

Recalls the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 1995,²¹ notes with satisfaction the commitment of young people to a drug-free society made at various forums, and stresses the importance of young people continuing to contribute their experiences and to participate in the decision-making processes and, in particular, putting into effect the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;

²¹Resolution 50/81, annex.

Urges all States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing drug and inhalant abuse among children and young people, inter alia, through the promotion of information and education programmes aimed at raising awareness of the risks of drug abuse with a view to giving effect to the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;

Welcomes the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted on 27 June 2001 at the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS,²² including the acknowledgement of the link between drug-using behaviour and HIV infection;

²²Resolution S-26/2, annex.

Calls upon States to adopt effective measures, including possible national legislative measures, and to enhance cooperation to stem the illicit trade in small arms, which, as a result of its close link to the illicit drug trade, is generating extremely high levels of crime and violence within the societies of some States, threatening the national security and the economies of those States;

Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime²³ and the three Protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,²⁴ the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air²⁵ and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition,²⁶ and encourages universal signature and ratification of these legal instruments;

²³Resolution 55/25, annex I.

²⁴Ibid., annex II.

²⁵Ibid., annex III.

²⁶Resolution 55/255, annex.

Stresses the need for coordinated action to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, in the context of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach encompassing supply control and demand reduction, as set out in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, noting, inter alia, the links between drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism;

Welcomes the thematic debate on the theme “Building partnerships to address the world drug problem”, which allowed a useful exchange of ideas on the topics “Approaches to building partnerships within and across sectors, including health, education, law enforcement and justice” and “Prevention, education and early intervention strategies and trends in drug abuse among children and young people” at the forty-fourth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the continuation of a focused thematic debate;

Recognizes the desirability of providing support to the States that are most affected by the transit of drugs and are willing to implement plans to eliminate such transit, and in this regard requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to extend technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States that are most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support;

Urges all States to develop and implement policies and programmes for children, including adolescents, aimed at preventing the use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants, except for medical purposes, and at reducing the adverse consequences of their abuse, as well as support preventive policies and programmes, especially against tobacco and alcohol;

Also urges all States to make appropriate treatment and rehabilitation accessible for children, including adolescents, dependent on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, inhalants and alcohol;

III.Action by the United Nations system

Emphasizes the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control issues and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme;

Reaffirms the role of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in coordinating and providing effective leadership for all United Nations drug control activities so as to increase cost-effectiveness and ensure coherence of action, as well as coordination, complementarity and non-duplication of such activities throughout the United Nations system, and encourages further efforts in this regard;

Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences;

Invites Governments and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to attach high priority to the improvement of the coordination of United Nations activities related to the world drug problem so as to avoid duplication of such activities, strengthen efficiency and accomplish the goals approved by Governments;

Urges the specialized agencies, programmes and funds, including humanitarian organizations, and invites multilateral financial institutions, to include action against the world drug problem in their programming and planning processes in order to ensure that the integral and balanced strategy that emerged from the special session devoted to countering the world drug problem together is being addressed;

IV.United Nations International Drug Control Programme

Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to implement its mandate within the framework of the international drug control treaties, the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control,²⁷ the Global Programme of Action,²⁸ the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together and relevant consensus documents;

²⁷See Report of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Vienna, 17–26 June 1987 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.I.18), chap. I, sect. A.

²⁸See resolution S-17/2, annex.

Expresses its appreciation to the Programme for the support provided to different States in meeting the objectives of the Global Programme of Action and of the special session, especially in cases where significant and anticipated progress was achieved regarding the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008;

Requests the Programme to continue:

To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the Programme, inter alia, through the full implementation of resolution 44/16 of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in particular the recommendations contained therein;

To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the special session;

To increase its technical assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes;

To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action Plan2 for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;3

To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area;

To take into account the outcome of the special session, to include in its report on illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to deal with all aspects of the drug problem;

To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all official languages;

Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities;

Calls upon the International Narcotics Control Board to increase efforts to implement all its mandates under international drug control conventions and to continue to cooperate with Governments, inter alia, by offering advice to Member States that request it;

Notes that the Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, and emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the Programme;

Stresses the importance of the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, in all regions of the world, and the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and encourages them to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the special session;

Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,²⁹ and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session, including on the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and the present resolution.

²⁹A/56/157.