UNODC Special Event on Drug Policy

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Distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon and welcome to the UNODC's technical briefing on drug policy responses and the international drug control conventions. So I am Xiaohong Li, the representative of New York liaison office of UNODC. We meet at a particularly timely moment. I understand that throughout the month, many of you have stepped into shoes of your counterparts of the Permanent Mission in Vienna, engaging in negotiation on a very important omnibus resolution of the GA that helps shape the international drug control policy agenda. In that regard, I would like to thank Mexico for its continued leadership, ensuring that the world drug problem remains high on the agenda here in New York. While today's briefing is separate from those negotiations, It offers an opportunity to take a step back and examine the challenges posed by drugs into this world. The international framework that guides our collective response and the practical support framework to members this. The world drug problem remains one of the most pressing and complex global challenges of our time. According to UNODC World Drug Report 2026, an estimated 331 million people used drugs in 2024, while 755 new psychoactive substances were reported on global markets, including 118 identified for the first time that year. In addition, the global supply of cocaine from South America grew more than fourfold between 2014 and 2024, reaching an estimated 4,100 tons in 2024. Methamphetamine illustrates how these challenge links regions. Its largest markets remain in East and Southeast Asia and North America. Trafficking has expanded rapidly in Africa, Europe, the Near and Middle East, and Southwest Asia. So this serious challenge was also highlighted by many member states in the recent general debate of the 81st session of the General Assembly. Some member states, mostly from Latin America and Asia, regarded drug trafficking as a major transnational crime challenges that fuels violence, gun activities, instability, and corruption. They emphasized the need for prevention and treatment, stronger international cooperation, law enforcement efforts, disrupting of trafficking networks and the supply chains. As a UN lead entity mandated to support members in addressing drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism, UNODC works across these interconnected challenges every day. Within its broad mandate, addressing the world drug problem remains a central pillar of our work. It's therefore my pleasure to introduce my colleague, Mr. Justice Patti, the chief of UNODC's Drugs, Laboratory, and Scientific Services Branch in Vienna, who will lead today's presentation and provide deeper insights into these issues. Without further delay, I would like to give the floor to my colleague, Justice. You have the floor, Justice.

Thank you very much, Sharon. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, good afternoon to you. It's my real pleasure to be with you today, and I want to thank all member states who have been able to take time off your busy schedules to join me. I know it's time for the Third Committee negotiations, and I was privileged to listen to part of your informal deliberations today. My colleagues, I want to start not focusing on drugs, but with a broader mandate of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UNODC, as the name suggests, supports countries in looking at the drugs issue and also the crime issue. Our work encompasses the world drug problem But it also covers transnational organized crime, taking care of issues like smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons, firearms trafficking. It also covers areas like cybercrime, money laundering, and other forms of economic crime. In very simple language, I'll say we work on crimes that affect the environment, trafficking in wildlife, and cultural property, and on strengthening criminal justice systems, including prisons, access to justice, and the capacity of law enforcement and judicial institutions. We deliver programs on building resilience on children and young people and help communities build sustainable livelihoods away from illicit economies. Now, when you look at these areas on their own, they seem very distinct. In reality, they are not. They are increasingly interconnected. Let me give you an illustration. A drug trafficking outfit may also engage in money laundering. The proceeds of trafficking may be used to corrupt public officials. Criminal groups may use firearms to protect their markets and territory. They may exploit encrypted communications, online platforms, and cryptocurrencies. They may traffic people or other commodities through the same routes and networks that they use to move drugs. And their activities cause profound harm to individuals, families, and communities. And this is why the work of UNODC is not simply about addressing individual forms of crime in isolation. Our role is to help Member States understand these interconnected threats and strengthen the institutions that are needed to respond to them. And we do this in three broad ways. First, we do it through policy and normative support. And this is done by helping member states develop legislation, policies, and strategies, and supporting the implementation of international conventions in our area of mandate. Secondly, we do it through data and science. We do this by generating credible, timely, and actionable evidence so that governments and the international community can better understand trends, anticipate emerging threats, and make informed decisions. And third, we do this through technical assistance and capacity building. And this is done by training and supporting law enforcement officers, customs and border officials, prosecutors, judges, prison officials, financial intelligence units, health professionals, educators, civil society, industry partners, and many, many, many more. This combination of norms, evidence, and practical implementation is central to the value that UNODC provides in our work. And colleagues, nowhere is this more important than in relation to the world drug problem. Let's now draw into the world drug problem. The world drug problem cuts across all three pillars of the United Nations, peace and security, human rights, and development. It fuels violence and organized crime and can weaken the institutions needed to uphold the rule of law. It also affects public health and human rights. including the well-being of children or patients who rely on drugs for medical treatment. And it is linked to development, particularly where illicit economies become embedded in communities. This requires us to look at the evidence from different perspectives and to bring together the relevant tools and expertise to address it. And yet, The world drug problem is often discussed as though it were a single issue. It is not. It's a global phenomenon