CND69: Meeting 7 – 12 March 2026

Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. We are about to start. Please take your seats. We will now continue our consideration of agenda item 5E, other matters arising from the international drug control treaties, for the purpose of electing the second co-chair of the expert panel. Allow me to recall that in line with CND Resolution 68/6, where shall be two co-chairs selected, one by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs among its designated members, and one by the Secretary-General. In October 2025, the Secretary-General selected Mr. Allan Rock of Canada as one of the two co-chairs. In line with the resolution, the co-chairs of the panel should be chosen with due consideration to ensuring balanced representation with respect to expertise in relevant field, geographically equitable representation, and diverse policy approaches. Following a decision by the extended bureau in January 2026, I sent, in my capacity as Chair, letters to the endorsed experts from the African Group, the Asia-Pacific Group, and GRULAC, and the candidates nominated from VEOC and EEG to inform them of the procedural steps at the regular session and to recall the designation of Mr. Alan Rock by the Secretary-General of the UN as one of the co-chairs. The letters also informed the Member State-nominated experts that the second co-chair would be elected by the Commission, and that those among them wishing to be considered for this role would be invited to inform the Secretariat by 16 February at the latest, and to provide a short written rationale not exceeding 1,000 words. Experts were invited to bear in mind the criteria set out in resolution 68/6. By the deadline of 16 February 2026, three experts have formally expressed their interest in being considered for election as second co-chair of the expert panel. The following candidates have submitted expression of interest, listed in alphabetical order by family names. Nathalie Yulin-Maurice Sharma of Singapore, Virginia Patton Pruege, United States of America, Khalid Tinasti, Morocco. On 23 February 2026, the Secretariat issued a note verbal on my behalf to all Member States sharing the CVs and written statement of interest submitted by the three candidates. Yesterday, the Secretariat was informed that Ms. Virginia Patton-Prugh, United States of America, has withdrawn her expression of interest to be considered for appointment as second co-chair of expert panel. This morning, the Secretariat has informed that also Mr. Khalid Tinasti of Morocco has decided to withdraw his expression of interest for the position of co-chair. Special messages have been sent out yesterday evening and this morning to inform Permanent Missions accordingly. Following this development, only one candidate remains for consideration for the position of second co-chair, namely Ms. Natalie Yulin Morris Sharma of Singapore. Since we have now only one candidate for the one vacant seat, I would invite the Commission to appoint Ms. Natalie Yu Lin Maurice Sharma by acclamation. I see. Thank you. I see no objection. It is so decided. I would like to express my congratulations to Ms. Nathalie Yulin-Maurice Sharma on the appointment as second co-chair. Before appointment, the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel established pursuant to Commission resolution 68/6 is now fully constituted, comprising 19 independent experts, two of whom have been appointed to serve as co-chairs. I would like to congratulate all experts on their selection. I am confident that the collective expertise and experience represented in this panel will contribute to informed and constructive reflection in support of the Commission's work. I wish the panel every success in carrying out its important mandate. The Commission looks forward with interest to the panel's recommendations that will emerge from its work. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for its continued support in facilitating the establishment of a panel and invite it to continue its work in supporting the panel so that it may commence its activities without delay. At this point, I would like to ask if there are any delegations wishing to take the floor, and I see Singapore. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. My delegation is grateful to the Commission for endorsing Singapore's candidate for the second co-chair position. We recognize the qualifications and experience of all the candidates who submitted their interest, and we appreciate their willingness to serve in this important role. Chair, notwithstanding the circumstances that led us to this result, we believe that this is an important outcome: a balanced leadership of the panel, with co-chairs that reflect the diversity that characterizes the UN membership and this Commission, whether that is gender balance, diversity of policy perspectives, or geographical diversity. The co-chairs have the important responsibility of setting the tone and sending the right signals. The panel must have credibility if its recommendations are to be considered seriously. We believe an important first step was taken today in the selection of a balanced leadership to guide the work of the Panel. We are confident that Natalie Morris-Shamma will represent what Singapore is known for in the international arena: a constructive, pragmatic and balanced approach, firmly grounded in the international drug control framework. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Now we will resume the list of speakers under agenda item 5 (c). I call on the representative of Venezuela to take the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela once again recognizes the INCB as the body mandated to oversee the implementation of the three treaties, which are pillars of the international drug control system. We've noted regional trends and recommendations contained within the 2025 annual report. Venezuela once again reiterates its sustained commitment through timely return of official data collection forms. These are an essential tool for guaranteeing accuracy and integrity of the international drug control system. At the same time, we are intensifying national efforts to prevent and tackle the diversion of controlled substances and to ensure that information given by States continues to be duly received by the INCB. We also wanted to talk about the importance of the fact that the INCB needs adequate financial backing to guarantee continuity in its capacity building and technical assistance activities, which are essential work for strengthening national capacities in international control. This support not only allows us to maintain monitoring and control mechanisms operational, but it also ensures that States have up-to-date tools and well-trained staff to prevent, detect, and counter the diversion of controlled substances. Chair, distinguished delegates, Venezuela maintains a sustained and effective policy combating the illegal trafficking in drugs based on international cooperation, territorial control, and actions of its security services, which have led to significant seizures and the neutralization of many criminal networks. We are concerned by statements made by the delegation of the United States of America in these sessions, following their military aggression on the 3rd of January against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Despite these serious facts, Venezuela has opted for the route of diplomacy. At this point in time, respectful and constructive conversations are being held between both governments. including topics such as security and combating illegal drug trafficking. Therefore, Venezuela believes that this is a moment to honor our willingness to enter into dialogue and to avoid narratives that do not contribute to the cooperation needed to tackle a problem which is shared by all of our countries. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Dear colleagues, I would like to remind that those delegations which would like to take the floor regarding the expert panel can do so under agenda item 5E, which will be resumed shortly. But now we are going to proceed according to the working arrangements to the agenda item 5D, and I open the floor for those who want to speak under this agenda item. I have registered first Angola. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I would like to take this opportunity to note that the Angolan delegation is headed by Professor Pinto de Souza, and I'm speaking on his behalf. Angola welcomes the holding of this session and welcomes the relevance of the topics selected on the agenda, ensuring the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing their diversion. This is a topic of central importance for the health system. For a country like Angola, striking a balance is crucial. We must guarantee access to controlled medicines, medicines which are critical for treating pain, which are critical for surgeries and palliative care, without compromising the control and surveillance mechanisms, limiting access compromises the right to health, and diversion compromises public security. These challenges require proportionate responses based on compelling data. Angola has undertaken to strengthen its regulatory authority, its control system, and its important distribution system, as well as its training system for health professionals. Nonetheless, This is a global challenge which requires international cooperation, cooperation which needs to be stepped up with enhanced technical assistance and the modernization of the monitoring systems. Effective regulations are not the same as excessive restrictions. but they are important for preventing diversion. Angola would like to reiterate its commitment to the international conventions, and we promote a public health-centered approach, an approach based on human dignity. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Venezuela. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

At the end of 2023, Venezuela hosted a workshop on the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, as well as a capacity building seminar for national competent authorities in Latin American countries. These meetings brought together delegations from seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This experience was an excellent example of international cooperation, strengthening technical capacity, promoting the exchange of knowledge, and increasing shared understanding of the challenges associated with the availability and appropriate use of controlled medical substances. Among the conclusions of this workshop, and as has been repeatedly highlighted in the most recent annual reports of the INCB, there was concern over alarming gaps in availability and access to controlled substances for medical purposes, particularly impacting developing countries. In this context, Venezuela considering the unilateral coercive measures imposed by international actors that have affected, among other sectors, imports of controlled substances and medications on a national level, has made huge efforts to guarantee universal and free access to public health, which includes access to essential medication for pain relief and palliative care. Distinguished delegates, with this in mind, and recognizing national efforts as well as the persistent challenges in terms of availability of controlled substances for medical purposes, it is essential that we strengthen and promote international cooperation, technical assistance, technology transfer, and the exchange of best practice. Only through renewed and solidarity-based commitment between States will it be possible to overcome limitations that affect developing countries in their work to guarantee effective and sustainable responses in this area. Venezuela reiterates its full willingness to cooperate with all interested parties. aiming to make progress towards solutions that ensure well-being, the right to health, and dignity for our population. Thank you.

Thank you. If there are no any other speakers under agenda item 5D, my intention is to move to next agenda item, 5E, and I have Russian Federation on my list. Please, you have the floor.

Esteemed Chair, given the Commission is considering the establishment under resolution 68/6 of the establishment of an expert panel for implementing the draw control treaties more effectively, I'd like to share with Russia's views of this initiative. In March last year, there were discussions on this draft resolution, which was a serious test for the traditional spirit of compromise in Vienna. Russia, like several other members of the Commission, was unable to reach consensus on the outcome text. Nevertheless, on the basis of the principle of common and shared responsibility for addressing the global drug problem, our country displayed a constructive approach and repeatedly opted for dialogue in discussing the draft resolution. all participants shared the view that the success of this mechanism depends on its depoliticized nature and the balanced distribution of experts and ensuring the balance of different approaches to drug control. This was clearly reflected in the resolution 68/6 as a criteria for selecting members of the group. We regret that within the EEG, the countries did not decide to opt for that approach and ended up opting for an expert with a very similar approach to other members, which prevented the Russian expert from taking part in encountering the world drug problem. We congratulate Madam Maurice Sharma of Singapore on her election to co-chair the expert panel. We are sure that her wise chairpersonship of the group will provide a balanced approach. We are sure that the recommendations of this mechanism can be adopted by the Commission only if the decisions in the panel are reached by consensus. Therefore, its outcomes will clearly reflect the resolution, that is, ensuring that levers can be found for addressing the world drug problem in the run-up to the 2029 full format review of drug obligations. Thank you, Chair. Allow me also to use this opportunity to give the floor to my colleague who will speak under 5E.

