Promoting the Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development and Related Commitments on Alternative Development and Regional, Interregional and International Cooperation on Development-Oriented, Balanced Drug Control Policy Addressing Socioeconomic Issues

A/RES/72/197View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 108 International drug control, published in 2017.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Programme 13	International drug control, crime and terrorism prevention and criminal justice	377

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Programme 13	International drug control, crime and terrorism prevention and criminal justice	377	—

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Crop Substitution Development Strategies Drug Control Guidelines

What’s in this document?

31 operative paragraphs

Urges Member States, when designing alternative development interventions, to take into due consideration the section entitled “Operational recommendations on alternative development; regional, interregional and international cooperation on development-oriented balanced drug policy; addressing socioeconomic issues” of the outcome document of the thirtieth special session of the General Assembly, entitled “Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem”;10

Reiterates its commitment to addressing drug-related socioeconomic issues related to the illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and the illicit manufacture and production of and trafficking in drugs through the implementation of long-term, comprehensive and sustainable development-oriented and balanced drug control policies and programmes, including alternative development and, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, which are part of sustainable crop control strategies;

Urges Member States to strengthen regional and international cooperation to support sustainable alternative development programmes, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders at the local, national and international levels, and to develop and share best practices towards implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development,¹⁶ taking into account all the lessons learned and good practices, in particular those of countries with extensive expertise in alternative development;

¹⁶Resolution 68/196, annex.

Reaffirms the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development, which highlight that alternative development, as an integral component of policies and programmes for reducing illicit drug production, is an important, viable and sustainable option for preventing, eliminating or significantly and measurably reducing the illicit cultivation of crops used for the production and manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through tackling poverty and providing livelihood opportunities;

Urges Member States to consider strengthening the development perspective as part of comprehensive, integrated and balanced national drug policies and programmes so as to tackle the related causes and consequences of the illicit cultivation, manufacture and production of and trafficking in drugs by, inter alia, addressing risk factors affecting individuals, communities and society, which may include a lack of services, infrastructure needs, drug-related violence, exclusion, marginalization and social disintegration, in order to contribute to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies;

Also urges Member States to consider elaborating and implementing comprehensive and sustainable alternative development programmes, including preventive alternative development programmes, as appropriate, that support sustainable crop control strategies to prevent and significantly, durably and measurably reduce illicit crop cultivation and other illicit drug-related activities, ensuring the empowerment, ownership and responsibility of affected local communities by taking into account their vulnerabilities and specific needs;

Stresses that, when designing and implementing comprehensive and sustainable alternative development programmes and projects, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes and projects, the focus should be on empowering and encouraging ownership by local communities, including women, children and young people, taking into account their specific needs, and on strengthening local capacities, as ensuring the effective cooperation of all stakeholders in the entire alternative development process is crucial for the success of alternative development;

Also stresses that comprehensive and sustainable alternative development, as one of the tools available for tackling the world drug problem, increases the State’s presence, builds trust between communities and government, strengthens local governance and institutions and promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, which, under Sustainable Development Goal 16,2 includes the promotion of the rule of law;

Encourages further discussions on the relationship and potential links between alternative development and the promotion of the rule of law by individuals and communities, as well as on the wide range of challenges affecting the livelihoods and well-being of people, in order to further develop measures to address the root causes of such challenges;

Encourages Member States to ensure the proper and coordinated sequencing of development interventions when designing alternative development programmes;

Also encourages Member States to promote inclusive economic growth and support initiatives that contribute to poverty eradication and the sustainability of social and economic development, develop measures for rural development, improving infrastructure and social inclusion and protection and addressing the consequences of illicit crop cultivation and the manufacture and production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for the environment, with the incorporation and participation of local communities, and consider taking voluntary measures to promote products stemming from alternative development, including preventive alternative development, as appropriate, to gain access to markets, consistent with applicable multilateral trade rules and national and international law, within the framework of comprehensive and balanced drug control strategies;

Stresses that access to productive land and land rights, such as legal titles to land for farmers and local communities, should be promoted and protected in the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable alternative development programmes, in a manner that is consistent with domestic law and regulations and with the full participation of and in consultation with local communities;

Encourages the development of strategies consistent with domestic legal frameworks, including the utilization of local expertise, capacity-building and entrepreneurship, to develop products through alternative development programmes identified on the basis of market demand and value added production chains, as well as secure and stable markets with fair prices for producers, in accordance with international trade rules, including the required infrastructure and a conducive environment, including roads, the establishment of farmer associations and the use of special marketing regimes, for example, those based on fair trade principles and commercialization of organic products;

Encourages the international community, including civil society, the scientific community and academia, to work with affected communities to develop recommendations focusing on specific alternative development strategies, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development strategies, that take into account demographic, cultural, social and geographical conditions and include ideas for supporting and promoting new products;