with very different manifestations across regions, across countries, and across communities. Let's think of traditional plant-based drugs like heroin and cocaine. For decades, they have shaped a global drug problem characterized by cultivation, production, trafficking, and consumption across different regions, each facing its own set of challenges and responsibilities. In some countries, the primary concern has always been illicit cultivation and the livelihoods of farming communities. In others, it is the violence and insecurity associated with trafficking routes. Elsewhere, The focus has been on protecting the health of people, preventing drug use, and addressing its consequences. Yet the last decade saw an important shift, a shift towards synthetic drugs. These drugs have fundamentally reshaped illicit drug markets. Unlike plant-based drugs, whose production depend on vast areas of land, favorable weather conditions and lengthy cultivation cycles, synthetic drugs can be manufactured virtually anywhere. Criminal groups no longer need fields and harvest. They need only a handful of chemicals and basic equipment. This flexibility associated with synthetic drugs allows traffickers to continuously alter formulas and introduce new variants staying ahead of regulatory controls. Manufacture can now occur almost anywhere, from kitchens to large industrial-scale clandestine laboratories, and this lowers the barrier to entry whilst increasing the speed, scale, and profitability of illicit drug manufacturing. But again, it's not about supply only. The rise of extremely potent synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, has demonstrated how the drug problem can manifest as a public health crisis. In many of our countries, the greatest concern is not cultivation or trafficking routes, but rather the devastating loss of life associated with highly potent substances circulating the illicit drug markets. Communities have been confronted with unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths, placing enormous pressures on health systems, treatment services, and first responders. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a scientist, and I hope you're not getting lost. So at this point, I'll ask myself, what am I getting at? The reality is that the drug problem is experienced very differently around the world. For some countries, It is a development challenge. For others, it is a security challenge. For others, again, it is primarily a public health challenge. In many cases, it is all of these at once. And this is why no single perspective and no single response can adequately address the complexity of the global drug problem. The role of UNODC is to help governments navigate this complexity, make informed decisions and develop balanced responses. And doing this starts with first understanding how drug markets are evolving, making science more important than ever. And it was refreshing to hear the TED committee members talking about scientific evidence instead of just evidence. The chemistry behind synthetic drug manufacture is becoming sophisticated, and this is one of the fundamental challenges we face today. The latest data illustrate just how quickly this market is evolving. Since 2015, Member States have reported close to 1,500 different new psychoactive substances to UNODC. Colleagues, This is 1500 unique substances. We are monitoring globally. 24 7 to a warning advisory. When one substance is controlled, another may emerge when one trafficking route becomes more difficult. Another out can emerge and when one location becomes more difficult to operate from, but in fact, moves elsewhere. It may seem like a never-ending playing of the catch-up game. But when countries are able to identify today's threats, it helps to build systems capable of handling tomorrow's threat. While the UNODC's Early Warning Advice brings together information from member states and other sources to identify the most harmful, the most persistent, and most prevalent of substances, Our laboratory and forensic work health and those alerts into action by enabling countries to detect identify and understand the substances. They are actually in country in law enforcement seizures on the streets in wastewater and in emergency rooms. These capabilities become particularly important when clandestine manufacture moves into new regions and by this I mean, we're seeing increasing evidence of synthetic drug manufacture and precursors movements in Africa, for example. Through its United Nations Narcotics Laboratory, UNODC helps to work to help member states understand not only what substances are appearing, but also what chemicals and manufacturing methods may be associated with them. what officers need to look out for, how to identify it quickly, handle it safely, and make the right decisions in order to safeguard illicit trade and protect public health at the same time. And this is a good example of why science must be connected to whatever actions we take. It is also why UNODC places particular emphasis on translating knowledge into practical guidance. Across the United Nations system, a considerable body of expertise has been developed on synthetic drugs and related challenges. To make this knowledge more accessible, UNODC brings together materials, tools, and guidance from across the UN family in a single online UN toolkit, providing policymakers and practitioners with a centralized resource to support evidence-based responses. Colleagues, scientific information is most valuable when it reaches a police officer at the border, the forensic analyst in the laboratory, the investigator following a trafficking network, the prosecutor preparing a case, and a policymaker, like you, deciding on how to respond. And the UNODC works closely with countries to build capacity, provide equipment, and three national counterparts on the ground. Let's take the evolution of cocaine as an illustration. The 2026 World Drug Report estimates that coca cultivation and cocaine production reached record levels in 2024. The global area under coca cultivation reached almost three times the level of 2014. These figures highlight the need to look not only at the illicit activity itself, but also at the conditions that make illicit cultivation economically attractive, or in some communities, their sole means of survival. UNODC supports member states in addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors associated with illicit crop cultivation. by helping communities develop sustainable livelihoods and viable alternatives to involvement in illicit economies. And our objective is not just to replace one crop with another, because successful alternative development is about creating the conditions in which communities can participate in legal, sustainable, and economically viable activities. This is particularly relevant in areas where farmers may face limited economic opportunities and where illicit cultivation has become embedded in