Distinguished Chair, The Russian Federation stringently complies with its obligations under the three drug control conventions. Pursuant to Article 35 of the 1961 Single Convention, we would like to share the experience of work of the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia. This office coordinates the activities of the law enforcement agencies in fighting crime as part of coordination efforts with the heads of other law enforcement agencies. Problematic issues are discussed and harmonized measures are developed to prevent and counter crime. Based on our practice, our legal regulations are upgraded. The proceeds of crime come increasingly from the use of electronic anonymous drug trafficking channels. The convoluted multi-tier accounting systems used mask the criminal origin of the proceeds of these crimes. In February this year, amendments were introduced to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. and digital currency is now recognized as property and is subject to confiscation. In the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation, we've consolidated the procedure for confiscating the physical medium on which digital currencies are stored, and we've defined the process for seizing digital currency in investigations. These measures simplify the work of law enforcement agencies, particularly in our fight against money laundering. I would also like to note that the Prosecutor General's Office ensures the irreversibility of the liability of individuals who have committed crimes. The total number of individuals sentenced over the course of the year was 69,000 people. In addition to deprivation of liberty, suspension of sentences, penalties, courts also apply another punitive measure, that is the duty to undergo drug dependence treatment. Over the course of a year, this measure has been applied in respect of 3,000 people. The government objective is to form a society which has a deliberately negative attitude to the illicit consumption of drugs. The wide use of digital resources for their promotion and distribution has been classified as a threat to national security. The shift of the drug business to the virtual sphere has required the law enforcement agencies to consolidate their efforts to counter the online use of drug trafficking. Online monitoring to identify and block such information involves young people, volunteers, and public organizations. Using a special automated system, Roskomnadzor last year identified and blocked the dissemination of over 200,000 pro-drug articles. Moreover, extrajudicially, we've removed over 30 million pages online. about the means of acquiring narcotic drugs and the means of trafficking them. Particular attention is paid to preventing and countering the involvement of children in the commission of crimes using the internet. Educational institutions have established programs for content screening, which limits access to prohibited material for pupils. The Prosecutor General's Office, in terms of the media, where they place information material online regarding liability for trafficking of drugs and promoting their use. So as to prevent violations, we are developing new mechanisms and technologies. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Colombia. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Columbia welcomes the fact that we have made-up this panel of independent experts and that from this point on, it can formally begin its work. This process was born out of the INCB, or the CND rather, and is going through in its following processes agreed upon by member states, and I hope that it will continue with these. which grants it the required legitimacy to comply with the mandate that has been given to it. Colombia would like to express its recognition to Member States who have contributed to this process in its various stages, since the resolution that gave rise to this panel, to the candidacies and financial contributions that have allowed this to come about. We trust that the experts appointed will act with full independence, using rigorous and balanced processes, helping to enrich the international debate and strengthen the efficacy and ability to response for the international drug control system, tackling particularly relevant issues for the international community. Among these, the application of the death penalty for crimes related to drugs, the full incorporation of human rights in drugs policies, strengthening of a public health based approach and damage reduction, as well as indicators that can help us to measure complex realities and other aspects to make progress towards more humane, more effective and evidence-based policies. The makeup of this panel is balanced enough to guarantee rich and substantive exchange between experts. The diverse institutional roots into this, diverse regional perspectives, and diverse thematic knowledge mean that we can have rigorous and reality-based assessments of current challenges, guaranteeing that the discussion will go beyond abstract debates and will move towards concrete and evidence-based recommendations. We trust that the experts will honor this opportunity and the trust that the international community has placed in them to help us to construct a more effective, a more equal global drugs policy that is sensitive to national needs. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Now I have a pleasure to invite Uruguay to take the floor, please.

Good morning. Thank you, Chair. Uruguay welcomes this opportunity to speak under this item and would like to express our full support for the process established under resolution 68/6, the creation of a multidisciplinary panel of independent experts in charged with reviewing the international drug control system is a important institutional step and is also a unique opportunity, an opportunity to generate a body of rigorous knowledge that will enrich our collective understanding of current challenges in terms of drug control and which will inform decisions that this international community will take in the run-up to 2029. Uruguay understands that this knowledge will help this system to offer more effective, more equal, and more human-focused responses. Uruguay trusts that the Panel will comply with its mandate independently and with the highest technical standards. We warmly welcome all members of the Panel. and we are delighted at the election of our specialist, Milton Romany-Guerrero, as a member. We are convinced that his career and his in-depth knowledge of the international drug control system will mean that he has a valuable contribution to make to the work of this panel ahead. Chair, Uruguay would also like to draw attention to an issue of principle. to ensure the proper functioning of the panel and its legitimacy for member states, which is multilingualism. The UN has enshrined multilingualism as a fundamental value of the organization. A panel like this, whose recommendations will guide international drug policy, should be able to carry out its work with guaranteed equality in conditions for panellists and the freedom to express themselves in the official languages of the system, as well as to communicate their conclusions in a way that is accessible for all Member States. My delegation therefore thinks it is important that we revise budget estimates and make adjustments in order to guarantee required translation and interpretation services to make sure that they are available in the official UN languages, in line, or relevant UN languages, in line with the makeup of the panel and with the standards upheld by ECOSOC and our work. Uruguay will continue to be committed to this process and we'll look forward to the recommendations of this panel. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Ambassador. Next on my list is Belgium. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Belgium warmly thanks Member States for their support in electing Mr. Alexis Goosdelle to the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel established by last year's CND. We are grateful for the broad backing he received, which testifies to the recognition of his expertise and long-standing contribution to the field of drug policy. Belgium also wishes to congratulate the experts selected from the United States, the Czech Republic, and Latvia, as well as the experts nominated earlier by the other regional groups, the UN Secretary General, INCB, and the WHO. We extend our sincere congratulations to the two designated co-chairs of Canada and Singapore and wish them all the best in steering the discussions of the panel towards a successful conclusion. Belgium reiterates its full support for the panel and its mandate. We remain convinced that the Panel can play a pivotal role in identifying gaps, enhancing coordination, and advancing evidence-based, balanced, and human rights-based drug policies in line with the objectives of this Commission. We look forward to the start of the Panel's work and to engaging constructively with all experts and Member States. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. And now I have Cuba. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We would like to congratulate the elected members of the panel, and we hope that they will comply with the mandate given them by resolution 68/1. Cuba welcomes the opportunity to participate in this debate and once again reiterates the unwavering willingness of the Cuban State to maintain a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. Our country does not produce or store drugs, and we are not a transit country for illegal substances. Cuba is no threat to any state. On the contrary, we are an active part of the solution in tackling this scourge in the Caribbean and the international community. The threats that we face mainly come from outside, in particular, transnational networks that attempt to penetrate our borders and to exploit Cuba's geographical position. The institutional response to this has been firm, coherent, and in line with international treaties to which we are a state party. With activities carried out in 2025, we have stopped eight operations in rapid boats that tried to introduce drugs, and we have also worked on air smuggling. We seized over two tons of drugs, most of which did not have this country as a destination, which was mainly marijuana, cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids, and methamphetamines. Cuba has identified 46 different synthetic cannabinoids, and we are carrying out research to seek solutions to the challenge of this. such as a spray for synthetic cannabinoids to help train dogs and giving this to training centres, as these are substances that are having an impact in our country. We are ensuring that these dogs are able to smell, to detect these new cannabinoids. The growing impact of synthetic drugs needs a joined-up and coordinated response. No substances should be underestimated. International cooperation, exchange of information and technical assistance are essential pillars to tackle these new psychoactive substances. Cuba maintains its commitment to collaborate with all countries, developing science and research to prevent and tackle drugs and seeking alliances that strengthen regional response capacity. Our country has demonstrated that even in adverse conditions, it is possible to have a comprehensive prevention-based policy, also based on education and cooperation. We will continue to defend health and security for our people and actively contribute to collective efforts in the international community to eradicate drug trafficking and its harmful consequences. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And if there are no any other speakers wishing to take the floor, and I see Ukraine. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

