Forum: Issue: Student Officer: Position: General Assembly International cooperation against the world drug problem Elisa Barkan President Chair of General Assembly Introduction: Drugs are an extremely complicated and controversial issue. There are many countries in which the harm caused by drug prohibition in terms of corruption, violence and violation of human rights overrules the harm caused by drugs. Eradication of production and criminalization of consumption has not reduced drug traffic and drug use. Thus, it seems the war on drugs approach has failed. The issue on drugs does not only affect those consuming, but the relatives and acquaintances of both consumers, sellers and law enforcers, apart from random individuals who find themselves drawn into this never ending issue. During the debate of this issue in the forum our goal will be to find possible effective ways to reduce the harm caused by drugs at a global level. Definition of Key Terms: Cartel: An association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition.
Drug: A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. Narcotic: A drug or other substance affecting mood or behavior and sold for nonmedical purposes, esp. an illegal one. Major Countries and Organizations Involved: Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), that acts as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Exists to provide the European Union and its Member States with a factual overview of European drug problems and a solid evidence base to support the drugs debate. Today it offers policymakers the data they need for drawing up informed drug laws and strategies. It also helps professional and practitioners working in the field pinpoint best practice and new areas of research.
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) An independent, quasi-judicial expert body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions. INCB publishes an annual report in which it tries to identify and predict dangerous trends and suggests necessary measures to be taken. Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP) A group of leaders whose goal is to bring to the international level an informed, science-based discussion about humane and effective ways to reduce the harm caused by drugs to people and societies. International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO/INTERPOL) The world s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries. INTERPOL s goal is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) A global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. UNODC operates in all regions of the world through an extensive network of field offices and relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90 per cent of its budget. World Customs Organization (WCO) An independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
World Health Organization (WHO) The directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People s Democratic Republic, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Peru, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, United States of America (USA) Timeline of Events: Date Description of Event 1839-42 The first Opium War. The British force upon China the trade in opium. 1856 The Second Opium War. 1910 The British dismantle the India-China opium trade. 1914 Forced March tablet containing cocaine are given to troops by the British Army 1925 Permanent Central Opium Board (PCOB) was set up 1940 The Japanese government stats distributing amphetamine pills to soldiers, pilots and arms factory workers to improve their alertness during warfare 1948 The Synthetic Narcotic Protocol comes into force, placing a series of new substances under international control.
1971 Convention of Psychotropic Substances 1972 United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control was created 1991 The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) is established in Vienna Relevant UN Treaties and Events: Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 56/12 The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 2003 The Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1968 ECOSOC Decision 2014/233 Report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its reconvened fifty-sixth session CND Resolution 57/2 Drug abuse prevention through sport CND Resolution 57/3 Promoting prevention as an investment in the well-being of children, adolescents, youth, families and communities Possible Solutions: Encouraging continents to create a monitoring centre for drug use and drug addiction as the European Union has done with EMCDDA. By going from smaller scale organizations to larger global scales, problems may be dealt with at not only a faster rate, but in more detail. Member States could also be encouraged to create local and national centres and organizations for drug use and drug control.
A collaboration of INTERPOL and WCO with other UN organizations could be used for stricter and more efficient border control and drug trafficking control. Finally, it is important to always keep in mind who is the future of our global society: the younger generations. Through advertisement and awareness programs families, children, and tempted youths can be better informed and warned about the risks and consequences that come with drug consumption and drug sale. Useful Links http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/studies/100_years_of_drug_control.pdf www.globalcommissionondrugs.org www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/index.html>. Bibliography "100 Years of Altered States." Drugs Timeline over the Last Century. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://observer.theguardian.com/drugs/story/0%2c%2c686503%2c00.html>. "100 Years of Drug Control." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. <http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-andanalysis/studies/100_years_of_drug_control.pdf>. "About WHO." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.who.int/about/en/>. "Contact Us." EMCDDA. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/about>. "Global Commission on Drug Policy." Global Commission on Drug Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/about/>. "Global Commission on Drug Policy." Global Commission on Drug Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/about/>. "Global Drug Survey." The 2014 Findings. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.globaldrugsurvey.com/facts-figures/the-global-drug-survey-2014-findings/>.
"Overview." / About INTERPOL / Internet / Home. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.interpol.int/about-interpol/overview>. "Timeline of Events in the History of Drugs." INPUDs International Diaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014. <http://inpud.wordpress.com/timeline-of-events-in-the-history-of-drugs/>. "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." About UNODC. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/about-unodc/index.html?ref=menutop>. "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.unodc.org/unodc/commissions/ccpcj/index.html?ref=menutop>. "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." Drug Trafficking. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/index.html>. UNODC. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/cnd/resolutions_decisions/resolutions- Decisions_2010-2019.html>. "Welcome to the Website of the WCO." World Customs Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2014. <http://www.wcoomd.org/en/about-us/what-is-the-wco.aspx>.