local economies. This also illustrates an important principle in UNODC's approach to the supply side, and that is that enforcement is necessary, but enforcement alone is not always sufficient. Sustainable responses also need to address the economic and social conditions that allow illicit markets to take root. Clandestine manufacture and illicit crop cultivation is only one part of the supply chain. Once drugs leave production areas, they enter increasingly complex trafficking networks, where criminal groups compete for control of trafficking routes and markets, Drug trafficking can contribute to violence, corruption, and institutional pressure. Now, we know Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced some of the most visible consequences of this dynamic. But today, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania are all experiencing major drug flows and severe consequences. Let's take a look at the Near and Middle East. as another illustration. For years, the illicit manufacture and trafficking of Captagon was closely associated with the Syrian Arab Republic and the wider region. The latest UNODC analysis indicates that the Near Middle East accounted for approximately 77% of global Captagon seizures between 2020 and 2024. with the illicit manufacture of and trafficking in methamphetamine also expanding in the region. Fortunately, the situation has now changed, but the market has not simply disappeared. This is an important lesson. Disrupting a production center does not necessarily eliminate the market. It may alter it. Manufacture can relocate. Trafficking routes can change. Different substances can enter the market. And this is precisely why responses must be based on continuous monitoring and analysis. So having looked at how the problem is evolving, the question becomes, what can be done beyond understanding the signs and trends? There's no single solution to a challenge this complex. What matters is our ability to translate understanding into impact. And that is why UNODC works with member states to turn science and evidence into concrete operational support. Let's quickly look at four major ways in which we're trying to achieve this. First, we're working with member states to strengthen their ability to detect, and understand emerging threats. As I mentioned earlier, our early warning advisory helps countries track emerging substances, while our laboratory and forensic programs support the identification and analysis. Through this work, UNODC helps connect the dots from detection and forensic analysis into investigation, prosecution, and strategic threat assessment. These capabilities are particularly important when clandestine manufacture moves into new regions. Second, we help strengthen the capacity to intercept drugs and precursors across the supply chain. Now, drug trafficking does not occur through one channel. It moves by land, it moves by sea, and it moves by air. It moves through ports, airports, border crossings, mail and express courier services, often concealed within legitimate trade and transport flows. UNODC provides field-based operational support to all Member States, detect, target, and interdict these illicit shipments through integrated border management, risk profiling, specialized training, information sharing, and technical assistance. Our work spans maritime surveillance, Passenger and cargo control. An intelligence led targeting at ports, airports and land borders. We also strengthen cooperation between customs, police and other authorities, including through joint operations with international partners. Such as the World Customs Organization and Interpol. Let me give you a couple of examples. In 2025. UNODC supported national interagency units to make over 5,000 drug seizures and intercept over 950 high-risk passengers. Their seizures included 168 tons, 168,000 kilograms of cocaine and 402 tons of precursor chemicals, among other substances. In 2026, Joint UNODC training on precursors identification and safe handling contributed to the interception of 35 tons of precursor chemicals in Santiago, Chile. In another operation, information sharing between Pakistan, the United States and Sri Lankan authorities contributed to the seizure of 472 kilograms of methamphetamine at the port of Colombo. Distinguished delegates, these examples demonstrate how scientific expertise, Specialized training and international cooperation can strengthen interdiction efforts and help disrupt the criminal networks behind illicit trafficking. Third, we help countries move from individual seizures to broader investigations. And let's face it, those who run organized criminal groups are not the ones you get on the streets. A seizure can tell us that a drug has moved through a particular location. But the more important question is often, who organized it? Who financed it? Where did it come from? And where was it going? This is why we support Member States in turning interceptions into actionable investigations through advanced investigative techniques. profiling of trafficking networks, financial investigations, anti-money laundering measures, and asset tracing. This work includes legal support, judicial cooperation, and follow-up investigations to identify and disrupt the criminal networks behind individual shipments. The objective is to help countries understand the networks behind the individual shipments. And increasingly, this also means understanding how technology is being exploited by criminal organizations, including dark markets, encrypted communications, cryptocurrencies, and other digital tools. The objective is to move beyond disrupting individual shipments and strengthen countries' ability to investigate and dismantle the wider networks responsible for illicit trafficking. And fourth, and I know I'm talking to a lot of human rights experts, so this might be a very important part for you. Fourth, we work with member states to strengthen responses to health-related challenges. And I know so far focus primarily on how illicit drug markets are changing and on the systems needed to disrupt them. But this is only one side of the issue. The other side is the impact on people. those who use drugs, those who do not use drugs, those who develop drug use disorders, and the families and the communities affected by drug-related harms. And it is also about people who need substances to treat pain or mental health disorders. Colleagues, we know that 80% of the world's population do not have adequate access to medicines containing narcotic drugs for pain relief, and they must live with otherwise treatable pain. We find that in cancer treatment, and we find that in palliative care. The latest UNODC estimates also indicate that around one in 12 people with drug use disorders are in treatment. What does this mean? It means global treatment coverage is around 8.2%. for this important population of people. In other words, the vast majority of people who need treatment and support