On the road towards the 2019 Ministerial Segment
September 2018
UN member states have agreed to hold a Ministerial Segment immediately prior to the 62nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) ‘to take stock of the implementation of the commitments made to jointly address and counter the world drug problem, in particular in the light of the 2019 target date’ set out to eradicate or significantly reduce the overall scale of the illegal drug market. This advocacy note outlines the key issues for consideration by member states as they reflect on what has been achieved since the adoption of the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action, including in light of the implementation of the UNGASS Outcome Document, and the implications for the next phase of the international drug policy regime.
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In addition, we analyse issues likely to come up in negotiations of the annual drugs ‘omnibus resolution’ at the UN General Assembly in New York, and offer suggestions for approaching these important negotiations. Finally, we provide recommendations to address some of the outstanding procedural questions related to the Ministerial Segment in Vienna.
Recommendations
- Use the opportunity provided by the upcoming CND intersessional meetings to look back and reflect upon progress made since 2009 on the ‘drug-free world’ targets, as well as on the broader UN priorities of protecting human rights, promoting peace and security and advancing development. These discussions, as well as written contributions, should be summarised in a CND Chair’s report to be presented at the 2019 Ministerial Segment.
- Agree on a detailed roadmap for the global drug strategy beyond 2019, strongly aligned with the SDGs and the implementation of the UNGASS Outcome Document.
- Identify new goals and indicators more aligned with the achievement of the SDG and the operational recommendations of the UNGASS Outcome Document, and leave behind the unrealistic and harmful ‘drug-free world’ targets.
- Conduct a constructive debate on compliance with the UN drug control treaties, as well as with human rights obligations, including the existing tensions certain drug policies pose for international law.
- Strengthen the involvement and cooperation with all relevant UN agencies, as called for by the UN Secretary General’s Executive Committee in April 2017.
- Reaffirm the key role played by civil society, in particular representatives of most affected communities, for the post-2019 global drug strategy.
