Information Sheet No. 1

United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem New York, 8-10 June 1998

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME:
FACTS AND FIGURES

International Drug Control

The drug control system is governed by a series of treaties, adopted under the aegis of the United Nations, which require that governments exercise control over production and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances, combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking, maintain the necessary administrative machinery and report to international organs on their actions.

The existing treaties are: the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, which established the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB); that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol; the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances; and the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

The United Nations helps countries find innovative ways of controlling the supply of and demand for drugs. The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council is the main policy-making body for all international drug control matters. The International Narcotics Control Board strives to restrict the availability of drugs to medical and scientific purposes, to prevent their diversion into illegal channels and to combat illicit trafficking. All United Nations drug control activities are coordinated by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP).

The United Nations International Drug Control Programme

Established in 1990, UNDCP became operational in 1991. It provides leadership in international drug control, monitors trends in drug production, consumption and trafficking, and promotes the implementation of drug control treaties. It serves as the worldwide centre of expertise and information on international drug control.

In particular, UNDCP:

• Constitutes the central organizational element of the United Nations in matters of drug control, with exclusive responsibility for coordinating and directing all United Nations actions against illicit drugs;
• Acts on behalf of the Secretary-General in carrying out the responsibilities assigned to him under international treaties and resolutions by United Nations bodies on international drug control;
• Monitors implementation and ensures that these functions are fully carried out;
• Provides secretariat and substantive support services to the governing body of the Programme (the Commission on Narcotic Drugs) and to the International Narcotics Control Board;
• Provides advice to Member States concerning implementation of the international drug control treaties and assists States that accede to them;
• Designs and implements worldwide: drug-related technical cooperation programmes that are intended to reduce the illicit production, manufacture, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; and programmes to enhance the efficacy of measures to control the illicit supply of drugs and substances of abuse;
• Coordinates technical cooperation strategies in drug control at the regional and international levels;
• Is the repository of technical expertise on drug control for the Secretariat - including the regional economic commissions and other United Nations bodies, and for Member States and, in this context, advises them on national and international drug control matters;
• Maintains ongoing contacts with research institutes, associations and universities outside the United Nations in order to obtain and exchange information on the most recent research findings on drug control; launches or participates in joint research projects;
• Promotes coordination and cooperation with regional and interregional organizations carrying out activities relating to drug control outside the United Nations system; and
• Manages the financial resources of the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.

UNDCP Offices

The UNDCP Secretariat, located in Vienna, is headed by Mr. Pino Arlacchi, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Since 1 January 1998, the Programme has been divided into two Divisions. The Division for Treaty Affairs, Programme Planning and Support comprises the Treaty and Legal Affairs Branch, the Secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board and Programme Support Service. The Division for Operations and Analysis comprises the Operations Branch, the Supply and Demand Reduction Branch and the Research and Scientific Section. The External Relations Unit and Fund Raising Unit report directly to the Executive Director.

Field Offices

UNDCP currently maintains the following Field Offices:

Staff

UNDCP staff members are assigned as follows:

Resources

UNDCP financial resources come from two distinct sources: the regular budget of the United Nations and a voluntary funded budget supported mainly by contributions from Governments. Voluntary funds represent approximately 90 per cent of its available resources.

UNDCP in Action: Ongoing Programmes per Region

UNDCP supports Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the design and implementation of national, regional and global technical cooperation programmes aimed at the reduction of production, manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Summary of Resource Requirements for the Fund of UNDCP during the 1998-1999 Biennium
(in thousands of United States dollars)