are not receiving it. Men represent approximately 3 quarters of people who use drugs in 2024. But women face particular barriers in assessing treatment and their representation among people receiving treatment remains substantially lower. Giving you more statistics, globally, only around 100. one in five people in drug-related treatment is a woman. It shows the disparities. This matters because a comprehensive drug policy response must be capable of reaching the people who need support, including those who may face particular barriers to accessing services. The health consequences of injecting drug use provide another illustration, and here again it was refreshing to hear the committee talking about the HIV and hepatitis C work. Our research estimates that approximately 14 million people injected drugs in 2024. Nearly half of the people who inject drugs, and that's approximately 7 million people, were living with hepatitis C in 2024. And people who inject drugs face a substantially elevated risk of HIV infection. Colleagues, these are not simply statistics about infectious diseases. They illustrate why prevention, treatment, care, and recovery must be part of a comprehensive response. But interestingly, it is often in the health dimension of drug policy that Member States have and continue to have some of the most vigorous discussions. Debates sometimes get framed as a choice between prevention and harm reduction, and as though these approaches are mutually exclusive. Yet, the international drug control conventions support a broad range of health responses, and in practice, Countries often implement different combinations of interventions reflecting their national circumstances and priorities. To help navigate these discussions, similar to what you are having this morning, UNODC has developed a series of policy notes anchored in the conventions and relevant international commitments. Now, their purpose is not to prescribe a single model. but rather to support evidence-informed dialogue and promote a clearer understanding of the range of health and social interventions available to Member States. So the question is not only how to disrupt illicit drug markets. It is how to protect people from harms, how to build resilience in children, how to prevent people from developing drug use disorders in the first place, and how to ensure that those who go ahead and develop these drug use disorders can access effective support. Let me start with prevention. Prevention is one of the most important investments we can make, particularly when it comes to children and young people. We know from the scientific evidence that prevention works. But effective prevention is not simply about telling young people that drugs are dangerous. That's a cake that's gone. The evidence points towards approaches that strengthen protective factors and resilience, approaches that support healthy development and address the individual, the family, the school, and community environments in which children and young people grow. But prevention, colleagues, requires investment, and it requires patience. The benefits of effective prevention may not be visible immediately. They may not appear within the time frame of a political cycle or a political term in office. In fact, one of the characteristics of effective prevention policy is precisely that it invests in the future. If we can strengthen the child's development, family environment, social connections, and resilience early in life, we may prevent a range of problems from emerging later. This is the rationale behind CHAMPS, the program on the screen, Children Amplified Prevention Services, and it's an initiative led by UNODC and implemented with a number of countries in the room. The message is straightforward. Prevention is an investment in children today and in healthier communities tomorrow. But colleagues, even the strongest prevention systems cannot prevent all drug use. Some people will develop drug use disorders, and when that happens, we need to ensure that they can access appropriate support. Achieving this requires a continuum of care. A coordinated range of services that can support people at different stages of their recovery journey. From prevention and early intervention to harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery support. UNODC supports member states through evidence-based treatment and care standards, technical assistance, capacity building, and support to strengthen services in communities. Our access to care should not end at the gates of the criminal justice system. And why do we say this? It is because drug use disorders are a health issue and require a health-centered response, including for people who come into contact with law enforcement or enter criminal justice settings. UNODC supports countries to implement alternatives to conviction or punishment in appropriate cases and at all stages of the criminal justice process. The point is not to promote one model for every country. The point is to help countries build systems that respond to different needs and that do not allow people to fall through the gaps between prevention, treatment care, and recovery. Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, none of these responses is possible without strong institutions. International conventions provide a framework, but implementation happens through national authorities, laboratories, health systems, law enforcement agencies, and the courts. They are the institutions that can turn commitments, the commitments you make, into results. And that is why at UNODC we invest heavily in institutional capacity. We help strengthen the capacity of legislators and policymakers to understand and develop effective legal frameworks. We help strengthen engagement with the financial sector. Drug trafficking generates profits. and those profits move through financial systems. We also need strong judicial institutions, prosecutors, judges. They are central to ensuring that drug-related cases are handled effectively in accordance with national law and international obligations. And we need institutions that are capable of adapting to new threats. We work with member states, international organizations, regional organizations, scientific institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Within the United Nations system, we also work closely with our sister organizations. And this brings me to a principle that I believe is particularly important. Every country has its own history, institutions, and circumstances, and therefore its own perspective on drug policy. Differences in approach are natural, and they are part of what makes multilateral dialogue meaningful. UNODC's role is not to prescribe national policies, but to support member states with evidence, scientific evidence, expertise, and international cooperation. we help countries strengthen their responses while implementing commitments they have agreed upon at international level. The international