Putting out the fire: Special Session on drugs.

In continuing efforts devoted to the fight against illicit drugs, the General Assembly is convening a Special Session in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998. The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Countering the World Drug Problem, which will mark the tenth anniversary of the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, will assess the international drug problem and develop a forward-looking strategy for the twenty-first century, centred around the basic principle of a balanced approach between supply and demand reduction.

Representatives from 130 Governments, at the final preparatory session in Vienna from 16 to 21 March, agreed to a draft Political Declaration, proposed for adoption at the Special Session. It sets out a comprehensive global strategy designed to tackle simultaneously all aspects of the drug problem and puts forward a bold objective: a drastic simultaneous reduction of both illicit supply and demand for drugs by the year 2008.

In it, Member States of the United Nations will commit themselves "to establish 2003 as a target date for new or enhanced drug demand reduction strategies and programmes set up in close collaboration with public health, social welfare and law enforcement authorities and commit ourselves to achieve significant and measurable results in field of demand reduction by the year 2008". The six main themes that will be considered at the Special Session are listed below.

Precursor chemicals: In recent years, the diversion of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs has become one of the most serious challenges confronting international drug control efforts. To prevent it, countries have agreed to monitor domestic and international movements of certain chemicals. The Special Session will promote concerted global action by adopting measures to further strengthen the control of precursor chemicals and setting 2008 as the target date for a significant reduction of the diversion of precursors.

Amphetamine-type stimulants: Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are the most abused synthetic drugs manufactured clandestinely. Though relatively new, they have quickly become a part of the mainstream illicit drug culture. A wave of synthetic stimulant abuse has been reported in recent years, but global awareness of the problem is still limited and responses to it inconsistent. The Special Session will call for giving high priority to ATS and consider an action plan against their manufacture, trafficking and abuse, with target dates.

Judicial cooperation: Strengthening the legal framework to improve the application of drug control laws is essential for success in the global fight against illicit drugs. Member States are expected to enhance judicial and law enforcement cooperation by adopting measures concerning extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of proceedings, controlled delivery, illicit traffic by sea, and other forms of cooperation and training. Without some form of inter-State cooperation in these areas, virtually none of the international treaty provisions against drug trafficking can be implemented. The Political Declaration sets 2003 as the target date for the promotion of judicial cooperation.

Money laundering: The laundering of money derived from illicit drug trafficking and other serious crimes has expanded throughout the world and affects all countries. Member States will reaffirm their commitment to the provisions of the 1988 Convention concerning the seizure and confiscation of proceeds from drug crimes and set out principles upon which further anti-money laundering measures should be based.

Drug demand reduction: Reducing demand for drug is a key element of the global drug control strategy. Member States have drafted the very first international agreement to counter drug abuse. The Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction will be an essential tool to reduce the demand for drug by 2008, as set for by the Political Declaration. The Declaration on the Guiding Principles is expected to be adopted at the Special Session.

Elimination of illicit crops and alternative development: Significant successes were achieved in the last decade as alternative development programmes complemented by law enforcement measures succeeded in reducing illicit cultivation. The action plan, which will be considered at the Special Session, addresses the problem with a balanced approach. National drug crop elimination strategies should include comprehensive measures, such as alternative development programmes, law enforcement and eradication.

At the global level, strengthening international cooperation is essential to avoid the fragmentation that hampered past efforts. The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) is currently preparing, in consultation with Governments and other international agencies, a series of initiatives, including the establishment of a global system to monitor the extent of illicit cultivation. This global approach will be further developed to meet the challenge of eliminating or significantly reducing illicit cultivation of narcotic crops by 2008.