An overview of key international institutions

1. Presents “Beyond 2008” A global NGO Forum on the Review of theUnited Nations General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs 1998/2008to theCanadian Centre on Substance Abuse Board of Directors www.vngoc.org

2. An overview of key international institutions United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)New York City Secretary General to the UNK. Annan Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)New York City United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) - ViennaServes as Secretariat to CNDExec. Dir: A. Costa Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)Functional Commission on Drug for ECOSOCMeets annually (March) in plenary in Vienna Canadian delegation composed of (Foreign Affairs, HC, Justice Canada, Public Safety, RCMP, CCSA and CECA) International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)Independent monitoring body onmember state compliance tothe Conventions1961, 1971, 1988 Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC)Standing NGO-led Committee to CND and UNODCM. Perron Vice-chair “Beyond 2008” ForumM. Perron, Chair

3. Who we are • The Vienna Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee (VNGOC) provides a vital link between NGO's, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).  • Initially created in 1983, the objective of the Committee is to provide information on NGO activities and involve a wide sector of civil society in raising awareness of global drug policies. 

4. Introduction • The Vienna NGO Committee has a rich history and experience in convening major international NGO events. These include: • 1st NGO Forum organized in September 1986 with the financial assistance of the Swedish government as a preparatory conference for the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (ICDAIT). • 2nd NGO Forum in June of 1987 in conjunction with ICDAIT. This event also saw an active representation from several government delegates and a direct influence by the NGO community concerning decisions being incorporated to the CMO. • 3rd NGO Forum in Bangkok in December 1994, with financial assistance of the UNDCP and the Thai government. The organization for this event was carried out in joint partnership with UNDCP and the NGO Committees in Vienna and New York.

5. United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs (UNGASS) • In June 1998, the UN General Assembly met in a Special Session to address the world drug problem. • The Session culminated in the adoption of a Political Declaration committing some 150 states to the achievement of significant and measurable results in reduction of illicit supply and demand for drugs by the year 2008. • Two other resolutions were adopted dealing with Guiding Principles of Demand Reduction and Measures to Enhance International Cooperation to Counter the Drug Problem. • An NGO Village was organized in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Drugs in 1998. This resulted in an active exchange of views amongst various NGO’s along with an address to the UNGASS Plenary Session by six NGO’s representing different points of view.

6. “Beyond 2008” • The upcoming target date of 2008 for the achievement of “significant and measurable results” presents an opportunity for the NGO community to: • reflect on its own achievements in drug control, exchange ideas on promising new approaches, • reach agreements on ways to work together • make recommendations to multilateral agencies and UN member states on future directions for drug control and • rethink current collaboration mechanisms with UN agencies with a view to establishing a more effective partnership. • Building on their past experience, the Vienna NGO Committee is hosting “Beyond 2008”, a Forum to contribute to the 1998-2008 review and forward looking agenda setting exercise. • As lead up to that Forum, six regional consultations will take place in areas where NGO structures are currently under-developed Central and South America; Central and South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; North Africa and the Middle East; South East Asia; Eastern Europe (non EU states) • The regional consultations will be championed by three lead NGOs from each region one of which represents youth interests and who would also attend the 2007 & 2008 Commission on Narcotic Drugs

7. Objectives & Deliverables • The “Beyond 2008” regional consultations and Forum will focus on three specific objectives: • To highlight tangible NGO achievements in the field of drug control, with particular emphasis on contributions to the 1998 UNGASS Action Plan such as achievement in policy, community engagement, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social-reintegration. • To review best practices related to collaboration mechanisms among NGOs, governments and UN agencies in various fields of endeavour and propose new and/or improved ways of working with the UNODC and CND. • To adopt a series of high order principles, drawn from the Conventions and their commentaries that would be tabled with the UNODC and CND for their consideration and serve as a guide for future deliberations on drug policy matters.

8. Participants, Timing and Budget • Regional Consultations and Forum participants will represent a balanced cadre of ideological and geographical interests. Regional consultations will consist of approximately 50 representatives per area. The Forum will consist of approximately 300 representatives. All efforts will be made to utilize a series of networks to involved as broad a range of participants as possible. • The timing of the Forum is contingent on CND deliberations who are responsible for selecting a date for the 1998-2008 review. UNODC has indicated that it will include “Beyond 2008” in its road map to UNGASS. • The estimated costs for “Beyond 2008” is approximately €1 Million (approx. $1.6M cad) where the largest share of the budget is for the regional consultations and travel and accommodation of the participants who may not be able to afford these costs. Most participants would be expected to cover their own travel expenses. Financial contributions are being sought from a variety of sources not tied to a particular ideological perspective.

9. Getting there: Governance & Management

10. Getting there: Governance & Management

11. Work plan: Toward each Objective • Objective 1 (Lead: D. Turner – Ceis / Italy): • Finalize BRQ based questionnaire – Sept 2006 • Finalize translation – Fall 2006 • Finalize statistical and web set up – Feb 2007 • Finalize initial dissemination list – Feb 2007 • Launch questionnaire – at 2007 CND • Objective 2 (Lead: E. Carlin – Mentor Foundation / UK): • Prepare proposal on process to contract for deliverable – Oct 2006 • Execute contract and deliver final report on “Models for Consultation” – March 2007 • Objective 3: (Lead: M. Perron – CCSA / Canada) • Prepare proposal on process to contract for deliverable – Oct 2006 • Execute contract and deliver final report on “Summary of Conventions and recommended policy principles for discussion: - March 2007

12. Work plan: Next steps • Structure and Process (Lead: G. Somogyi – Beckley Fdn / UK) • Final draft completed • Final report Fall 2006 • Participant Composition (Lead: G. Jeremiah – NYC NGO Cttee) • First draft of Recommendations - Nov 2006 (these will aid in selecting regional leads) • Final report – March 2007 • Regional Consultations (Lead: A. Cowl – VNGOC Secretariat / Peru) • Initiate process to identify possible regional leads – Oct 2007 • Select and negotiate Terms of Reference with regional leads – Dec 2006 to Feb 2007 • Meeting of program committee & regional leads on margins of 2007 CND

13. Work plan: Next steps • Funding Strategy (Lead: M. Perron, CCSA) • Target: secure 75% of Forum budget by March 2007 • Current contributions: (€483,000 - confirmed, €350,000 – solid lead) • Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) to provide ongoing financial management for the VNGOC – remunerated by VNGOC • Communications Strategy (Lead: A. Cowl – VNGOC Secretariat) • Web site launched: www.vngoc.org • Promotional documentation – Oct 2006 • Presentation to CND plenary – March 2007