New York 7 March 2012

1. Briefing to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations Prof. Hamid Ghodse President of the International Narcotics Control Board New York 7 March 2012

2. 1909 Shanghai Conference 1912 Convention 1925 Convention Permanent Central Opium Board established 1931 Convention Drug Supervisory Body established 1936 Convention 1948 Protocol 1953 Protocol International Drug Control Treaties

3. 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) established 1972 Protocol amending the Convention 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances International Drug Control Treaties

4. Promoting accession to the conventions * Including Afghanistan and Chad, which are party to the 1961 Convention in its unamended form, and Bolivia, which ceased to be a party to the 1961 Convention in January 2012

5. ensuring that cultivation, production, manufacture and utilization of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are only available for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their diversion. preventing illicit cultivation, production, manufacture, trafficking and use of drugs. evaluating and recommending chemicals for possible international control. monitoring chemicals and preventing their diversion into illicit channels. identifying weaknesses in the implementation of the international drug control conventions and suggesting remedial action. INCB – independent and quasi-judicial control organ monitoring the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions

6. Composition of the Board • 13 Members elected by ECOSOC • 10 nominated by Governments • 3 nominated by WHO • serving in their personal capacity - not as government representatives

7. Candidates are elected to the Board by ECOSOC in New York For a period of 5 years 10 seats upon nominations by Governments 3 seats upon nominations by WHO Board members can be re-elected Election of Board Members

8. Qualifications of candidates to be elected to the Board “Members of the Board shall be persons who, by their competence, impartiality and disinterestedness, will command general confidence” Article 9, paragraph 2, 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Election of Board Members

9. Impartiality – central principle “During their term of office they shall not hold any position or engage in any activity which would be liable to impair their impartiality in the exercise of their functions.” Article 9, paragraph 2, 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Impartiality of candidates

10. ECOSOC/Governments should ensure that the principle of impartiality is adhered to at the time of election INCB has established internal procedures to ensure impartiality during the term of office of Board members Impartiality of Board Members

11. Member of Government (e.g., Attorney General, law enforcement officials, persons with advisory functions) Representation of Government at international forums on drug related issues Any private or public activity impairing impartiality (e.g. function in the pharmaceutical industry) Incompatibilities

12. 3 sessions per year, at UN headquarters in Vienna Closed sessions Governments invited under special circumstances Also invited: Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Chairperson of CND Heads of relevant specialized international bodies (e.g., WHO, INTERPOL) 102nd session, November 2011 – ECOSOC Bureau videoconference Sessions of the Board

13. Located at UN headquarters in Vienna Reports only to the Board on matters of substance Administratively located within the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Acts on behalf of the Board Administers the statistical and estimates system, PEN-Online, as well as other data Headed by the Secretary of the Board INCB Secretariat

14. INCB is the guardian of the drug control Conventions INCB appreciates the support of ECOSOC in ensuring that the Board and its Secretariat have adequate resources for the implementation of the Board’s mandate

15. Country missions Correspondence Meetings Technical visits Dialogue with Governments

16. Effective and ongoing dialogue with governments has resulted in concrete actions in a number of countries: Ratification of the conventions Establishment of inter-ministerial coordinating bodies Adoption or upgrading of drug control strategies Adoption and updating of legislation Enhancement and intensification of drug control efforts Prevention campaigns Drug abuse surveys Ongoing dialogue with Governments

17. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Health Organization INTERPOL World Customs Organization Regional Organizations International cooperation

18. Bolivia Costa Rica Denmark El Salvador Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Mexico Serbia Turkey United States Zimbabwe INCB Missions 2011

19. Annual Report of the Board for 2011 INCB Reports • Report on Article 12 of the 1988 Convention (Precursors) • Technical reports • Narcotic Drugs • Psychotropic Substances

20. Analyses the global drug control situation Draws attention of Governments to weaknesses in national drug control and treaty compliance Makes recommendations to improve drug control at the national and international levels Addressed to Governments, the United Nations, other international organizations, and regional bodies Implementation of the recommendations is evaluated by the Board Chapter I focuses each year on a theme of concern INCB Annual Report

21. Centennial of the International Opium Convention of the Hague of 1912 • INCB Annual Report for 2011, launched in 2012, dedicated to the Centennial of the signing of the 1912 International Opium Convention • Almost universal adherence to the international drug control treaties • Almost no diversion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the international level • International system established for the control of precursor chemicals used in illicit manufacture of drugs • Challenges: • Illicit drug trafficking and organized crime • Inequitable access to or overconsumption of controlled substances for medical purposes in some countries and regions • Marginalized communities vulnerable to the drug problem

22. Chapter I – Social cohesion, social disorganization and illegal drugs • Vicious cycle of social exclusion and drug problems • Fractured communities can be vulnerable to drug abuse • Factors that may affect social cohesion include: • Social inequality • Migration • Political and economic transformation • Rapid urbanisation • Shift in traditional values • Breakdown in respect for law • Local illicit drug economies