We would like to congratulate Ms. Sharma, expert from Singapore on election, co-chair of the independent expert panel. We deem it is as important that geographical diversity criteria enshrined in the resolution has been met. We are also pleased to know that Ukrainian expert Olha Gvozdetska is a part of this team, and we are looking forward for deliverables of this new body within the framework of the CND. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations wishing to take the floor under agenda item 5E? I don't see any. Are there any delegations wishing to take the floor under agenda item 5? Because we are going to close the agenda item now. USA, please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We have a right of reply under agenda item 5. If you would permit me, I would deliver that now. Thank you very much. The United States would like to exercise its right of reply in response to statements made this morning. Economic sanctions can be a lawful, legitimate, important, appropriate, and effective tool for responding to malign activity and addressing serious threats to peace and security. The United States is not alone in that view or in that practice. U.S. sanctions target behaviors that threaten our national security, global stability, and undermine human dignity. U.S. sanctions are not punitive. They are a tool to change behavior. They can be, and regularly are, removed if the damaging behavior stops. U.S. sanctions programs are focused on constraining the ability of bad actors to take advantage of our financial system or threaten the United States, our allies and partners, our citizens, not on preventing bona fide humanitarian-related trade, assistance, or other activities. President Trump has made clear he will not tolerate any threat to the lives of American citizens and will take whatever actions are necessary to protect our country. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations wishing to take the floor under agenda item 5? I don't see any. Then we now close consideration of agenda item 5 in its entirety. Before we move back to agenda item 6, I want to go back to agenda item 4, where we have an outstanding issue, namely action to be taken on the considering recommendations for the Fingov Bureau for 2026. Can I ask the Commission if Commission is ready to endorse the joint nomination by the Bureau of 69th session CND and 45th session CCPCJ of Her Excellency Ambassador Deborah Lepre, Permanent Representative of Italy, nominated by VEOC for the position of FINGO First Vice Chair? and Her Excellency Ambassador Victoria Rosa, Permanent Representative of Republic of Moldova, nominated by EEIG for the position of FINGOF Vice-Chair. I don't see any objections. It is so decided. I wish to congratulate Ambassador Lepre and Rosa for the election. I now close consideration of agenda item 4. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, we will now continue consideration of agenda item 6, follow-up to the implementation of a national, regional, and international levels of all commitments, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, to address and counter a world drug problem. I would like to thank Her Excellency Ambassador María Eugenia Echeverría for having skillfully steered the deliberations yesterday. I understand we still have a number of speakers. And first on my list is distinguished representative of Venezuela. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Venezuela, using a integrated and human-based approach, in 2025 took over 30,000 preventive steps, reaching 2.5 million people in communities, schools, places of work, and even including the prison population as part of our policies focused on vulnerable populations. These activities also included the recovery of cultural and sports spaces to encourage protection factors and reduce risks for our children and adolescents. On the basis of scientific evidence, the recent risk perception, consumption, and ease of access to drugs study determined that the rate of consumption in Venezuela, which was already low, had reduced in 2022 compared to 2011. In 2025, the National Addiction Treatment System guaranteed free and universal care for over 5,000 patients, with focus on providing protection to those on the streets, aiming to ensure their social rehabilitation. In parallel, we seized 65.8 tons of drugs, which was the highest figure registered in the past 20 years. We must highlight international cooperation that we have carried out with various states, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, and the Russian Federation, which shows the effectiveness of joint mechanisms and a shared willingness to strengthen institutional capacity and to tackle, in a coordinated manner, shared challenges. To go into more depth on this, we invite you to attend a parallel event organized by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela today, this afternoon, at 1 PM in M5. Distinguished delegates, Venezuela has built these links thanks to the commitment and willingness to actively participate in various spaces, recognizing the crucial role of international organizations, including the CND and its subsidiary bodies, the International Narcotics Control Board, as well as cooperation initiatives such as COPOLAD III and the Drugs Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism, the CELAC-EU. along with a constant drive when it comes to bilateral relationships. On this in particular, we would also like to reiterate the essential role played by the UNODC and its regional structures, particularly when providing technical assistance and capacity building. In this sense, we would urge States to continue supporting this organization in order that it can broaden its global assistance programmes, in particular to aid developing countries. In the face of the multiple challenges of the world drug problem, and in the spirit of continuing to progress in commitments adopted in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, We would like to reiterate our call to continue encouraging cooperation, the exchange of experiences and best practices between States in an honest way, based on a respect for sovereignty, self-determination, international law, and mutual trust to fully tackle the causes and consequences of this scourge, and always in strict compliance with international law. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Russian Federation, who will deliver a joint statement to be followed by a national statement. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, esteemed Chair, dear colleagues. It is a great honour for me to announce this joint statement on behalf of a number of states, the initiator of which was the Russian Federation, and it is supported by 44 states, on behalf of Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Cuba, DPRK, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Türkiye, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. We reaffirm the central role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal policy-making body of the United Nations, with prime responsibility for drug control matters. We underscore that the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol. The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 constitute the cornerstone of the international drug control system. We also underscore the fundamental role of the International Narcotics Control Board in monitoring the compliance of State Parties with their obligations under the three international conventions. In this regard, we emphasize the need to strengthen the Board’s dialogue with governments and to improve its objectiveness, including through the resumption of its country missions. and requests the Secretariat to support the implementation of the Board’s treaty-mandated functions from the UN regular budget, in line with the CND Resolution 68/8. We believe that the Conventions allow for sufficient flexibility for States Parties to take effective measures in the sphere of drug control including with regard to penal provisions and particular measures against the abuse of drugs. With due respect for sovereign drug control policies, legislation, national experience, and the unique circumstances of States Parties, we underscore the need to respect each country's sovereign right to implement drug control policies suited to its national situation. in line with the obligations under the three international drug control conventions, without imposing any specific models or approaches. We emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing and countering the world drug problem, and approaches which work in one country or region may not be effective or applicable to other countries. However, the flexibility enshrined in the Conventions must not collide with the obligation of States Parties to limit the use of drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. We are deeply concerned about the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes. We fully share the assessments of the INCB that the growing trend to allow the use of cannabis for non-medical and non-scientific purposes contravenes the 1961 Single Convention and constitutes a significant challenge for the international community, the States parties to the drug control conventions, and for the implementation of these conventions. In this regard, we underscore the principle of pacta sunt servanda and strongly urge all Member States to comply with the legally binding provisions of the Conventions and ensure their full and effective implementation. We express our increasing concern about the detrimental effects of the legalization of cannabis on public health, safety, as well as the increasing risks of the initiation of drug abuse among children and youth. We emphasize that the legalization of cannabis creates conditions that could be exploited by transnational drug-related criminal networks and puts additional burden on law enforcement authorities. We also underline that the legalization of drugs for non-medical and non-scientific purposes poses a threat to the promotion and protection of human rights. The Convention reflects the international community's view that the most effective way to promote human rights in the field of drug control is to prevent the illicit diversion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, while ensuring their use exclusively for medical and scientific purposes. We firmly believe that abstinence from illicit drug use should be the ultimate goal of all countries' efforts to combat the world drug problem. We urge all Member States to set ambitious objectives, including building a society free of drug abuse, and not to limit their efforts to merely reducing harms related to illicit drug use, illicit drug cultivation, production, manufacture and trafficking. Reducing harms alone does not provide a sustainable solution to the world drug problem. Minimising harms and addressing consequences without confronting the root causes of the world drug problem will not enable the international community to make meaningful progress. Such a limited approach perpetuates and in some cases exacerbates existing challenges. Moreover, it implies tolerance to drug abuse and may even lead to its legalization, which will further worsen the already severe drug problem. The international community must not surrender to the scourge of the spread of illicit drugs, but, on the contrary, unify efforts in a more concerted international action aimed at harm prevention. We urge all Member States to take a comprehensive and balanced approach to reduce both supply and demand of drugs, prioritize the prevention of harms related to illicit drugs, to take effective measures to protect children and youth from drug-related challenges through education and building their resilience to stay drug-free, to implement robust laws and enforcement policies, to adopt adequate measures for rehabilitation and reintegration of former drug abusers into society. We underscore the need for a comprehensive, balanced and scientific evidence-based approach to address and counter the world drug problem and to effectively promote a society free of drug abuse, ensuring that all people can live in health, dignity, safety and peace with security and prosperity We emphasize that strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation is essential for our joint endeavor and recognize the important contribution of the Commission's subsidiary bodies in addressing drug problems, in particular the Honliars. We recognize the fundamental role of effective international cooperation in preventing and combating drug-related crime, and to this end, underline the importance of addressing, tackling and effectively responding to international challenges and barriers, in particular measures that hinder such cooperation and are not consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and obligations under international law. In this regard, we urge States, consistent with their international obligations, to refrain from applying such measures. We underscore the urgent need to take further ambitious, effective and decisive actions to promote better implementation of all international drug policy commitments, and to ensure a comprehensive review of relevant progress by 2029 within the CND. We note a role of the independent expert panel being established in line with the CND resolution 68/6 in the preparatory process towards 2029. We call upon the Panel to fully comply with its mandate and to prepare an actionable set of non-binding, consensual recommendations aimed at enhancing the implementation of the three international drug conventions and the achievement of all international drug policy commitments. We welcome further dialogue of Member States and sharing of national best practices in the Commission, taking into account the inputs from all relevant stakeholders, with a view to contributing to the review to be conducted by the Commission in 2029. The text of our joint statement can be joined by other delegations, and we would really urge that other delegations to support it. My colleague from the Ministry of the Interior of Russia will make a few more comments under this agenda item.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Chair, for giving me this opportunity to speak about the main achievements of the Russian Federation in preventing illicit drug trafficking in 2025. Firstly, I would like to underscore that Russia continues to be committed to the foundational drug control conventions and seeks a world free of drugs. In accordance with the provisions of the state drug control strategy, we are carrying out a number of activities. We've involved a number of the federal departments of the government, civil society, and other institutes. We coordinate the efforts and pool our efforts, and over the course of several years, we've been able to see a steady reduction in the number of drug users. Last year, there were around 400,000 people using drugs. We see trends in our country which are similar to those in other countries, including the domination of synthetic drugs, but the drug markets continue to see that there are clandestine laboratories working within the country. Drug consumers often use virtual payment means, including cryptocurrency. Considering the scale of the threat stemming from the application of modern technologies and their benefit for drug criminals, the Russian Federation has adopted a number of laws which set up an important bulwark for law enforcement. In 2025, we established criminal liability for droppers, which has allowed us to reduce by a twofold drug financial transactions. Moreover, we've developed a mechanism to extrajudicially freeze suspicious transactions in bank accounts. We also note the use of messengers, which are frequently used for drug dealing, and we've also noted impeded access to a number of services. When it comes to drug production, we've introduced additional control measures for substances and precursors. Our control list last year was added with new precursors. We continue active work in preventing drug consumption and preventing the involvement of citizens in drug crimes, which are to counter the attempt to promote drug content, and we've blocked hundreds of websites. We are working with the administrators of social media and messengers to engage in awareness raising. Moreover, we've developed an inter-agency standard for drug control. which aims to make concrete the efforts of our work in this sphere, to develop programs in this sphere. In addition, the drug problem is global in nature, and therefore there is a need to take effective measures, not only at the national level, but also at the international level. We need to continue to upgrade police cooperation and to prevent politicization of such work. We need to take alternative approaches, such as a decriminalization of the consumption of certain substances. But actually doing so undermines the international drug control regime, and it also gives power to criminal organizations. In closing, we'd like to express our hope that in order to ensure a world free of drugs, we'd be able to work together in a mutually understanding way, and that work will continue between the competent authorities of our States. Thank you.

Thank you. And now I give the floor to Norway, please.

Thank you very much. Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Agenda item 6, dedicated to following up on the implementation of all commitments to address and counter the world drug problem, provides an important opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to share progress, experiences, and lessons learned. Norway joined the Pledge for Action initiative in 2024, and we are pleased to present an update on our implementation efforts in support of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. Norway's pledge centers on reducing drug-related deaths, strengthening evidence-based treatment options, ensuring meaningful involvement in people who use drugs in policy making, and reinforcing prevention systems. Our approach combines long-standing commitments with new, dynamic measures designed to respond to emerging drug use patterns. To reduce drug-related mortality, Norway continues to expand access to effective interventions. Naloxone availability has been scaled up nationally, and opioid agonist treatment is provided without waiting time to individuals with severe opioid use disorders. Furthermore, the Norwegian government is investing in research that targets critical evidence gaps most notably stimulant use disorders, for which evidence-based pharmacological treatments remain extremely limited. A key part of this effort is the Atlas for Dependence clinical trial, one of the most ambitious studies globally examining potential agonist therapy for amphetamine dependence. This multi-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates dextroamphetamine as a candidate medication. The trial recruits participants across several treatment services in Norway who are enrolled in a structured 12-week treatment phase. Participants receive either controlled doses of dextroamphetamine or placebo combined with psychosocial support, consistent with international best practices. The scientific rationale behind Atlas for Dependence is grounded in the need to reduce harms associated with high potency amphetamines, including overdose, acute psychosis, cardiovascular complications, and long-term cognitive impairment. The study therefore examines not only reductions in illicit fentanyl use, but also broader indicators such as mental health outcomes, treatment retention, quality of life, and the frequency of high-risk episodes. Rigorous monitoring protocols ensure participant safety and allow for detailed evaluation of dose response effects, adherence, and potential adverse events. If successful, ATLAS-4 Dependence has the potential to substantially strengthen the international evidence base and to inform clinical guidelines in a field where there are currently no approved medications in most jurisdictions. Norway sees this work as an important contribution to global scientific and monitoring efforts, and hope that the trial will support the development of more effective health-centered responses to stimulant use. Beyond research, Norway continues to ensure high standards of healthcare for patients with substance use disorders. Waiting times for treatment are generally shorter than for other health conditions, and hospitals have been instructed to strengthen integrated services and aftercare. To secure long-term improvements, the government has appointed the Substance Treatment Committee. which is reviewing future structures, financing models, and coordination mechanisms for treatment and harm reduction services, including an evaluation of OAT organization. The committee will deliver its recommendations by summer 2027. Fourth, meaningful involvement of people who use drugs is integral to our approach. Norway has multiple mechanisms in place, from formal consultations and hearings to participant in strategy development, treatment design, and research supported by national grant schemes tailored to user-led organizations. We have asked, and stakeholders note that these committees have, in many respects, been fulfilled, and in some areas exceeded, while also identifying room to make involvement more consistent and predictable across levels and processes, and to reduce perceptions of randomness or fragmentation. Moreover, the feedback informs that Norway appears to fulfill only the procedural requirements for involvement with civil society organizations representing people who use drugs. Regarding conditions for meaningful participation in substantive terms, timely engagement, good faith dialogue, transparency, and honesty, and the possibility to influence policy development, there is still room for improvement. We take this feedback seriously and will continue to strengthen frameworks and resourcing to that end. Finally, Norway pledges to continue investing in evidence-based prevention, including early interventions, quality standards, and professional development for the prevention workforce. Norway remains committed to advancing health-centered, evidence-based, and human rights-oriented responses to the world drug problem. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is African Union. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to present this statement on behalf of the African Union. Africa continues to face evolving drug-related challenges, functioning both as a major transit corridor and an increasingly significant destination market. The expansion of illicit cultivation, production, and synthetic drug manufacture is driving higher levels of drug use, rising substance use disorders, and growing health and social burdens. In this context, the African Union remains fully committed to implementing the 2019 Ministerial Declaration and advancing a balanced, evidence-based, development-oriented approach consistent with international drug control conventions and goals of sustainable development. Through the 2019 to 2025 AU Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention, the African Union advanced a comprehensive public health-centered approach aligned with the ministerial declaration. Key achievements include strengthened national drug epidemiology systems, operationalization of the Pan-African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use, expanded treatment and prevention services, and improved access to controlled medicines with safeguards against diversion. The African Union has also strengthened regional and international cooperation in drug supply reduction by improving intelligence sharing and reinforcing national focal points to combat transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, while ensuring these efforts remain grounded in public health, human rights, and sustainable development principles. Mr. Chair, in 2025, the African Union completed an evaluation of its 2019 to 2025 Drug Action Plan, confirming progress while identifying persistent challenges that include inadequate resources, institutional capacity gaps, and limited national coordination. These findings are now guiding the development of a new continental framework aligned with global commitments to be adopted in 2026. Mr. Chair, the African Union reaffirms its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, shared responsibility, and international cooperation in addressing the world drug problem. We stand ready to continue working closely with member states, the United Nations, and all relevant partners to advance objectives of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration and to promote balanced, effective, and sustainable responses that contribute to healthier, safer, and more resilient societies across Africa. I thank you.

