United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

News10 July 2025

'Changing the current drug policy regime has become a life cause for me' – An interview with Colombia’s ambassador-at-large for drug policy, Laura Gil

Colombia’s Ambassador Laura Gil reflects on challenging the global drug regime, breaking taboos, and building hope for a post-Prohibition future — one coalition at a time.

Publications9 July 2025

World Drug Report 2025

UNODC links rising drug use, environmental harm, and drug-related crime to global instability, but fails to identify the need for a paradigm shift.

Blog26 June 2025

Evidence that cannot be contained: The World Drug Report 2025 reveals the ongoing failure of the drug control regime

Behind cautious language, the data expose a system that criminalises, harms, and undermines health.

News26 June 2025

2025 World Drug Day: UNODC and CND must take urgent action to end unlawful use of the death penalty for drug-related offences

On 2025 World Drug Day and Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action, 70 organizations call upon the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) to condemn the use of the death penalty from drug related offences. In this joint statement, the signatories demand that human rights safeguards are implemented to uphold international law and standards.

Blog5 June 2025

'When the going gets tough’: Leadership change at UNODC amidst global turmoil, UN reforms and drug policy opportunities

Ghada Waly’s resignation offers the UN Secretary-General a chance to appoint a leader who will align UNODC with human rights-based drug policies and the broader UN system.

News28 November 2024

Human rights must be at the core of drug policy - Open letter to Ms. Ghada Waly calling for strong UNODC statement on International Human Rights Day

Organisations worldwide urge UNODC's Executive Director to mark International Human Rights Day 2024 by calling on Member States to align drug policies and practices with human rights, and commit to placing human rights at the centre of all dimensions of the UNODC’s work.

Events

The future of drug policy: Health and well-being for all

Online

20 September 2024

The ImPACT Coalition organises a discussion on how responses to drug-related issues can help progress the Sustainable Development Goals.

Blog26 June 2024

World Drug Day 2024: Human rights and harm reduction take centre stage while UN drugs agency grapples with denial

The UN system increasingly questions the validity of the 'drug war', embracing harm reduction and decriminalisation — so why is UNODC stuck in the inertia of the past?

Publications20 June 2024

World Drug Report 2024

UNODC provide an update on global drug markets, trends, and policy developments – including, for the first time, a chapter on the right to health and drug use.

Events

CND Chair's special event to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and to launch the 2024 UNODC World Drug Report

Vienna International Centre, Board room D & Online

26 June 2024

To mark World Drug Day 2024, join the CND at a special event to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as well as the launch of the 2024 World Drug Report.

Events

Evidence to impact: Powering effective drug policy with data collection and research

26 June 2024

This special event will commemorate World Drug Day and launch the 2024 UNODC World Drug Report.

Publications23 January 2024

Analysis of the World Drug Report 2023: The promise and peril of going green

IDPC, Viso Mutop and GDPO explore the report's discussion of buoyant drug markets and UNODC's stance on key issues like decriminalisation, human rights and environmental impact, noting the growing influence of green criminology and its potential to reshape perspectives.

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