United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Charles Henry Ludovic Sharman (pictured 1938) was the CND's first chair

United Nations Office at Vienna where the Commission meets

United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that acts as the central drug policy-making body within the United Nations system. Established by the ECOSOC resolution 9(I) in 1946, the commission is mandated to supervise the application of the international drug control treaties, advise the United Nations on matters of drug policy, and recommend measures to address issues related to drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Mandate and Functions

The primary mandate of the CND is to enhance global efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking. It achieves this by:

• Analyzing the global drug situation to identify trends, issues, and challenges.
• Developing strategies on international drug control and advising on their implementation.
• Recommending measures to address issues related to drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
• Supervising the application of international drug control treaties to ensure compliance by member states.
• Facilitating cooperation among countries for drug control efforts.

Structure

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs consists of 53 member states elected by the ECOSOC for a period of four years, based on equitable geographical distribution. It holds an annual session where members discuss and decide on drug policy issues, adopt resolutions to guide the international drug control system, and review the progress made in implementing those policies.

International Drug Control Treaties

The work of the CND is guided by three major international drug control treaties:

• The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol.
• The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971.
• The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

These treaties provide the legal framework for international drug control, setting out the obligations of Parties to limit the possession, use, trade in, distribution, import, export, manufacture, and production of drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes.

Recent Developments

In recent years, the CND has focused on enhancing the balance between drug control measures and the need to ensure public health, human rights, and access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. The commission has also been involved in addressing new challenges, such as the emergence of new psychoactive substances that are not covered by the existing treaties.

Challenges

Despite its efforts, the CND faces several challenges, including the need to adapt to the evolving nature of drug abuse and trafficking, the divergence in member states' policies and priorities, and the balance between drug control and human rights considerations.

See Also

• World Health Organization
• International Narcotics Control Board
• Drug policy
• War on Drugs