conventions provide a common framework that makes such cooperation possible. But for that framework to work effectively, there must also be coherence within the United Nations itself. Now, to strengthen this coherence across the UN system on drug-related matters, The United Nations developed a United Nations system common position and established a UN system coordination team on drug-related matters under UNODC's leadership. This task team brings together relevant UN entities to improve coordination and ensure that the UN speaks and acts coherently when supporting member states. Its purpose is not and I put emphasis on not to formulate drug policy, but to align UN support across mandates and areas of expertise. This common position serves as an internal framework for cooperation, enabling the UN system to draw on expertise from health, human rights, development, justice and security, while respecting the mandates of individual entities, international law and member states policy decisions. As lead of the tax team, UNODC is committed to ensuring a coherent UN response. Member States should receive consistent, coordinated support from across the UN system and not conflicting messages from different parts of it. Colleagues, as I draw closer to concluding this statement, I want to note that the world drug problem will continue to evolve. New substances will emerge. Markets will adapt. And criminal groups will continue to change their methods. Our task, therefore, is to ensure that you have the knowledge, institutions, and capabilities to respond. This is what UNODC works to build every day. science where evidence is needed, capacity where institutions need strengthening, cooperation where no country can act alone, and support for your countries as you implement international drug conventions in a balanced, humane, and effective manner. Because, let's face it, ultimately, our success will not be measured by the challenges we face, but by our collective ability to respond to them. Thank you.

Thank you, Justice. I think it's really very informative briefing. It presents really comprehensive, balanced, and human rights-based responses toward drug problem. So it covers various aspects of the responses. For example, it covers the trends and the complexity of this world drug problem, covering your information, also covering from the cultivation, manufacturing, production, and also trafficking. So this supply chain. It also mentioned how your ODC supported members today to transfer or translate evidence, science, into action. Relating to your ODC's work, the briefing covers strengthening the members today or relevant stakeholders ability to detect and understand the nutrients, strengthen ability to intercept the drugs precursors during the trafficking, and also to moving the individual series to broader investigations. And also finally, but last but also very important is the strengthened responses to health related aspects. And also there is important point relating to strengthening institutions at national, regional, international level and promoting international cooperation. So thank you very much. This is really comprehensive, you know, and very insightful, informative briefing. So as we have now concluded the presentation, so the floor is open to any questions, comments, and remarks. I have already a list of pre-inscribed speakers. If I may, I would like to go to these delegates or colleagues at first, and then we will open the floor for any interested participants to press the button of the microphone and then to introduce yourself when the floor is given. Thank you very much. So firstly, it's Ms. Natalia Primokhova, Permanent Mission of Russian Federation. Madam, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Ms. Lee. Good day, everyone. Excellencies, distinguished delegates. On behalf of the Russian Federation, I thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for organizing this expert event and for really an exhaustive presentation, and for the opportunity to share Russia's priorities in the field of drug control. Countering the drug threat is a priority of domestic security of the Russian Federation, enshrined in our national anti-drug policy strategy through 2030. We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing and countering the drug problem. We therefore underscore the need to respect each country's sovereign right to implement drug control policies suited to its national situation in accordance with its obligations under the three international drug control conventions. At the same time, we are concerned that some legislative initiatives across the world aimed at liberalizing non-medical use of drugs significantly diminish public awareness of the associated risks for health and constitute a violation of the conventions, thereby undermining the world drug control framework. Another adverse global trend is the rapid spread of synthetic drugs. To address this concern, Russia submitted to the attention of the UN Secretary-General a proposal to place four methadone precursors and one methadone precursor under international control earlier this year. We pay particular attention to the uneven global distribution of narcotic drugs for medical use and to improving access to controlled substances for legitimate purposes. Russia is the principal donor to the International Narcotics Control Board's INCB Learning Initiative, focused on organizing practical and technical workshops aimed at ensuring the availability of controlled substances, improving the quality of States' reporting to the Board, and supporting implementation of the Conventions. Since 2019, we have provided logistical and financial support for the seminars for countries in Asia, the South Caucasus, Latin America and the Caribbean, East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Russia consistently supports UNODC's efforts to provide technical assistance to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We highly value the UNODC's work to prevent drug use among young people. Since 2012, Russia has been a steadfast donor to the Office's youth initiative, made a contribution to establishing the Central Asian Youth Network, and has funded it since 2021. The Russian Federation recognizes the fundamental role of effective international cooperation, free from undue political influence, in preventing and combating drug-related crime based on the three conventions. Russia reiterates its commitment to the implementation of its obligations under the treaties and is open to cooperation with all interested states parties. I thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you very much for the statement and the intervention. Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Kamal Prisca, Permanent Mission of Singapore to the UN. Please, you have the

