UN Moves to Confront World Drug Problem
(New York, 28 April 1998) World leaders meeting in New York from 8 to 10 June in a Special
Session of the United Nations General Assembly are expected to adopt a worldwide plan to
substantially reduce drug demand and supply by the year 2008. The unprecedented strategy --
which involves governments, civil society and the private sector -- calls for stronger domestic laws and programmes by 2003 to deal with such issues as
money laundering and synthetic drugs, increased drug prevention among youth and enhanced
cooperation between nations to catch and prosecute drug traffickers.
"Drugs are tearing apart our societies, spawning crime, spreading diseases such as AIDS, and
killing our youth and our future", warns UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "Today there are an
estimated 190 million drug users around the world. No country is immune. And alone, no
country can hope to stem the drug trade within its borders. The globalization of the drug trade
requires an international response."
"The special session should be a turning point for the world to go forward with renewed energy
on drug control", says Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the UN International Drug Control
Programme (UNDCP). "There are many reasons for optimism - a politically more cooperative
international climate devoid of the East-West and North-South ideological divides, sophisticated
technology such as satellite monitoring systems, and the accumulated knowledge of the
international community in drug control activities", he says.
The UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem will focus on six crucial
areas:
Demand reduction - Reducing demand for drugs is key to solving the global drug problem. A
Declaration on reducing drug demand is to be adopted at the special session which outlines guiding principles to help governments set up effective drug prevention,
treatment and rehabilitation programmes by 2003. The Declaration calls for stronger demand
reduction efforts -- based on community participation and integration with social and public
policies -- to produce significant results by 2008.
Elimination of illicit crops and alternative development - Over the last decade, alternative
development programmes complemented by law enforcement measures have successfully
reduced drug crops in several countries including Peru, Thailand and Pakistan. In order to
expand success globally, the action plan to be adopted at the special session commits governments to work closely with UNDCP to develop strategies to
eliminate or significantly reduce illicit cultivation of the coca bush, the opium poppy, and the
cannabis plant by 2008.
Money laundering - The laundering of money derived from illicit drug trafficking and other
serious crimes has expanded throughout the world and affects all nations. Yet it is estimated that
only 30 per cent of countries have effective anti-money laundering laws in place. At the special
session, governments are expected to discuss bank secrecy and offshore havens and agree to
adopt national legislation by 2003 to counter money laundering.
Amphetamine-type stimulants - Some 30 million people consume amphetamine-type stimulants
illegally, more than those using cocaine and heroin combined. Since global awareness and
response to the problem is limited, the special session will consider an action plan against the
manufacture, trafficking and abuse of these increasingly popular synthetic drugs, which include
"ecstasy" and methamphetamine. The action plan is to be implemented by 2003 in order to
reduce supply and demand for these stimulants by 2008.
Judicial cooperation - Drug criminals take advantage of today's open borders and open markets,
thriving where laws and institutions are weak. Without increased cooperation among judicial and
law enforcement authorities, virtually none of the international treaty provisions against drug
trafficking can be implemented, according to UNDCP. Member States are expected to adopt
measures concerning extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of proceedings, controlled
delivery, and illicit traffic by sea to be implemented by 2003.
Precursor chemicals - In recent years, the diversion of precursor chemicals used to manufacture
illicit drugs has become one of the most serious challenges of the global drug problem. To
prevent it, countries have agreed to monitor domestic and international movements of certain
chemicals. The General Assembly special session is expected to adopt measures to further
strengthen the control of precursor chemicals to reduce their diversion by 2008.
Contact:
UN Department of Public Information
Bill Hass, tel. (212) 963-0353, Ann Marie Erb, tel. (212) 963-5851, or
Tim Wall at (212) 963-1887.
Fax: (212) 963-1186
E-mail: vasic@un.org
For UN accreditation, please contact the Media Accreditation Unit, tel. (212) 963-6934.
A letter of assignment can be faxed to (212) 963-4642.