Publications

Two important milestones in addressing the world drug problem are the Political Declarations adopted by the Member States of the United Nations in 1998 and in 2009. Both declarations aim at enhancing international cooperation in countering the world drug problem, which is a common and shared responsibility. Specific goals and targets to reduce the supply and the demand for illicit drugs were also agreed by Member States.

The Political Declaration of 1998, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session on the world drug problem, requested Member States to report biennially to the Commission on their efforts to meet relevant goals and targets. The Commission was requested to analyze these reports in order to enhance the cooperative effort to combat the world drug problem.

At the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held on 11 and 12 March 2009, Member States evaluated the progress made since 1998 towards meeting the goals and targets established at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. They identified future priorities and areas requiring further action and established goals and targets for drug control beyond 2009. Member States adopted in 2009 the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem.

In 2014, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its fifty-seventh session conducted a high level review of the implementation by Member States of the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action and adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement.  The United Nations General Assembly held a Special Session on the World Drug Problem in 2016 ( UNGASS 2016) and adopted this outcome document ( A/RES/S-30/1).