Thank you for giving me the floor, and I join others in thanking the UNODC and Dr. Justice Tettey for your clear and rich briefing. It brings Vienna's technical expertise into our discussions here in New York, and we hope that the UNODC can do this more often. I think your reminder that-- it was going to be my first point as well-- your reminder that the drug problem is experienced differently across the world and that no single response can work everywhere is something that Singapore stands behind and we agree with this fully. And going to the conventions, the conventions reflect this as well by giving each state room to shape policies that fit its own circumstances. But that flexibility also works both ways. It speaks to states that choose firm approaches just as much as those that choose others. No single model fits every society, and none should be imposed on others. I think that's a quintessential point to highlight. But flexibility also has its limits. The conventions do not allow markets for the non-medical use of drugs. Those limits rest on what member states have agreed. My second point is also that these conventions are not outdated, although there have been contentious that they are. And as Dr. Tettey had highlighted, almost 1,500 new psychoactive substances have emerged since I think it was 2015. and UNODC's early warning signs and laboratory support helps the system keep pace. And no response is possible without strong institutions, and UNODC is one of them, and Singapore will continue to support it. And finally, I think where the system needs to adapt further, the expert panel and the 2029 review by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs are the right places to consider it. We hope that the process stays technically balanced and that our work here supports it. Thank you.

Thank you very much for the intervention. Now, it's my pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Benjamin Robyn, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the UN. Yes.

Thank you so much, colleagues, for convening us and also for the extensive briefing on the work and mandate of UNODC. And allow me to echo my colleague from Singapore for thanking you to bring the expertise from Vienna to New York. It's really helpful. Allow me to do a few remarks first, that Belgium, we support drug policies that are evidence-based, proportionate, and grounded in public health, human rights, and scientific evidence. That for us, effective international cooperation against drug trafficking and organized crime remains an equally important component of this approach. The fight against international drug trafficking and organized crime is an absolute priority for Belgium and the federal government in particular. We highly value the role of UNODC in providing member states with technical expertise and assistance needed to design and implement such policies. For us, the starting point remained clear. As recalled in the preamble of the 1961 Single Convention, concern for health and welfare lies at the heart of the international drug control framework. We believe that the conventions and international humanitarian obligation are mutually reinforcing and should be implemented in a coherent manner. We also want to underline the importance of guaranteeing the access to and availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. Addressing barriers in this regard should be a key priority in discussion on the implementation and future development of drug control policies. Maybe a last point in highlighting what has been done in Vienna in the CND. The multidisciplinary expert panel established by the 68th CND last March offers, according to us, a unique opportunity to take stock of the current challenges, to identify gaps in existing approaches and to explore innovative and effective responses. It seems particularly relevant that its findings and recommendations should contribute meaningfully to the global drug policy review to be conducted by the CND in 2019. Thank you.

Thank you very much for the intervention. Now it's my pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Damilola Abokoye from the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Distinguished colleagues, the African Union thanks Mr. Jarl Lind, representative of the UNODC in New York liaison office, and Mr. Joseph Stetty, the chief of drugs laboratory and scientific services for their briefing, which the African Union welcomes. The drug problem in Africa has changed in scale and in kind. Africa remains a transit route from cocaine from Latin America and heroin from Southwest Asia. Yet a growing share of what passes through now stays and domestic markets are formed around it. Cannabis still dominates. Methamphetamine, diverted Tramadol, kush, and other synthetic substances are spreading quickly. And the Pan-African Epidemiologic Network on Drug Use, which the African Union Commission coordinates in 36 member states, records rising use among young people. Fewer than one in 21 Africans with a drug use disorder receives treatment. The African Union also treats the trade as a threat to peace and security. It proceeds to finance armed groups and terrorist groups in parts of the continent and adds to the illicit financial flows that drains African economies. Five continental plans have guided the response of the African Union since 1996. and a common African position for the 2016 special session, the heads of states and governments of the African Union called for a balanced and integrated approach to supply and demand reduction, recognized drug dependence as a public health problem, and supported alternatives to conviction or punishment for minor non-violent offenses in accordance with the conventions. The Lusaka Declaration of 2023 added commitments to reduce stigma and develop an African Union model drug law. On the supply side, Continental Consultations on Drug Supply Reduction brings together national law enforcement agencies together and now serves as a peer review among member states. The successor African Union Strategy and Action Plan on Drug Control and Crime Prevention from 2027 to 2033 goes before the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control later this year. It gives new weight to synthetic drugs, digital drug markets, and early warning, and closer work between the health and law enforcement authorities. The African Union also continues to press for the availability of controlled medicines for pain relief and obligation under the convention that remains largely unmet in Africa. The African Union values the efforts and ODCs I've described today, many of which are carried out in African member states, including the call for cooperation, collaboration towards implementing international drug policy via strengthening institutions. African Union will welcome the views of the BREFR on how UNODC sees the shift of African markets from transition to consumption and how its programs in Africa might align more closely with the continental frameworks of the African Union so that the work of the UNODC and African Union Commission reinforce each other on the ground. I thank you.

