ECAD recently attended the 58th session of the Commision on Narcotic Drugs (CND), at which Dr. Lochan Naidoo, President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) made a speech on behalf of the Special segment on preparations for the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem (UNGASS) to be held in 2016.
As preparations for UNGASS are underway, it's time to think about topics related to the objectives of drug control: health and welfare, availability of internationally controlled substances for medical purposes, socioeconomic factors, decriminalisation, respect for human rights, and the role of enforcement. All of these are covered in Dr. Naidoo's statement.
"UNGASS provides an opportunity to re-think what we have been doing over the last 50 years. The world has changed, and world drug policy has also evolved. But have the objectives of the drug treaties, which are to ensure the health and welfare of our populations, really become outdated?"