Deadline for Applications: 25 September 2020 at 11:55 p.m. CEST

ATTENTION! There are currently TWO calls for speakers open. One for the CND thematic intersession on 19-21 October (see below) and one for the CND intersessional on cannabis scheduling on 8th October (https://vngoc.org/2020/09/civil-society-participation-in-cnd-intersessional-on-who-recommendations-on-cannabis-and-cannabis-related-substances/).

At its 62nd session in March 2019 the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) adopted by consensus the Ministerial Declaration entitled “Strengthening Our Actions at the National, Regional and International Levels to Accelerate the Implementation of our Joint Commitments to Address and Counter the World Drug Problem”.

Following the format used for the thematic discussions held within the CND since 2016, Member States developed a multi-year workplan and will hold, every autumn, inter-active meetings aiming to address the challenges identified in the “stock taking”- part of the Ministerial Declaration. The complete workplan is available here: https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CND/2019/Follow-up_to_2019_Ministerial_Declaration/Intersessional_Meetings/CND_Workplan_2019-2023.pdf

The second of these thematic interessionals will take place in October 19-21 2020, in Vienna, Austria. The meetings will be held starting at 10:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. in Board Room C on the 4th floor of the C-Building at the Vienna International Centre. In light of social distancing requirements as well as possible restrictions on in-person participation at the time of the meeting, the thematic sessions will be held as a virtual or blended (virtual and limited in-person participation) meeting.
The meetings will cover the following topics: (please visit https://vngoc.org/2019/06/4th-cnd-intersessional-2019/ for an overview of the topics that will be covered in the period 2019-24)

• 19.10.2020: Drug treatment and health services continue to fall short of meeting needs and deaths related to drug use have increased; and the rate of transmission of HIV, the hepatitis C virus and other blood-borne diseases associated with drug use, including injecting drug use in some countries, remains high;
• 20.10.2020: The adverse health consequences of and risks associated with new psychoactive substances have reached alarming levels;
• 21.10.2020: The availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, including for the relief of pain and palliative care, remains low to non-existent in many parts of the world.

For each thematic segment up to 5 NGOs will have the possibility to present their work and positioning. In order to ensure an inclusive, comprehensive and meaningful civil society participation, NGOs will work through the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) which has been requested to coordinate contributions.

Each speaker will have 3-5 minutes to present his or her work on the thematic focus of the day.

Selected speakers will be asked to send in their statements or videos (including. Transcripts) no later than 12 OCTOBER 2020. Interpretation will not be available during the meetings and all abstracts and statements have to be submitted in English.

In order to apply for a speaking slot, please fill out the google form by 25 SEPTEMBER 2020 at 11:55 p.m. (CEST, Vienna local time): https://bit.ly/CfA-CND-Intersessionals-2020
The VNGOC will follow the guidelines established by the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) in 2018: https://vngoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CSTF-Speaker-Selection-Guidelines-final-formatted.pdf

Selected candidates will be notified as soon as possible but no later than 30 SEPTEMBER 2020.

In light of social distancing requirements as well as possible restrictions on in-person participation at the time of the meeting, the thematic sessions will be held as a virtual or blended (virtual and limited in-person participation) meeting. We will keep you updated on any new information on the meeting logistics.

The meetings will be webcast on the CND website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/63_Session_2020/thematic- sessions.html

Please share this with your respective partners and networks to ensure a wide as possible opportunity to engage.