Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on the behalf of the European Union.
The EU welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration and its Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem, as adopted by the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and calls upon States to take the necessary measures to fully implement the actions set therein with the view to attain in a timely manner their goals and targets.
The European Union recognizes the important coordinating role of the United Nations for the development of effective strategies and measures to reducing the deleterious impact of illicit drugs on the health, social well-being and safety of people across the world. In this regard, the EU also recognizes the work performed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The international drug control treaties are the result of the efforts of the international community against the world drug problem, to ensure that narcotic drugs are available for medical and scientific purposes while curtailing their diversion to the illicit market and preventing drug abuse. Additionally, the 1988 Convention provides comprehensive measures against drug trafficking, money laundering and the diversion of precursor chemicals. These Conventions remain the framework for action in international drug control today. We must ensure that all relevant drugs are controlled under the Conventions.
The overall goals and targets of UN drug policy, set out in line with the international drug control treaties, and in conjunction with human rights instruments, the rule of law and principles of proportionality, must be maintained. We stand firmly by the international treaties and other legal instruments for drug control, as these will continue to represent the foundation for international cooperation to counter the world drug problem. These goals and targets of UN drug policy are also a fundamental part of the new EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-2012. Considerable support to the strengthening of a balanced, integrated, multidisciplinary and, mutually reinforcing approach to supply and demand reduction strategies was given by the fifty-second session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs and its High-level Segment. The EU welcomes this approach. The new political declaration during the High-level segment has adjusted the careful assessment, adopted by the special session of the General Assembly of 1998, to the current situation.
The European Union shares the global concern about the increasing impact that drug abuse and drug trafficking have on the political and socio-economic stability of societies and their implications on human security at large. The European Union is committed to protect and improve the well-being of society and of individuals, to protect public health, provide income alternatives, to offer a high level of security for the general public and to take a balanced, integrated approach to the drugs problem, within the union as well as in our cooperation with other countries and regions. Mr. President,
Full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in the global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and it reduces vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and prevents stigma and related discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. Appropriate solutions are required to overcome legal, regulatory or other barriers that inhibit access to effective HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, including medicines, commodities and services, are necessary. We welcome the promotion of all human rights and all freedoms of all people living with HIV/AIDS, members of vulnerable groups and the facilitation of their participation in all aspects of HIV/AIDS responses.
The EU calls on relevant organizations of the UN, especially the UNODC, through a comprehensive and integrated approach, to continue to assist States with technical expertise and assistance to address the drug issue in a balanced, integrated and comprehensive manner. In order to reinforce the struggle against the drug problem, initiatives should be taken to build institutional capacity to improve the skills and experience of national experts in all areas of drug control, including in the health sector, provision of legal livelihoods and alternative development, law enforcement and the judicial system.
The European Union attaches great importance to data collection and monitoring. Drug policies should be based on the best available scientific evidence as well as on regular assessments of the nature and magnitude of the drugs problem. There is a need for increased research in many aspects of the drugs problem. This is an important task for the UN, for the EU, as well as for all member states. The European Union welcomes Resolution 52/12, which invites Member States to strengthen their efforts to review and improve data collection tools in order to attain an objective, scientific, and balanced assessment of the progress made and the obstacles encountered in implementing the Political Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted during the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
Currently, many countries lack the most basic knowledge about their own drugs situation. We must bridge the widening gap between countries with well developed information systems and research capacities and those with very little or nothing. This can be done only by investing in building national capacity in countries. The EU looks forward to the report by the Executive Director of UNODC at the next session of the Commission on Narcotic Drug on how to build the capacity of Member States to collect and report information.
EU welcomes measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem. We are committed to tackling the drug problem in partnership within the UN on an international level. The EU would like to emphasize the need for close cooperation between the UNODC and all relevant UN organisations in the area of demand and supply reduction, while respecting each organisation’s individual role and mandate. Such an integrated approach is necessary for mainstreaming policies and guarantees a more effective use of resources in line with the coherence of the system as a whole or “delivering as one”.
The drug problem continues to pose a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of all humanity. It undermines sustainable development, political stability and democratic institutions, including efforts to eradicate poverty, and threatens national security and the rule of law.
Mr President, I thank you.