Thank you very much for the intervention. Now I have exhausted the list of inscribed speakers. So all participants are invited to press the button and make any remarks or raise any questions. So I will give the floor to the delegation from member states and then to also invite the participants to introduce yourself at the beginning. Thank you. Sir, you have the

Thank you. Roberto Pena from the mission of Mexico. I want to thank you both for this eloquent and very timely event. And as it was mentioned, we are negotiating the omnibus resolution, the omnibus drug resolution, which has at this court to have a comprehensive, integrated, and balanced approach. So this is just the perfect time. Today we started hearing all the position and comments about how to update this resolution to keep it up to date to what has been approved in Vienna, but also taking care of that balanced approach that is so dear to all of us. And we are moving forward, and it was really a privilege that you were able to join us today. So I just wanted to thank you, and I believe that we'll have a document that is satisfying for all of us. Thank you very much.

So thank you very much again for Mexico's leadership in sponsoring these very important resolutions for the General Assembly. Thank you. So now I would like to, it's my pleasure to invite Mr. Benjamin Phillips, Secretary of the New York NGO Committee on Drugs. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much. Distinguished participants, my name is Benjamin Phillips and I'm the manager and secretary of the New York NGO Committee on Drugs. We have a substantive committee of the conference of NGOs in consultative status with the UN and have supported civil society engaging in drugs and drug-related matters since 1984. And we represent more than 100 organizations from across the globe. And we are especially grateful to the UNODC New York Liaison Office for inviting us today and for our close and productive working relationship in recent years. In the last 13 months, there have been 71 missile strikes on civilian boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean that have killed at least 238 people. These deadly military strikes on civilians have been widely condemned by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Narcotics Control Board, and by countless civil society organizations. Last month, the High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, and I quote, "These attacks and their mounting human costs are unacceptable." He continued that those responsible, and I quote, "must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats." Last month, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also released a statement stating, and I quote, These systematic killings gravely violate the fundamental obligation to respect the right to life. International law does not permit governments to simply murder alleged criminals at sea. The Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism, Professor Ben Saul, recently stated, and I quote, "Such killings amount to serial extrajudicial killings in violation of the right to life." These attacks on individuals and vessels at sea may compromise treaty offenses against maritime safety. The organized policy of multiple murders may further invoke a systematic attack on a civilian population and constitute crimes against humanity. The International Narcotics Control Board has made it clear, and I quote, "Extrajudicial responses to suspected drug-related activity cannot under any circumstances be justified." Article 17 of the 1998 Convention against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances explicitly requires states to cooperate to suppress trafficking by sea, and I quote, "in conformity with the international law of the sea," and that parties must not, and I quote, "endanger life at sea." Those conducting the boat strikes have alleged that criminal activity is taking place and have sought to conflate alleged organised crime with terrorism and have invented new words such as narco-terrorism, which has no legal meaning, in order to justify their egregious slaughter of human beings without due process. My question today is, given the blatant breach and complete disregard of the 1998 Convention and the widespread condemnation of the military strikes from multiple UN agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the ICMB, and many more, and across civil society, when can we expect UNODC to publicly condemn these strikes? Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for the intervention. Now, I haven't seen any new request for floor. Yeah, please.

Thank you very much. My name is Dola Kobadmos, and I'm the police advisor to the permanent mission of Nigeria to the United Nations. Thank you so much, Mr. Tete, for a very robust presentation. For someone like me that believes in the concept of catching them young, I was deeply concerned that the presentation concentrated more on adults, whom I believe have the power of control and restriction. But thank you so much for allaying my fears when you touched up on the CHAMP initiatives. Like you said, the result of drug use may not become visible immediately, but perhaps in years to come. And then you said the stronger prevention cannot prevent drug use. But I for one strongly believe that the strongest prevention can make drug use unattractive. Especially concentrating on the children. Who we believe will make adults of tomorrow. In view of this assertion, what technicality or modality? Does UNODC through its CHAMP initiative employ to support member states or nations? I am aware that my nation, Nigeria, is currently part of the CHAMP initiative. Which member states presently are engaging with UNODC on this CHAMP strategy? Those are the two questions. Thank you.

