Common African position for the UNGASS on the world drug problem

We, Heads of State and Governments of the African Union,

Welcoming the decision of the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 67/193 titled “International Cooperation against the World Drug Problem”, in which it decided to convene, early in 2016, a special session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem;

Recalling that the world drug problem remains a common and shared responsibility that requires effective and increased international cooperation and demands an integrated, multidisciplinary, mutually reinforcing and balanced approach to drug supply, demand reduction and harm reduction strategies, as well as ensuring the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific use, while reducing the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;

Recognizes the efforts made by Member States to comply with the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;

Reaffirming the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem, as adopted by the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, and calling upon States to take the measures necessary to fully implement the actions set out therein, with a view to attaining, in a timely manner, their goals and targets;

Recognizing the efforts undertaken by the Bureau of the 57th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in addressing all the organizational and substantive matters for the preparation of the special session, and welcoming the decision adopted by the Commission of Narcotic Drugs to elect a Board tasked by the Commission with the preparations for the special session;

Welcoming also the progress made in Africa to combat illicit crop cultivation and the illicit drug production, manufacture, transit, trafficking, distribution and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, among others, and the adoption and implementation of the AU Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013-2017);

Reaffirming that, at its special session on the World Drug Problem in 2016, Member States will address substantive issues on the basis of the principle of common and shared responsibility and in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, International Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Mindful of the trends in illicit crop cultivation and the illicit production, manufacture, transit, trafficking, distribution and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in many African countries, and that such activity continues to constitute a serious threat to public health, public safety and human rights, in particular for all people who use drugs, i.e. children, young people and their families, and to the national security and sovereignty of States, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development;

Please, find below the complete Common African Position, in contribution to the UNGASS:

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