Thank you. And now I give the floor to Zonta International. Please.

Thank you. I deliver this statement on behalf of Sonda International, a global organization working since over 100 years to build a better world for women and girls. You may find a longer and more detailed version on the conference website. Our work is based on our mission: equality, full empowerment, and a life without fear for all women and girls, including women with drug contacts, who are among the most disadvantaged groups in the world. Women develop drug addiction faster than men, are more vulnerable, and suffer greater medical, psychological, social, and economic damage caused by gender-related stigma and discrimination. Nevertheless, drug services remain largely male oriented, exacerbated by a persistent lack of gender desegregated data. Women are disproportionately harmed by punitive drug laws, often criminalized for law level nonviolent offenses, receive harsher sentences, and face obstacles of fair trials. The IDPC Shadow Report 2023 documented the disproportionate impact of drug policies on marginalized populations, including women. The World Drug Report 2025 shows that despite progress in harm reduction, coverage remains inadequate and funding is facing a major crisis. Globally, only one in 18 women with drug use disorders receives treatment, compared to one in seven men, unchanged from previous years, even though women have comparable or better treatment outcomes. This failure persists despite commitments made at UNGAS 2016, CND 2016, and successive resolutions to mainstream gender perspectives and ensure non-discriminatory access to health care, as well anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, and CEDAW. SANTA International calls on member states who not yet have done so to uphold human rights frameworks, eliminate discrimination in the health sector, ensure stigma-free, people-centered, gender-responsive services, invest in data, training, and harm reduction, partner with civil society and women with lived experiences, include gender equality in drug policy and alternative development. Without the leadership and participation of women at all levels, systems will continue to fail. Advancing gender-responsive, rights-based drug policies is essential to building inclusive and resilient societies. I thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, which has submitted a written statement and it will be reflected in the report. Now I call on Amnesty International. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you and good morning. I deliver this statement on behalf of Amnesty International, Harm Reduction International, and Justice Project Pakistan. Our organizations have independently and consistently recorded that in recent years, over 40% of all known global executions have been carried out for drug-related offenses. This means that hundreds of people, including many from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, continue to be put to death every year in the name of drug control, often after unfair proceedings that render the use of this punishment arbitrary. The death penalty, and especially when used for drug-related offenses, is not in conformity with the three international drug control conventions, nor with applicable international human rights obligations. As such, it poses a challenge to the implementation of all joint commitments based on the principle of common and shared responsibility, as outlined in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. The CND reaffirmed in that declaration its commitment to human rights and to put people at the center of drug policies. While acknowledging the statements that several delegations made on this issue during this session, the deafening silence of the CND on the continued use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses needs to end now. It is an egregious human rights violation that leaves this body's commitment to human rights empty of meaning. We call on all States that retain the death penalty to fully abolish it as a matter of urgency, and we urge UNODC to ensure that its work with these countries does not risk contributing to the use of the death penalty. It is also time for UNODC to fully document the human rights impact of drug policies in its yearly World Drug Report, including in relation to the death penalty, and to ensure that drug-related executions and sentences are explicitly condemned. This matter must also be featured prominently in the new UNODC strategy. We request delegations at the CND to establish a regular agenda item to consistently reflect on the challenge identified in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration in relation to human rights, including on the death penalty, and to request UNODC to report on its findings on this matter as part of this agenda item. Putting human rights concretely on the agenda of the CND will be a first critical step to deliver on the CND's human rights commitment. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to United Arab Emirates. Please.

Sayyid al-Rais, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, The United Arab Emirates continues its efforts to implement all the commitments in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, as adopted by the CND. The declaration calls for strengthening joint action at the national and international levels in order to confront the world drug problem. This commitment is based on our belief in the importance of shared responsibility among countries and the need to adopt a balanced approach that focuses on prevention, treatment, and law enforcement, as well as international cooperation. At the national level, the UAE has developed a legislative and institutional framework to combat drugs. In line with international best practices, we have reformed our laws on combating drugs and psychotropic substances. which reflects a balanced approach that focuses on strictly combating illicit use and focusing on treatment and rehabilitation. We have expanded rehabilitation centers and strengthened control over the use of controlled substances, as well as the development of social protection and prevention programs. We have adopted a national anti-narcotics strategy. for the period 2024-2031, which aims to build a drug-free society and strengthen our ability in the areas of prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. The strategy covers a number of programs that seek to strengthen the flexibility and resilience of societies, help the most vulnerable people, and provide recovery and rehabilitation opportunities for previous users. The strategy seeks to develop scientific research in the area of drug detection and the use of controlled substances. Regarding Institutional coordination, we have developed an organizational framework to coordinate efforts among state, local institutions, as well as educational institutions, as well as implementing all national laws and strategies on countering drugs. This national agency strengthens complementarity between state institutions. in order to counter drug cartels and strengthen coordination with rehabilitation and treatment centers. At the regional and international levels, the UAE remains committed to strengthening international cooperation in countering drugs by participating actively in the work of the CND, and supporting international initiatives aimed at countering the illicit drug trafficking. We are also developing our partnerships with states and organizations in order for the exchange of information, in order to strengthen our law enforcement and to counter transnational organized crime. We support international efforts aimed at strengthening balance between supply and demand reduction by investing in prevention and awareness raising campaigns, supporting treatment and rehabilitation services, and using AI and innovation in detecting drug-related crimes. In general, these efforts reflect our firm commitment in implementing the commitments under the Ministerial Declaration of 2019. and contributing actively to international efforts aimed at protecting our societies from the dangers of drugs and strengthening stability and sustainable development. In closing, we share the international community's concern regarding the growing threat of synthetic drugs. We call for concerted international efforts to counter these challenges. and to work actively to confront the groups involved in producing and trafficking in these synthetic drugs. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Elternkreis Wien, in collaboration with Nomad Institute and Mission Segardotal, SVA. Please.

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, On behalf of Elton Christ Vine, Nomad Institute, and Mission Sacerdotal, I thank you for the opportunity to address this commission. We are living in a period of global uncertainty, political fragmentation, and rising tensions among states. In this context, the legitimacy of public policy can no longer rely solely on declarations of intent. It increasingly depends on the capacity to demonstrate verifiable results in the live realities of people. This is particularly important where policy decisions directly affect health, rights, and opportunities of individuals and communities in vulnerable situations. especially those facing both the violence associated with illicit drug markets and the corrosive effects of criminal economies on social cohesion and local governance. In the field of drug policy, Member States have undertaken legally binding commitments and statistical reporting obligations. Yet, as we approach the 2029 review, a structural challenge persists: the limited methodological comparability across national measurement systems. Differences in definitions, data collection methodologies, and indicators make it difficult to assess progress consistently across states. As a result, the multilateral system faces limitations in determining whether policies are effectively reducing violence weakening criminal structures and strengthening communities. Evaluation should focus on outcomes that matter for people, access to health services, reduction of stigma, protection of fundamental rights, proportionally in criminal justice responses, and sustainable improvements in community well-being in line with human rights and public health commitments. The 2029 review, therefore, represents an opportunity not only for reporting, but for methodological consolidation that strengthens the credibility of the multilateral system. In coordination with UNODC, this Commission could advance common methodological guidelines that improve statistical comparability while fully respecting the normative sovereignty of States, existing instruments, including the international classification of crime for statistical purposes, already provide a solid technical basis for such work. Ultimately, public policy are not measured only through indicators. They are measured through human trajectories. Whether a person can seek treatment without fear, whether families are freed from the burden of a stigma, and whether communities can live free both from the violence of organized crimes and from disproportionate responses. In an international environment marked by geopolitical tensions, methodological transparency, open science, and data integrity are not merely technical matters, they are condition for trust. Without comparable data, cooperation loses clarity. Without verifiable outcomes, it loses legitimacy. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, therefore, has an important opportunity not only to refine its metrics, but to reinforce rigor, coherence, and multilateral accountability at a decisive moment for the credibility of the international system. From civil society, we reaffirm our readiness to contribute constructive technical proposals that place human dignity and verifiable evidence at the center of this process. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to IFME. Please. If they are not in the room, let us move to the next speaker. Open Society Institute, please. Apparently not in the room too. Let us move to the next speaker, YouthRise, please.