Thank you very much for the questions and also remarks. Now, without further speakers, I would like to give the floor to Justice for any reflections and responses. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Xiang. Thanks a lot to colleagues. I think if I have to respond, we'll probably have another session, but I'll try to keep it super, super brief. First, thanks a lot to our colleague from the Russian Federation for the collaboration we've had over many years, your support to agencies such as the International Narcotics Control Board, and especially to our work on children. It is very much appreciated. You make a very good point, which the delegate from Singapore also aligned with, that No one solution fits everyone. It's because our circumstances are very different. But even with that, other member states were also bringing up a point, the need to have a balanced approach to things. You cannot just use supply interventions to get a result, and you cannot just focus on the health side. There needs to be a balance in achieving your results. Singapore, thank you so much for the kind comments made about UNODC's presence just at a time when you're negotiating the omnibus resolution. The colleague from Mexico also brought that up. It's very good to hear New York saying, bring the technical work over to feed into the political. And I think you'll be seeing UNODC more in New York as you go about your work. The world drug situation is changing. I mentioned that there used to be a time when you could pinpoint activities to geographical locations. Now with synthetics, it's everywhere. And I think it's important that we engage regularly, emphasis on regularly, because the situation is changing very significantly over short periods of time to make sure that your work is well informed by the science. Here again, thanks for your comments on having a balanced approach to the work we do. African Union, my distinguished colleague, thank you so much for your comments. Thanks for your comments, realizing that Africa is now well beyond just a transit zone, and that we are facing issues which impact on peace and security. I might surprise you by saying to you, a number of countries have started getting involved in illicit manufacture, and with that comes enormous problems. But we're glad to hear the emphasis on early warning systems, which UNODC massively promotes, and that you're also looking at responses to synthetics. Mexico, how can we thank you? You finished the consultations early, so we can have this chance to be able to talk to our colleagues. We're very grateful for your kindness. Benjamin Phillips, thanks so much for your comments. Now, you notice from the presentation I made that the UN is a very wide body, right? Parts of the UN have got their mandates and specialized on different things. I described in a little over 30 minutes what UNODC brings to the table. Member state commitments, we're working with member states to help them implement the international drug control conventions and the policy commitments. Now, other organizations which you mentioned have very clear mandates. And it's very good to hear you talking about organizations who have stuck to their mandates and made comments on their mandates. At the end of the day, if you are following the UN80 initiative we're going through, it's about the UN working as one, the UN working coherently and in sync. So thank you for your comments. I think it's useful to know the UN has made comments on what is happening worldwide, and we've made comments in the context of the organizations who hold the particular mandates. And finally to Nigeria, thanks so much. Talking about the modalities which we're using to address the CHAMPS initiative. Now, one has to be very conscious that our work is not just about preventing children from using drugs. It's about building resilience amongst youth. And when you look around, drug trafficking, drug use is just one element. in a gamut of problems facing children. Violence, trafficking, other trafficking events all come into play. So the modality, we're working with different organizations. We're working with different institutions in countries we go to to find the best configuration. Here again, every country has got a different issue. And going to your second point, I hope it surprises you to know that CHAMPS is not just focused on developing environments. We have Norway, we have Greece, we have Cyprus, we have Egypt. At the moment, we've started with a wave of 10 countries, and we are preparing for the next wave of 10. Coming back to the modalities, we are getting countries to invest money into their own economies. Let's face it, every country has got a health budget. And we're saying to them, the children are your investment. Take a five-year course. Invest in your own system. UNODC provides you the technical expertise. And over five years, let's take a snapshot and find out what we've achieved. And we're defining with countries the indicators to help them measure progress. So thanks once again to Nigeria for being part of this initiative. Belgium, thanks so much for your comments. I think it's great to see Belgium pushing for one of the core things in the conventions, access for medical and scientific use. When the conventions were put in place, they were not put in place for prohibition. For the lawyers around who've read it, it makes it very clear it was put in place for the health and welfare of humankind. And some of the things we call drugs or wrongly illicit drugs, they are so good for medicinal use. We know what pain fentanyl has caused in some of our regions. But if you ever happen to be in a hospital, someone coming out of surgery in severe pain, you realize how useful some of the medicines, which have got a bad rap over time, actually deliver. They are useful in palliative care. They are useful in cancer treatment, et cetera. So, thanks to Belgium for the long support you've been providing to UNODC and pushing this political message that we try to promote access for medical and scientific use whilst preventing diversion. Thank you very much.

So, also thank you, Justice, for this further information and also interventions, responses, and reflections. So distinguished delegates and dear colleagues, it has been a privilege to hear your insights and the exchange alongside with ongoing general debate at the Third Committee of the General Assembly reflects a growing global commitment to scale up action and to accelerate the implementation of joint commitment to address and counter the world drug problem. So thank you very much for your dedication, for your and for your passion which really generates the confidence in implementation of our joint commitment. Thank you. So the meeting is finished.