23. Chapter I – Social cohesion, social disorganization and illegal drugs • Youth of these marginalized communities need to be protected from drug abuse • Recommendations include: • Drug abuse prevention • Provision of treatment and rehabilitation services • Addressing symbols of financial success associated with the illicit drug market and promoting positive role models • Community rehabilitation • Community policing • Educational and employment opportunities

24. Chapter II – Special topic:Bolivia’s denunciation of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs • The Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State of) denounced the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 2011 and announced its intention to re-accede to the 1961 Convention with a formal reservation regarding coca leaf. • Coca leaf is a narcotic drug, subject to strict control measures • Bolivia is a major producer of coca leaf – possible repercussions in other countries • The Board notes with regret this step taken by the Government of Bolivia: • This step is contrary to the fundamental objective and spirit of the 1961 Convention. • The Board is committed to an ongoing dialogue with the Government of Bolivia.

25. Chapter II – Special topic:Illegal Internet pharmacies • Illicit drugs, as well as prescription medicines, are ordered via illegal Internet pharmacies • Over half of the medicines from illegal Internet pharmacies are counterfeit • Young audiences often targeted with the help of social media • The Board calls on Governments to close down illegal Internet pharmacies and to seize substances illicitly ordered • INCB “Guidelines for Governments on preventing the Illegal Sale of Internationally Controlled Substances through the Internet” published in 2009 • Further progress by Governments in implementation is needed • International cooperation is essential

26. Chapter II – Ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the international drug control treaties:Drug-facilitated crime • Occurs in many regions and countries • Psychoactive substances used for sexual assault and other crimes • Substances are often tasteless and odourless, and administered covertly • Drug-facilitated crimes committed more frequently than assumed – lack of comprehensive information on the problem • Routine analysis of blood and urine only required by one Government • The Board encourages all Governments to ensure that forensic proof is obtained when a drug-facilitated crime is suspected

27. Chapter II – Ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the international drug control treaties: Increasing use of "designer" chemicals in illicit drug manufacture • Non-scheduled chemicals increasingly used by criminals to bypass existing control systems and to avoid detection • Increasing use of “designer” precursors or pre-precursors for the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants • Control measures expanded in some countries to address the issue • Cocaine precursor chemical, potassium permanganate, is being illicitly produced or substituted with other substances • PEN Online system helps limit access to precursors by criminals

28. Chapter III – Regional trends:Africa • Increasing use of shipping containers and commercial aircraft in the trafficking of cocaine through Africa, especially West Africa, into Europe. • Increasing flow of heroin into Africa through East Africa, leading to increased drug abuse • Morocco remains a major producer of cannabis resin, but cultivation has decreased significantly • Smuggling of amphetamine-type stimulants from Africa into other regions a new threat • Diversion of precursor chemicals continues, especially in East and West Africa. • Diverted and counterfeit drugs available on unregulated markets pose a serious public health problem

29. Chapter III – Regional trends:Americas • Area of illicit coca bush cultivation in South America decreased by 6% percent • South America now accounts for over half of global seizures of cocaine • Central America and the Caribbean continues to be a major transit area for drugs trafficked from South America to North America; escalation of drug-related violence • Drugs smuggled into Central America mainly by sea and increasingly by light aircraft • Drug-related violence continues to be widespread in Mexico, despite the Government’s determined action • Prescription drug abuse is now the fastest growing drug problem in the United States

30. Chapter III – Regional Trends:Asia • Significant increases in opium production in 2011 in West Asia; high levels of abuse of opiates • Illicit opium production continued to increase in Myanmar and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic • Large-scale illicit trafficking in methamphetamine, with increasing abuse, in East and South East Asia • Limited development of programmes for prevention and treatment of drug abuse, East and South East Asia • Abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter pharmaceutical preparations increasing in South Asia • Rising levels of injection drug abuse in South Asia

31. Chapter III – Regional Trends:Europe • Cannabis use increased in some countries • Illicit cultivation of cannabis increased dramatically in Western and Central Europe, mainly indoors and on an industrial scale • Increased cocaine trafficking into Europe via North Africa • Methamphetamine seems to be replacing amphetamine in northern Europe • Increasing variety of drugs of abuse, including substances not under international control

32. Chapter III – Regional Trends:Oceania • Low rate of accession to the international drug control treaties among Pacific Island States • Countries not parties to all of the Conventions are increasingly becoming destinations or trans-shipment areas for trafficking of drugs and precursors • Trafficking of cocaine into Australia is an emerging issue • Organised criminal groups are actively involved in drug trafficking in Oceania

33. Guide on Estimating Requirements for Internationally Controlled Substances • Over 80 percent of the world population has limited or no access to medication containing internationally controlled substances; overconsumption a problem in some regions • First step to remedy this situation is the identification of the actual requirements for internationally controlled substances • The Guide on Estimating Requirements: • presents various methods to calculate requirements for internationally controlled substances • explains the administration of the system of estimates and assessments by INCB • will support Governments in calculating the quantities of controlled substances required for medical purposes • will help Governments to prepare the estimates and assessments of annual requirements of controlled substances

34. Thank you