Yes, thank you. Chair, distinguished delegates, I speak on behalf of YouthRise, an international network of young people who use drugs and young people affected by drug policies. We advocate for evidence-based, rights-centered approaches that prioritize young people's health and well-being while addressing the structural conditions that shape our vulnerability. Discussions about drugs almost always start from the same place: how do we protect young people? But there's another question we urgently need to ask: what does real protection look like in our lives? On the 9th of March, the Human Rights Council in Geneva observed the annual Day on the Rights of the Child, focusing on the human rights violation of children in armed conflicts. In many parts of the world, militarized efforts to curb organized crime and drug trafficking lead to armed clashes that place children and young people at greater risk of experiencing direct violence from both criminal groups and the law enforcement sent to dismantle them. Police raids profile and criminalize youth in low-income communities and feed into stigma and discrimination that have lifelong consequences. During these operations, young people cannot freely walk in the streets, go to school, or reach healthcare facilities, and these disruptions can last for days. Resolution 68/6, which established the independent expert panel, calls for the consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, including youth. As part of a project led by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Youth Rights conducted consultations with young people in diverse regions to understand how drug policies shape their lives, rights, and access to care. We are turning these findings into an evidence-based recommendations in a policy brief to be released in April. We grounded this work in international human rights frameworks, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ensured that children's and young people's perspectives guided the analysis and the recommendations. Ten years ago, the UNGASS carried the slogan "A better tomorrow for today's youth." We ask Member States: was that merely a slogan, or did it lead to meaningful action? Do the laws implemented since then reduce stigma and violence, or do they drive them? Real protection for children and young people cannot be measured by drug seizure numbers, but whether young people, including young people who use drugs, are safer, healthier, and freer. We urge Member States to apply the principles of do no harm across all policies that concern youth, recognizing meaningful youth participation, harm reduction, and the protection of rights as non-negotiable standards. Thank you.

Thank you. And next on my list is African Network of People Who Use Drugs. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair. I speak on behalf of the African Network of People Who Use Drugs. And just to note that across Africa, drug policy remains rooted in colonial, punitive frameworks that criminalize and marginalize our community. This drive for punishment fuels incarceration, poverty, stigma, and preventable deaths. Harm reduction is more than drug use autonomy. It is a movement grounded in human rights, bodily autonomy, and justice, led by most affected. We draw solidarity and lessons from movements across Latin America, Asia, and the Global South. The community-led from Colombia's COCA initiative, to Senegal integrated opioid agonist treatment services and grassroots work in Africa that shows inclusion, not punishment. Make society safer. We demand that harm reduction include everyone impacted by drug policies: users, growers, and sellers, and families. Artificial distinction between deserving and undeserving undermines our movement. Donors and governments must divest from the drug war and invest in health, justice, and community care. Redirect policing budgets to community-led harm reduction and economic alternatives. Fund models must be prioritized, flexible, core long-term support for grassroots organization. Programs like Robert Kerr Fund and Love Alliance have been vital, and their continuity is critical. Center the leadership from the Global South, follow resource, and amplify the expertise of the people with lived experience working in formal settlements and marginalized communities. Let's make decisions and funding flow to those who deliver results on the ground. We want to leave Vienna with a clear vision. that we should divest from the drug war and invest in health, justice, and community, and commit to nothing for us about us. When people who use drugs lead, harm reduction becomes a radical, loving, and transformative force. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. And now I give the floor to European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, please. It doesn't seem that they are in the room. Then I would like to call once again the representative of IFME to check if they have returned to the room or not. Apparently not. Then let me call again a representative of Open Society Institute. I don't see them in the room either. So that exhausts the list of speakers. And before closing this agenda item, I recognize that there is a right of reply from the United States of America. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The United States would like to exercise its right of reply in response to statements made under agenda item 6. I won’t repeat all of the points previously made during rights of reply, but would like to reiterate that economic sanctions can be a lawful, legitimate, important appropriate and effective tool for responding to malign activity and addressing serious threats to peace and security. The United States is not alone in that view or in that practice. U.S. sanctions target behaviors that threaten our national security, global stability, and undermine human dignity. At the same time, the United States would like to reiterate that it fully supports the International Narcotics Control Board in carrying out its treaty-mandated functions, particularly advising and engaging with states on compliance matters, regulatory control, and best practices, and in advocating for cooperation in combating drug-related challenges. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Are there any other requests for rights of reply under agenda item 6? I don't see any. Then, with this, I declare closure of agenda item 6, and we move to the next agenda item. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, we proceed to the consideration of item 7, entitled "Inter-agency cooperation and coordination of efforts in addressing and countering the world drug problem". I would like to announce that I will close the list of speakers under this item in 15 minutes. I kindly request all interventions to be limited to three minutes max. Longer statements can be made available online. In the political declaration and plan of action of 2022, 2009, Member States encouraged international and regional agencies working on drug demand and supply reduction, particularly UNODC, WHO, and the United Nations Development Program, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and INCB, to engage in a dialogue to strengthen interagency cooperation for a more effective response, while respecting each organization's role and mandate. In the outcome document of a furtive special session of the General Assembly held in 2016, Member States reaffirmed their support and appreciation for the efforts of UNODC as the leading entity in the United Nations system for addressing and countering the world drug problem. Also, in the outcome document, Member States encouraged the Commission and UNODC to further increase cooperation and collaboration with all relevant United Nations entities and international financial institutions within their respective mandates when assisting Member States in designing and implementing comprehensive, integrated, and balanced national drug strategies, policies, and programs. The Commission also actively seeks to strengthen horizontal cooperation with the other functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, addressing cross-cutting issues. In the high-level declaration by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the 2024 mid-term review, Member States committed to scale up cooperation at the national, sub-regional, regional, and international levels, and encouraged further contributions of relevant UN entities, international financial institutions, and relevant regional and international organizations within their respective mandates to the work of the Commission and the efforts of Member States to address and counter world drug problem. In 2018, the Chief Executive Board of the United Nations adopted the common United Nations position on drug policy, committing the UN system to stronger interagency cooperation, onto delivering balanced, evidence-based, human rights and development-oriented support to member states. To translate this commitment into practice, a UN system coordination task team, led by UNODC, was established under Secretary-General's Executive Committee to ensure coherence, particularly in data collection and scientific approaches. I now have the pleasure to invite UNODC to provide introductory comments for this agenda item and update on the work of the United Nations System Coordination Task Team. I give the floor to Justice Telly, Chief of UNODC Drug Laboratory and Scientific Service Branch. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. The global drug landscape has changed profoundly over the past decade. Both plant-based and synthetic drugs present one of the most significant and complex challenges of our time. Meeting this challenge requires agility, innovation, and, above all, a strong commitment to multilateral cooperation. And this is because no country And no entity can respond alone. By aligning our mandates and leveraging our comparative advantages, the United Nations system can deliver coherent and effective support to Member States. As the lead UN entity on drug-related matters, UNODC remains at the forefront of efforts to foster system-wide coherence and coordinated action. The UN family benefits from a wide range of institutional mandates and technical expertise. When guided by common objectives, these complementary strengths allow us to deliver integrated, comprehensive, impactful, and evidence-informed assistance. This diversity within our system should be an asset. At the same time, and rather unfortunately, on occasion, Certain initiatives, policy proposals, or guidance emerging from parts of the UN system have diverged from the spirit and/or letter of the international drug conventions, including by advancing approaches that raise concerns among Member States. These instances have complicated a truly collaborative assistance and pose challenges to system-wide coherence. While the UN System Common Position on Drug-Related Matters provides a mechanism to support coordination among UN entities, it is not a Member State-endorsed document and must therefore always be implemented in a manner that fully respects the international legal framework and the decisions of these commissions. In this regard, the UN System Task Team, led by UNODC, has continued to aim at deepening coherence and ensuring that joint outputs uphold internationally agreed norms, respect the treaties, and respond to the priorities expressed by member states. Allow me to highlight just a few examples of effective collaboration. The UNODC-World Health Organization partnership for many years leverages complementary expertise to deliver evidence-based, people-centered responses to drug-related health challenges. Our cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, Interpol, ICAO, World Customs Organization, the Universal Postal Union has strengthened capacity to detect and counter drug trafficking. Our partnership with UNCTAD, UNFPA, and others in drug-producing regions have integrated development, peace-building, and sustainable livelihood efforts to reduce reliance on illicit crop cultivation. For many more examples of interagency work delivered in 2025, I invite you to consult the conference room paper presented at this CND on interagency cooperation. Excellencies, UNODC remains committed to serving as a trusted and effective partner to all Member States. As we look ahead, our priority is to continue strengthening unity and coherence across the UN system, ensuring that our collective efforts translate your policy commitments into real, measurable progress on the ground. Guided by science, grounded in effective approaches, Anchored firmly in the international legal framework, we stand ready to support you in addressing drug-related challenges with coherence, effectiveness, and a persistent commitment to multilateralism. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for your statement. Now I open the floor for statements. First on my list is Colombia. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and my thanks to the Secretariat as well for the information provided. The multidimensional nature of the drugs phenomenon means that inter-institutional coordination cannot only be a formal exercise focused on supply and demand, but rather a substantive practice that is reflected across the whole system. with different analyses from complementary perspectives. Here, the work of the Human Rights Council is salient. Resolution 60/26 and the conclusions of the reports, as well as discussions held by CEDAW, which focus on issues such as access to justice, It's important that we strengthen dialogue with women's groups and with other special rapporteurs from the Human Rights Council, whose contributions when it comes to gender equality, human rights, sustainable development, vulnerable populations are essential. Including these criteria will help us to move forward towards more balanced policies that are based on evidence, with a human rights approach and which are gender sensitive, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It will also help to avoid fragmented responses and to promote integrated national strategies. This effort is all the more relevant given our current context, where we have budgetary pressures, meaning we need to look for efficiencies. and sometimes seeing a reduction in mandates, including sometimes the disappearance of certain agencies. Given these challenges, effective coordination is not an option, but rather a requirement to maximize resources, avoid duplication, and guaranteeing coherence in the approach provided by Member States. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next on my list is Russian Federation. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, esteemed Chair, dear colleagues. Illicit drug trafficking is not only one of the core threats to the health of our citizens, but it's also a sophisticated mechanism for hiding the proceeds of crime and criminal accounts. Criminals use all available technologies, internet shops, and messengers. When it comes to the intelligence data from the intelligence service of Russia, and when we look at the intelligence data from other countries, and we look at the information from banks, we often see traces of drug trafficking related to the use of e-wallets, cryptocurrency, and bank cards opened by shell companies. Often, vulnerable people, including minors, are involved in these crimes. These cards are used, which are opened by citizens of other countries across the world. Criminal organizations are working and are providing money laundering services. Through close cooperation between national departments and through international cooperation, we will be able to counter this threat. Russia, jointly with all interested partners, including UNODC and regional forums, invariably carries out measures aimed at preventing and countering the economic foundations of drug crime, so as to prevent the involvement of minors in illegal financial transactions for a sixth year in a row with the support of the financial units of CIS states. We are carrying out an international Olympiad on financial security involving around 6 million people from 40 countries around the world. The financial intelligence units of CIS countries are using a unified database for bank accounts for people who are opening these false accounts. Moreover, we are seeking to identify the traces of drug trafficking. Last year, we've been working in this regard, and this year we've set up a training session with UNO DC. We're also improving our national regulations. We've introduced legal liability for drug dropping, and we've introduced provisions on cryptocurrency. We're also improving our analysis services for cryptocurrency, which are used not only by the law enforcement agencies, but also by the bank compliance system. We've increased the number of cases of discovered criminal cases, and last year, the Russia Russia's General Prosecutor Office opened over 400 cases, including over 100 involving the financial intelligence units. But when it comes to international cooperation, we've achieved positive results which have enabled the streamlining of national and international competent authorities. At the same time, one of the core problems for all states and their authorities which are involved in identifying criminal transactions. The main problem is the receipt of information from the crypto stock exchange, because often other countries do not and other companies do not respond to requests for information about their clients. We hope that with our joint work at the Commission, we will be able to find a solution to this problem so as to reduce the shadow sector of the economy which serves drug traffickers, in particular when it comes to those participants in the crypto market which do not have their own address registered in a single country of the world and therefore do not fall under any national jurisdiction whereby their identity might be revealed. Thank you.

