At its 67th session in March 2024 the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) adopted by consensus the “High-level declaration by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the 2024 midterm review, following up to the Ministerial Declaration of 2019“.
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 2019 Ministerial Declaration.
The first of these thematic intersessional took place 12-14 November 2024 in Vienna, Austria. The VNGOC selected fifteen civil society speakers through an open call, that had the opportunity to contribute to the sessions during the panel discussions and through interventions from the floor. This year’s topics focused on diversifying markets, synthetic opioids, illicit cultivation and trafficking. In addition Member States proposed several topics that were discussed during the last session on “other substantiative matters” including identifying new drugs, harm reduction measures, social determinant, the WHO critical review of Coca Leaf, the relevance of scientific evidence, and challenges to the international drug control system.
The recordings of the meetings are available on UN Web TV as well as on the CNDblog.
The following topics were covered this year:
12 November 2024, morning session: Expanding range of drugs and diversifying markets
NGO speakers:
- Panelist: Lucia Bird Ruiz Benitez de Lugo, The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
- Souraya Frem, Cénacle de la Lumière (CDLL): Statement
- Dr Sa’adatu Adamu, Secure the future international initiative: Statement
The panel on the topic of the expanding range of drugs and diversifying markets focused on the increasing shift towards synthetic drugs. The NGO representative, Lucia Bird Ruiz Benitez de Lugo from the Global Imitative Against Transnational Organized Crime focused on the growing issue of the synthetic drug Kush in West Africa and the pressing need to improve testing and monitoring capabilities.
12 November, afternoon session : Synthetic opioids and non-medical use of prescription drugs
NGO speakers:
- Panelist: Humberto Rotondo, Youth RISE
- Berenice Santamaria, Association Proyecto Hombre: Statement
- Atika Juristia, The J Healthcare Initiative: Statement
13 November, morning session: Challenges in illicit cultivation and production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
NGO speakers:
- Panelist: Sara Evli Özhan, Turkish Green Crescent Society
- Pedro Arenas, Corporación Viso Mutop: Statement
- Ricardo Soberon Garrido, Drugs and Human Rights Research Center: Statement
13 November, afternoon session: Illicit trafficking in substances and precursors, and domestic diversion of precursor chemicals
NGO speakers:
- Panelist: Dayana Vincent, Fourth Wave Foundation
- Jia Vern Tham, HAYAT: Statement
- Susan Thau, CADCA: Statement
14 November, morning session: Legal, scientific, and regulatory challenges in scheduling substances
NGO speakers:
- Panelist: Martin Jelsma, Transnational Institute (TNI)
- Dr. Mousa Daoud, The Jordan Anti Drugs Society
- George Ochieng Odalo, Slum Child Foundation
14 November, afternoon session: Other substantive matters
- Ann Fordham, IDPC: Statement
- Massimo Barra, International Federation of Red Crosses and Red Crescents
