We are looking for 17 civil society experts interested in contributing to the CND thematic discussions 30 September – 2 October 2025.

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 second of these thematic intersessionals will take place 30 September – 2 October 2025 in Vienna, Austria. The meeting will be held in English in a hybrid-format. 

The following topics will be covered. (Please also consult the organizational arrangements for the meeting that contain additional information):

30 September 2025: Strengthening public health responses to drug use

1. Morning session (10AM to 1PM CET): Prevention as a core element of the public health response to drug use
2. Afternoon session (3PM to 6PM CET): Drug treatment and health services falling short of meeting needs; increase in deaths related to drug use

1 October 2025: Specific health challenges related to drug use: infectious diseases and the impact of new psychoactive substances

1. Morning session (10AM to 1PM CET): High rates of transmission of HIV, hepatitis C virus and other blood-borne diseases associated with drug use
2. Afternoon session (3PM to 6PM CET): Adverse health consequences of and risks associated with new psychoactive substances

2 October 2025: Scheduling Challenges and Other Substantive Matters

1. Morning session (10AM to 1PM CET): Lack of availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes
2. Afternoon session (1PM to 6PMCET): Other substantiative matters (to allow discussion of persistent, new, or emerging issues of particular concern)

All of the thematic panel discussion also provide an opportunity to discuss cross-cutting issues, including those identified in the “way forward” part of the 2024 CND High-Level Declaration: 
(a) Cooperation at all levels;
(b) Data collection and analysis;
(c) Technological innovation;

For each panel up to 3 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 Committees on Drugs (VNGOC) which has been requested to coordinate contributions.

 Each speaker will have 2-3 minutes to present their work on the thematic focus of the panel.  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 this online form.
DEADLINE: 24 AUGUST at 11.45PM CEST (Vienna time, UTC+2)

Make sure that your abstract is relevant to the topic of the panel,  and clearly describes what you will be presenting about. Statements focusing on good practice examples and/ or implementation of the commitments are especially welcome. NGOs that have contributed to the Pledge4Action initiative are encouraged to include updates on their pledges in their contributions. 

The VNGOC Board will follow the speaker selection guidelines established in 2018 (https://bit.ly/3yCrUYa).

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