Now I invite representative of Japan. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Japan recognizes the importance of strengthened cooperation among international organizations in addressing the world drug problem. The complexity of today's challenges require coordinated efforts among relevant bodies, including UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS, INCB, and other ECOSOC functional commissions. At the same time, from the perspective of the UN80 initiative, It is essential that we continue efforts to enhance efficiency across the UN system. This includes reducing unnecessary overlap of mandates and promoting greater coherence and complementary among institutions. Effective coordination should allow each organization to contribute according to its comparative advantage. In this context, the functional commissions of ECOSOC play an important role in shaping policy discussions and advancing international cooperation within their respective mandates. Ensuring that member states with relevant expertise and experience are appropriately represented in these commissions will help strengthen their effectiveness and credibility. Japan remains committed to supporting a more coherent, efficient, and cooperative multilateral framework to address the global drug problem. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to Republic of Korea. Please, yeah.

Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, It's my great honor to speak on behalf of the Republic of Korea and to share our efforts to promote their inter-agency cooperation in addressing the world drug problem. In recent years, international drug trafficking has become increasingly organized and sophisticated. In response, the Republic of Korea has been taking comprehensive, whole-of-government measures to address this challenge. First of all, we have been conducting joint drug enforcement operation with major source countries of illicit drugs since 2022 in order to prevent the illicit trafficking of drugs. In addition, by hosting international meetings such as the AP Conference and Adromico, We regularly share regional drug trends, policy responses, and the progress of cooperative investigations, thereby strengthening practical cooperation. Furthermore, through initiatives such as the Colombo Plan, we continue to promote international cooperation for strengthening drug rehabilitation efforts and reducing both the supply of and demand for illicit drugs. Distinguished delegates, the Republic of Korea will continue to strengthen solidarity with the international community and make every effort to address the global drug problem. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to Ghana, please.

Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for giving Ghana the floor to address the Commission under agenda item 7, on strengthening inter-agency cooperation and coordination to effectively address and counter the world drug situation. This agenda item is critical, as the evolving nature of the drug situation demands coherent, integrated, and collaborative action across the entire multilateral system. Chair, the United Nations has repeatedly reaffirmed that the world drug problem is multifaceted, touching on health, human rights, security, development, and governance. Effective responses therefore require joined-up action across UN entities, regional bodies, and national institutions. As highlighted in the past CND reports, more than 23 entities have contributed to system-wide coordination efforts since 2017, underscoring the scale and importance of collaborative engagement. The 2019 Ministerial Declaration and subsequent CND resolution call on UNODC and all relevant agencies to enhance cooperation and joint initiatives, ensuring coherent support to Member States in designing and implementing comprehensive national drug strategies. Ghana strongly aligns with the mandate and underscores the value of coordinated, evidence-based, and rights-centered responses. Chair, Ghana welcomes the UN system's efforts to harmonize policy positions, as reflected in the UN common position on drug policy, and strengthen joint initiatives such as collaborative programs on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and rehabilitation, early warning mechanisms, and youth resilience. At the global level, Ghana reiterates its support for CND’s leading role in guiding national and international policy. As referenced in CND discussions and member state statements, the international community has emphasized that working in silos undermines progress, and that coordinated UN system-wide action is essential for coherence across It's essential. It's essential. Regionally, Ghana continues to work closely with ECOWAS and African Union to advance harmonized responses to trafficking, improve intelligence sharing, and coordinate across borders. These regional structures rely heavily on technical assistance and information exchange facilitated by the UNODC and other partners. further underscoring the importance of inter-agency cooperation. At the national level, Ghana's approach to drug control is anchored in Act 1019, which affirms our commitment to comprehensive and balanced strategy grounded in public health, human rights, security, and sustainable development. Effective inter-agency coordination among national drug control institutions, law enforcement bodies, public health systems, and social protection structures remains central to fulfilling our obligations under the international drug control conventions and operational recommendations of UNGASS 2016. Ghana continues to work closely with all relevant government agencies and civil society organizations active in the drug field. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen synergies and uphold a principle that addressing the drug situation is a shared responsibility. Chair, as we look ahead to the 2029 target timeline for reviewing implementation of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, Ghana underscores three priorities for strengthening interagency coordination: 1. Deepening joint UN initiatives in areas such as early warning systems, treatment and health services, and combating synthetic drugs, consistent with global strategies like the UNODC synthetic drug strategy, improving coherence across UN bodies, ensuring alignment between human rights, health, crime prevention, and the development of mandates, enhancing technical support and resource mobilization, enabling member states, particularly developing countries, to operationalize coordinated national responses. Ghana reaffirms its commitment to working with UNODC, WHO, INCB, UNAIDS, UNDP, and all relevant multilateral and regional partners towards a coordinated, effective, and people-centered global drug response. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Next on my list is Angola. Please, you have the floor. Probably not in the room. Let us pass to the next speaker. Indonesia, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor under this agenda item 7. My delegation recognizes that the world drug problem is evolving more rapidly than our collective ability to respond. Synthetic drugs are increasingly potent and easily produced, while criminal organizations adapt quickly. Many countries still face limited resources and fragmented efforts. Indonesia therefore acknowledges the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing and countering drug problem. We believe that the key to success of such cooperation is not only in the context of effective agencies collaboration through a whole-of-government approach, but also requires a supportive, equitable, and well-resourced international environment. In this regard, partnership with UNODC plays an essential role in global drug control. especially in helping developing countries strengthen their capacities and adopt balanced, evidence-based policies. Crucially, the UNODC also fosters trust, coherence, and collective action among countries. In the case of Indonesia, cooperation with UNODC has improved our early warning system, border security, and precursor control. Mr. Chair, Indonesia is deeply concerned by the widening capacity gap between countries in addressing the world drug problem. Many developing nations face structural constraints: limited resources, insufficient forensic capabilities, gaps in treatment infrastructure, and vulnerabilities in border management. These disparities undermine global efforts and create blind spots that transnational criminal networks readily exploit. Therefore, Indonesia also underscores the importance of regional cooperation to tackle synthetic drug and precursor trafficking. Within the Southeast Asia region, ASEAN member states, with the support of the UNODC, have enhanced cross-border operation and intelligence sharing, a model that can be applied elsewhere. Indonesia also works with INCB, the Global SMART Programme, and other multilateral initiatives to support data-driven and operational cooperation. while also pursuing bilateral partnership for joint investigation and information sharing. Mr. Chair, in an era where synthetic drugs proliferate rapidly, trafficking networks exploit digital platforms, and precursors move seamlessly across borders, the need for stronger multilateralism has never been more urgent. Therefore, Indonesia calls for renewed multilateralism, solidarity, and shared responsibility. To conclude, Indonesia is committed to working with all partners for a resilient, coherent, and just global response. Through genuine partnership, we can achieve a safer, healthier world free from drug problems. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. And now I give the floor to Australia on behalf of MICTA. Please.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of MICTA, a cross-regional partnership comprising Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Australia. And it's with great pleasure that we deliver for the first time a joint MICTA statement in this Commission. As a group representing diverse cultures and regions who are all experiencing the challenges of a changing global drug landscape, MICTA believes it is both timely and essential to deepen our cooperation in this area. Anchored in our shared commitment to multilateralism, collective action, and upholding international law, rules, and norms, MICTA members are determined to engage constructively in CND discussions to support pragmatic and innovative approaches to these complex transnational challenges. MICTA recognizes the growing threat of synthetic drugs, including the proliferation of new psychoactive substances and the diversion of precursor chemicals. We encourage enhanced information sharing, early warning systems, and technical cooperation, and welcome the continued work of the UNODC and the INCB. We highlight the need to strengthen international collaboration with relevant stakeholders to address evolving supply chains. This includes through evidence-based approaches that are balanced between public security and public health, and which respect human rights. MICTA notes the resolution tabled by Mexico to take measures to implement Article 13 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 to prevent the diversion of equipment and related materials used for illicit drug manufacture. We welcome efforts to enhance international cooperation on issues relating to diversion and trafficking of materials and equipment, and to increase focus on investigation of seized equipment and materials. We note the role this Commission plays as the central policy-making body for international drug control and drug-related matters. We express our continued commitment to supporting the CND’s principal role in addressing the world drug situation. We appreciate the work of the UNODC as Secretariat of the Commission and their efforts to maintain functionality during a period of financial and resourcing challenges. We welcome the decision of Ms. Monica Yuma as the new Executive Director. This will allow the UNODC to best position itself and the Commission for the future. We also appreciate the INCB’s efforts in monitoring the implementation of international drug control conventions, despite the current financial constraints. Chair, looking ahead, MICTA will continue to work closely with all Member States to identify practical ways forward, share best practices, and support initiatives to advance our shared international drug policy commitments. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Thailand.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thailand wishes to share its experience in strengthening inter-agency coordination as the foundation for an effective and sustainable national drug response. Thailand integrated approach bring together the Ministry of Public Health, the Office of the Narcotic Control Board, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and local authority around civil society and community networks in a genuine whole of governance network. At the National level, central to this coordination is a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation information system. Our system which enables real-time data exchange and case referral across our treatment pathways, voluntary, outpatient, and court-mandated. This system ensures continuity of care and reduces fragmentation between agencies, supporting evidence-based policy decisions at every level of the system. At the community level, our Rom Brak or caring embrace program mobilized local leader, health volunteer, and social rehabilitation center in 82% of the six nationwide, reaching over 15,000 individual annually. The ROMRAC mobile application further supports systematic case monitoring and improved access of preparation in remote and underserved areas. At the regional level, Thailand actively participates in cooperation under the Mekong MOU framework. We also co-sponsor under the currency in the session. UNODC's strong family initiative alongside China, a program that centering family-based prevention across the Mekong sub-region. Thailand believes that sustainable, coordinated response, bridging governance, institution, community, and international partners are in this principle to addressing the world drug problem. We remain committed to sharing our experience and learning from the experience of others. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to Nigeria, please.