Calls upon Member States to apply the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development when designing, implementing and evaluating alternative development programmes and projects, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes and projects, and calls upon Member States with experience in this area to share outcomes, assessments of implemented projects and lessons learned, thereby contributing to the dissemination and application of the Guiding Principles;

Urges Member States to sustain political will and a long-term commitment with regard to implementing alternative development programmes and strategies, and to continue to engage in awareness programmes and in dialogue and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders;

Encourages the development of viable economic alternatives, particularly for communities affected by or at risk of illicit cultivation of drug crops and other illicit drug-related activities in urban and rural areas, including through comprehensive alternative development programmes, and to this end encourages the consideration of development-oriented interventions, while ensuring that both men and women benefit equally from them, including through job opportunities, improved infrastructure and basic public services and, as appropriate, access and legal titles to land for farmers and local communities, which will also contribute to preventing, reducing or eliminating illicit cultivation and other drug-related activities;

Urges Member States to consider the development of sustainable urban development initiatives for those affected by illicit drug-related activities, to foster public participation in crime prevention, community cohesion, protection and safety and to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and employment;

Urges relevant international financial institutions, United Nations entities, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to consider increasing their support, including through long-term and flexible funding, for the implementation of comprehensive and balanced development-oriented drug control programmes and viable economic alternatives, in particular alternative development programmes, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, based on identified needs and national priorities, for areas and populations affected by or vulnerable to the illicit cultivation of drug crops, with a view to its prevention, reduction and elimination, and encourages States, to the extent possible, to stay strongly committed to financing such programmes;

Encourages Member States to strengthen intragovernmental coordination when designing and implementing alternative development projects and programmes;

Encourages all relevant United Nations entities and specialized agencies to further increase their interaction with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in order to support Member States in effectively implementing alternative development programmes, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, with a view to further enhancing coherence and coordination within the United Nations system;

Encourages development agencies, donors and financial institutions, the private sector, civil society and academia to share information, experiences and best practices, promote research and increase efforts relating to the promotion of alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development;

Encourages Member States to promote partnerships and innovative cooperation initiatives with the private sector, civil society and international financial institutions to create conditions more conducive to productive investments targeted at job creation in areas and among communities affected by or at risk of illicit drug cultivation, production, manufacturing, trafficking and other illicit drug-related activities, in order to prevent, reduce or eliminate those activities, and to share best practices, lessons learned, expertise and skills in this regard;

Recognizes that more research is needed to better understand and identify factors contributing to the emergence of illicit crop cultivation and to improve impact assessments of alternative development programmes;

Reiterates that, in addition to estimates of illicit cultivation and other illicit activities related to the world drug problem, indicators related to human development, socioeconomic conditions, rural development and the alleviation of poverty, as well as institutional and environmental indicators, should be used when assessing alternative development programmes, and, as appropriate, preventive alternative programmes, in order to ensure that the outcomes are in line with national and international development objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals, and that they reflect accountable use of donor funds and truly benefit affected communities;

Calls upon Member States and other donors to consider providing long-term support to alternative development programmes and projects, including preventive alternative development programmes and projects, as appropriate, that target the illicit cultivation of drug crops, in order to contribute to the sustainability of social and economic development and poverty eradication, including through enhanced development-oriented approaches that implement measures for rural development, strengthen local governments and institutions, improve infrastructure, including the provision of public services such as water supply, energy, health and education in areas acutely impacted by the illicit cultivation of drug crops, promote the participation of local communities, enhance the empowerment of people and strengthen the resilience of communities;

Encourages Member States to maintain and strengthen international, North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, in accordance with the operational recommendation contained in the outcome document of the thirtieth special session of the General Assembly, to support comprehensive and sustainable alternative development programmes, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, as an essential part of successful crop control strategies, in order to increase the positive outcomes of such programmes, especially in areas affected by or at risk of the illicit cultivation of crops used for the production of narcotic drugs, taking into account the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development;

Encourages Member States with extensive expertise in alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, to continue to share best practices upon request, promote research to better understand factors contributing to illicit crop cultivation and foster and strengthen international cooperation, including cross-continental, interregional, subregional and regional technical cooperation on integral and sustainable alternative development, which in some cases includes preventive alternative development;

Recognizes the importance of gender, social inclusion and cultural identity in the design and implementation of alternative development projects and programmes, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, and likewise also recognizes the importance of the participation of communities affected by illicit cultivation of crops in decision-making processes;

Encourages affected States and relevant development stakeholders to examine innovative ways to promote alternative development programmes, including, where appropriate, preventive alternative development programmes, that are environmentally friendly;

Invites Member States and other donors to provide extrabudgetary resources for the purposes described above, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the United Nations.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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Who cites this mandate in the budget?