By consensus: UN body adopts Pakistan’s resolution

Calls for wider cooperation to assist states affected by illicit transit of drugs

ISLAMABAD: The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the central UN policymaking body in drug-related matters, has adopted by consensus a resolution tabled by Pakistan, a Foreign Office statement said on Saturday.

The theme of the resolution was ‘strengthening international cooperation to assist the states most affected by the illicit transit of drugs, especially developing countries, based on the principle of common and shared responsibility’.

The statement said the resolution was co-sponsored by several countries including, Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Norway, Panama, the Philippines, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey and the US.

The resolution acknowledges the sacrifices made by the states most affected by the illicit trafficking of drugs in tackling the world’s drug problem. It calls on the international community to enhance capacity-building assistance to such states, including in the areas of countering illicit drug trafficking, drug law enforcement, criminal justice, border management, cross-border cooperation and countering illicit proceeds of drug-related crime.

The resolution also provides for strengthening international support to the most affected transit states in addressing the increasing use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the domestic level. In this regard, the resolution puts emphasis on reinforcing drug use prevention programmes and expanding treatment and rehabilitation facilities, particularly for women and children.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2017.