Mr. Chair, Nigeria congratulates you and the Bureau members on the election. Nigeria wishes to make a statement under agenda item 7, inter-agency cooperation. and coordination of efforts in addressing and countering the world drug problem. Mr. Chair, Nigeria thanks you for giving us the floor under this important agenda item. Nigeria recognizes that effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem requires strong interagency cooperation, coordinated policy responses, and sustained partnerships across government institutions, communities, and international organizations. In Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, plays a central role in coordinating the national response to drug control. Working in close collaboration with relevant ministries, law enforcement agencies, public health institutions, and civil society organizations, the NDLEA continues to advance a balanced approach encompassing prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and supply reduction. Mr. Chair, Nigeria has strengthened its treatment and recovery initiatives through close cooperation between NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Health. This collaboration has contributed to the expansion of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities across the country, improving access to care for persons affected by drug use disorders. Complementing these efforts is the establishment of a 24-hour national toll-free helpline, staffed by trained professionals who provide confidential counseling, referral services, and language-sensitive support for individuals and families seeking assistance. Capacity building also remains central to Nigeria's coordinated response. Through interagency training programs led by the NDLEA and partner institutions, Over 10,000 frontline personnel have been trained in drug prevention, treatment, and care. Nigeria has further strengthened community engagement by training community gatekeepers, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organizations, and other stakeholders whose roles are critical in promoting prevention, early intervention, and public awareness. Mr. Chair, To reinforce coordination at the policy level, Nigeria has established an inter-ministerial committee on drug control, which ensures among ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for drug control, public health, and access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific purposes. At the subnational level, state drug control committees have been created to strengthen cooperation between federal and state authorities. and to ensure effective implementation of national drug control strategies. Mr. Chair, Nigeria remains committed to strengthening interagency cooperation and international partnerships to advance a coordinated, balanced, and evidence-based response to the world drug problem. I thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Please, you have the floor.

Sorry about that. Good afternoon. The UK remains committed to strengthening inter-agency cooperation to address and counter the world drug problem. To support the UK's response to serious and organised crime, significant multi-year investment has been provided to operational partners, including the National Crime Agency and Border Force, strengthening the UK's upstream and border response to illicit drugs. This Government is determined to crack down on the organised crime groups behind illicit drug supply. We are taking action across all stages of the supply chain to make the UK a significantly harder place for organised crime groups to operate in. The UK has strengthened its upstream operational response by deploying National Crime Agency international liaison officers and Home Office international operations staff in key source and transit countries, as well as building capacity with international partners. These efforts support intelligence development, targeting of UK-facing threats, and the disruption of organized crime groups overseas. The UK also works closely with international partners and multilateral networks, including Five Eyes and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and uses diplomatic and development levers to address the drivers and enablers of drug production and trafficking upstream. The UK has also been an active participant in the newly established International Network for Legislation on Drugs, with a UK delegation attending their inaugural meeting in June of 2025, where they delivered a presentation on legislative approaches to emerging drugs and the growing threat posed by synthetic opioids. The delegation further supported UNODC's information gathering efforts by providing insight into how UK legislation has been used to respond to new and evolving drug-related challenges. We continue to work closely with our Independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, as well as a range of international and domestic experts, academics, and government analysts, to ensure our policies are evidence-based and responsive to emerging challenges. Effective national and international cooperation between agencies is essential for confronting the multifaceted and evolving threats associated with illicit drugs. We value opportunities like this forum to deepen our international relations, and we support a coordinated global effort to address the world drug problem. The UK thanks the UNODC for providing the space to discuss these important issues. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is United States of America. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The world drug problem is complex, and no single entity is capable of addressing it alone. Cooperation within the UN system is vital, as different UN entities have expertise and mandates relating to different aspects of the problem. Effective cooperation relies on a clear understanding of each agency’s appropriate roles and responsibilities. Too often, we have seen agencies within the UN system intrude on the mandates of UNODC, and we have also seen UNODC taking on tasks that in some cases diverge from its core functions as established by its governing bodies. UN system-wide initiatives to enhance coherence or to set overarching goals and targets cannot bypass the member state-led policy-making process. The so-called UN system common position on drugs and the sustainable development goals are two examples of this overreach. And the United States firmly opposes UNODC using its limited resources in pursuit of these initiatives. We have also recently seen other UN entities, particularly those involved in human rights promotion, opine on the implementation of the drug control conventions and other aspects of drug policy. We do value the input of these agencies, as we firmly believe that the drug control conventions must be implemented in a way that is consistent with human rights obligations, and that human rights obligations must be implemented in a way that is consistent with the drug control conventions. However, these bodies lack the critical expertise in interpreting and implementing the drug control conventions that is present here in the CND and within UNODC, and their observations and recommendations have therefore often been untethered from the actual experience of countries charged with implementing their obligations. We would urge those bodies to engage in constructive dialogue with UNODC and with the CND, rather than issue isolated proclamations that have little practical utility. Finally, the United States would like to reiterate its strongly held concerns with the World Health Organization. The WHO profoundly failed to appropriately respond to health crises. has persistently refused to implement necessary reforms, and has not demonstrated accountability, transparency, and independence. For decades, the United States has been the world's largest and most consequential contributor to global health efforts, including in response to drug-related threats. And we will continue to lead global health efforts independently by engaging partners directly, deploying resources efficiently, and ensuring accountability to the American people outside of WHO structures. The CND must be laser-focused on its mandates. And UNODC must likewise ensure that its activities are fully aligned with the policy directives given to it by this body and the Crime Commission. While interagency cooperation and coordination is essential in addressing and countering the world drug problem, UNODC must always play a leading role. UNODC's mandates come from its governing bodies, and neither of these bodies has endorsed the common position on drug policy or those on incarceration or corruption. As these documents were not developed by member states within UNODC's governing bodies, UNODC does not have a mandate to implement them. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to India, please.

Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, and fellow delegates, it is an honor for India to address the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Today, the world is witnessing an alarming surge in the illicit trafficking of narcotics, a trend that respects no borders, operates extensively across virtual spaces, and threatens the very fabric of our societies. The traditional war on drugs has evolved into a high-tech race against transnational networks, where the dark web, synthetic drugs, and use of postal and aerial routes are reshaping the drug trafficking landscape. This hybrid threat increasingly blurs the lines between narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, organized crime, and terror financing, exploiting encryption, cryptocurrencies, and digital platforms to evade law enforcement. India has institutionalized a zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics, anchored in a whole-of-government approach. This represents a paradigm shift from the traditional enforcement-driven approach to a unified and multidimensional response that treats drug problem not merely as a law enforcement issue, but as a challenge to national security, public health, and economic stability. At its core, this approach ensures that every ministry, department, and government agency operates in close coordination. To facilitate this coordination at national, provincial, and district levels, India has constituted narco coordination centres at national, province, and district levels. Recognising that addressing the drug problem requires a balanced strategy, India has integrated drug demand and harm reduction into this national coordination framework. By addressing drug dependency with medical care and social support, while simultaneously acting firmly against illicit supply chains, India’s strategy remains resolute against traffickers and compassionate towards individuals affected by addiction. This balanced approach supports our long-term vision of a drug-free society. A defining pillar of India’s international strategy is the transition from abstract cooperation to tangible operational outcomes. The value of such collaboration is clearly reflected in our strategic intelligence exchanges with international partners, which have enabled the disruption of sophisticated transnational drug networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. A notable example is Operation Medmax, conducted in cooperation with our counterparts in the U.S. This coordinated effort dismantled a large illicit online pharmaceutical trafficking network spanning several continents, disrupting the financial and logistical structures of a global criminal enterprise. These achievements underscore the importance of sustained intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement action against digitally enabled drug trafficking networks. India has also taken proactive steps to ensure that precursor chemicals exported from India do not fall in wrong hands. Such efforts have resulted in stopping of exports which were suspected to be diverted by the importer and simultaneously alerting the partner agencies. We have also worked on successfully with e-commerce platforms in India to take down entities engaged in trade of controlled substances and pharmaceutical formulations containing psychotropic substances. Looking ahead, India’s roadmap for drug control places special emphasis on fugitive management and strengthened precursor control. India believes that the masterminds and financiers operating beyond national jurisdictions must remain a key focus of international enforcement efforts. Our objective is clear: to ensure that no safe haven exists for those who orchestrate and profit from the global drug trade. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. I give the floor to Kenya, please.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor. The Ministerial Declaration of 2019, as well as the political declaration and plan of action, emphasizes the need for interagency cooperation and coordination of efforts in addressing and countering the world drug problem. Illicit drug trafficking, substance abuse, diversion of controlled substances, as well as resultant drug-related health complications, including HIV and AIDS, presents multifaceted challenges that not only threatens public health and safety, but also undermines social and national security. In this context, Kenya is cognizant of the benefits accrued from effective partnership and collaboration at the national, regional, and international level. Chair, in our pursuit of this collaboration, collaborative approach, Kenya has effectively engaged in sub regional efforts alongside our neighbors, particularly the Republic of Uganda, amongst other neighboring countries. And we have also fostered partnership with the International Narcotic Control Board and the Universal Postal Union, and through initiatives such as African STAR Phase 1 and Phase 2, of which currently we are preparing for Phase 3, which will capture most of the countries within the region. These initiatives have made significant headway in combating the diversion of controlled products and in strengthening the capacities of our health and law enforcement agencies. Chair, these collaborative endeavors have yielded tangible outcomes, including formulation of improved regulatory frameworks for controlled substances and enhanced mechanism for interagency intelligence sharing. The invaluable support of the INCB has been instrumental in guiding these efforts, equipping our teams with the necessary resources and trainings to navigate the intricate landscape of drug control. Chair, as we engage in discussions throughout this session, I urge Member States, in line with their national policies, to pursue inter-agency cooperation, as this will go a long way in countering the world drug problem. Thank you for giving me the floor.

Thank you. Next on my list is Angola, please.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. The Government of Angola bases its actions on three United Nations conventions on drug control. guided by the principle of common and shared responsibility. At national level, this commitment translates into coordinated and multi-sectorial action through the National Institute. Angola works closely with 12 public institutions and ministries, which actively participate in strategies for prevention, awareness raising, and response to drug phenomena. Prevention is a common task and a national priority. In the area of primary prevention, strong collaboration in primary health care and education systems allow us to reach children, adolescents, and young people, promoting adequate information and life skills. Educational initiatives encourage good community practice, regard the handle of risk associated with psychotropic substances, alcohol beverages, tobacco, and particularly synthetic drugs. With the framework of secondary prevention, Angola has strengthened its technical prevention, particularly among at-risk youth. The strategy aims to provide knowledge and tools that enable informed choices, minimizing vulnerability factors. Tertiary prevention also plays a crucial role by giving voice to the most vulnerable communities. At this stage, their needs and challenges identified by integrated into agendas at ILAS level, transforming social concerns into public policies. In this way, we fulfill the fundamental duty of preserving life as protecting the dignity of our communities. Mr. Chair, of 12 ministers involved, Five play a strategic role in reducing both demand and supply. The ministers of education, family, and prevention of women, justice, interior, and agriculture, each institution develops its own action plan in coordination with national institute, ensuring inclusive and coherent implementation aligned with national priorities. We particularly highlight the Ministry of Agriculture, where contribution and field of alternative development is of great importance. Through initiatives in rural areas, illicit crops are replaced with sustainable agricultural products. including ensuring dignity incomes for families and contributing for social stability. Regarding treatment, Angola ensures that services are provided free of charge and without discrimination based on gender, race or religion, grounded in a safe, human and accessible treatment approach. Stigma often fuels biased or prejudiced beliefs, and remains one of the greatest obstacles for social reintegration. Therefore, the national health system has been strengthening its capacity, improving the quality of care. We refer to services and support across the entire common intervention, including harm reduction, treatment, physical recovery, and mental health care. within an integrated approach that guides policy decisions and help overcome persistent challenges. Within a framework of health system reforms, Angola has emphasized the human rights and the centrality of the person from the guiding principles of policies and regulation. Mr. Chair, my government reiterates its confirmed commitment to continue to strengthen its national health system and its response framework to all drug problems. with the ultimate goal of providing better living conditions for all, now leaving no one behind. I thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Please. If they are not in the room, let us move to the next speaker. African Union, please.

Excuse me, sir.

It will be a video prerecorded message from OIC.

Sorry, please go ahead.

As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, I draw your attention to alarming developments in efforts to suppress narcotics in the Americas, which deeply undermines efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16. Organized criminal violence associated with drug trafficking and drug addiction are serious threats to the human right to life and to peaceful, sustainable development. States must take all feasible measures to address these threats. Regrettably, some American states have resorted to measures that themselves flagrantly violate fundamental rights. Since September 2025, the United States has unlawfully killed at least 151 people in military attacks on 45 civilian vessels on the high seas, allegedly to prevent so-called narco-terrorism. These serial extrajudicial killings gravely violate the right to life, should be denounced by all states, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. The United States' abusive designation of American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations was also a pretext to launch illegal aggression against Venezuela, further violating the right to life and arbitrarily detaining its president. The US has threatened illegal force also against Mexico and Colombia. The designations further enabled the illegal summary expulsion of hundreds of foreign nationals to El Salvador, in violation of Norma 4 and the prohibition on arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and inhumane treatment. Other American countries have also listed organized crime groups as terrorists, including Canada, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, and El Salvador, and there are proposals in Honduras and Brazil. This is not consistent with best practice international definitions of terrorism and organised crime. Terrorism should be limited to political violence and exclude profit-motivated organised crime as defined under the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. A further concern, as in Ecuador, is the declaration of armed conflict against organized crime groups, including shoot-to-kill powers, where the threshold of armed conflict is not met under international humanitarian law. Criminal justice protections have also been weakened and emergency powers adopted without adequate safeguards. Combating organised crime should focus on strengthening law enforcement and intelligence capacities and cooperation, not unlawful killings or abusive terrorist listings. Efforts must also be made to address root causes, including by supporting development in vulnerable communities. pursuing effective domestic drug prevention, education, and public health initiatives, and preventing U.S. military-grade weapons from flooding the region, arming cartels, and destabilizing other states. Respect for human rights, accountability, and the rule of law are the foundations of principled and effective action against organized crime and for ensuring peaceful, sustainable development in the region. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is African Union. Please, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I speak on behalf of the African Union. The African Union recognizes that effectively addressing.

Excuse me, please. Excuse me for interrupting you. There is a problem with the microphone. Can I ask you, please, to change your mic to speak from another microphone, please?

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I speak on behalf of the African Union. The African Union recognizes that effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem requires strengthened interagency cooperation, policy coherence, and coordinated operational responses across national, regional, and international institutions. The complex and transnational nature of illicit drug trafficking networks demands integrated strategies that bridge law enforcement, public health, justice, development, and social protection sectors. Within the African continent, the African Union continues to promote a multi-sectoral and balanced approach, consistent with the commitments of the international drug control framework and the outcomes of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem and subsequent resolutions adopted by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. In this regard, the African Union emphasizes the importance of enhanced institutional coordination among law enforcement agencies, public health authorities, customs administrations, and financial intelligence units to disrupt illicit trafficking networks and associated financial flows. strengthened information sharing mechanisms, and joint operational frameworks between regional and international bodies to improve early warning systems, forensic capacity, and intelligence-led investigations. Integrated public health responses, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration services, coordinated among health systems, community organizations, and social development institutions. Capacity building and technical assistance, particularly in border management, precursor control, forensic science, and digital investigative tools. Furthermore, the African Union underscores that effective coordination must be supported by sustainable financing, robust data systems, and inclusive partnerships that involve civil society, academia, and community-based organizations. The African Union therefore calls for strengthened global solidarity and operational cooperation among United Nations entities, regional organizations and Member States in order to ensure coherent implementation of international commitments and to effectively address the evolving dynamics of the world drug problem. The African Union remains committed to working with all partners to advance coordinated, evidence-based, and development-oriented responses that safeguard public health, strengthen justice systems, and promote the security and well-being of our society. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. Please.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, In countering the world drug problem, the power of partnership is our greatest strategic advantage. No single agency can address constantly evolving tactics of criminal groups. As a neutral intergovernmental organization with a worldwide mandate to enhance international police cooperation, Interpol is committed to harnessing this collective strength. Our secure global communication system, i24/7, enables real-time information exchange among law enforcement agencies worldwide. Interpol maintains 19 police databases with over 168 million records. Our mandate extends beyond information exchange. Interpol coordinates cross-border operations, deploys operational and investigative support, delivers capacity building initiatives, and conducts criminal and threat. In 2025, these capabilities were used extensively in support of interagency cooperation against illicit drug trafficking. For example, through the project Aircop, funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UNODC and World Customs Organization, Interpol worked on strengthening the capacities of international airports to target and intercept high-risk passengers as a contribution to the fight against illicit drugs. Interpol remains one of the key partners in the Global Coalition Against Synthetic Drugs, which unites the international community to counter the proliferation of illicit synthetic drugs. Interpol is planning annual global law enforcement operations under the coalition's umbrella in the coming years. Another example of established strong partnerships with national agencies is the Project MADIAC, funded by the Korean National Police Agency. Under the MAGIC umbrella, Interpol delivers targeted training on Interpol databases and capabilities, clandestine laboratory detection, passenger profiling, financial investigations in drug cases, and the use of biometrics to strengthen national investigative capacities. Mr. Chair, Interpol's experience demonstrates that effective response requires sustained information sharing, coordinated operations, and a shared commitment to collective security. Interpol continues strengthening interagency cooperation, supporting Member States, and contributing its global tools, expertise, and operational capabilities in the common effort to protect communities from the harms posed by illicit drugs. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Al-Najm Stardom Association. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you for the floor. I'm speaking on behalf of Al-Najm, a Lebanese civil society organization. working closely with communities on prevention, awareness, and support in addressing substance use challenges. For our experience on the ground, effective responses to the world drug problem require strong cooperation, not only among international institutions, but also with civil society organizations that work directly with communities. Civil society plays a critical role in translating global commitment into practical actions. We often operate in complex environment where communities are facing economic pressure and limited access to services. In such context, prevention efforts, community outreach, and support mechanism become even more essential. Engagement with international policy processes, including through ECOSOC consultative status, provides an important opportunity for organizations like ours to share field-based experiences and contribute to global discussions. However, participation in these spaces is not always equally accessible. Practical challenges such as visa procedures, travel costs, and administrative requirements can limit the ability of many organizations, particularly those for developing regions, to engage fully in international forums. While hybrid participation has helped broaden access, in-person engagement remains essential for meaningful dialogue, trust-building, and cooperation among stakeholders. As we discussed interagency cooperation under agenda item 7, It is important to ensure that civil society participation remains inclusive and accessible, allowing diverse community perspectives to inform global responses to the world drug problem. Thank you.

Thank you. And now I give the floor to DRCNET Foundation.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, dear colleagues, I am delivering this statement today on behalf of the International Drug Law Advocacy and Resource Centre, IDLARC, and in collaboration with DRCNET Foundation, who completely endorse this statement. This year marks 10 years since the UNGASS was held in New York. The UNGASS gave a very clear mandate for interagency cooperation and coordination. We're also approaching the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, yet egregious human rights abuses continue to be committed in the name of drug control. There are member states here in this very room that are carrying out atrocities, including but not limited to extrajudicial killings, kidnapping and abductions, committing war crimes, including the bombing of civilian fishing boats, torture, the death penalty, cruel, inhumane, and degrading punishment, police violence and other state-sponsored violence, racial discrimination and the racist profiling of people of colour, gender-based discrimination, and impeding access to essential medicines, as well as countless other egregious human rights violations. In October last year, the Human Rights Council passed HRC 60/26. This contains unprecedented support for and some of the strongest language to date on human rights, harm reduction, racial discrimination, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. It is crucial this language is incorporated into future C&D resolutions as implemented by member states on the ground. As civil society, we support the role of multi-agency task groups such as the UN System Coordination Task Team to consolidate system-wide coherence and improve interagency coordination. This and the UN System Common Position on Drugs will assist with, and I quote, "the development and implementation of policies that put people, health, and human rights at the center." Interagency cooperation and coordination is also crucial for ending AIDS and viral hepatitis by 2030. People who inject drugs are being left behind. The 2021 political declaration on HIV notes, and I quote, that the majority of countries and regions have not made significant progress in expanding harm reduction programs, and that is due to the application of restrictive laws that hampers access to HIV-related services. We express concern about the shrinking space for civil society. We call on UN agencies and member states to champion the inclusion of civil society, including academics and organisations run by people who use drugs. We are the ones most often working on the ground and bring real-world experience to the table. There is a very clear mandate for inter-agency cooperation, and it can be found in both the 2016 UNGASS outcome document and the UN common position on drugs. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, we call on Member States and Vienna-based drug control entities to welcome and incorporate contributions from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and other UN entities into the drug control mechanisms here in Vienna. Thank you.

And this brings us to the end of this morning meeting. We will resume our meeting at 3:00 PM today with the rest of the speakers that we have under agenda item 7. Yeah, and then USA, is there a point of order? Please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to exercise our right of reply.

Of course, you can do that at the end of an agenda item. We are not exhausted the agenda item. At 3:00 PM, we are going to continue with a list of speakers under agenda item seven. And if you don't mind to deliver your right of reply at that point, I would highly appreciate that. And then, once we will exhaust the list of speakers and rights of replies, we are going to proceed with agenda items eight and nine, if this is fine with everyone. Thank you very much. So see you at 3:00 PM, and this meeting is adjourned.