UNIS/MA/99
3 March 2015
VIENNA, 3 March (UN Information Service) - Media representatives are invited to attend the 58th Session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) to be held between 9 and 17 March in Vienna, Austria. A special segment on preparations for the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem in 2016 will be held over the first four days (9-12 March) of the 58th Session and is open to all accredited media.
Following these discussions, the regular segment begins on 13 March and includes deliberations on changes in the scope of the control of substances, as well as the draft resolutions. This year, there are currently 12 draft resolutions on subjects ranging from international cooperation in responding to synthetic drugs to blocking the financial flows linked to drug trafficking. Another draft resolution concerns protecting young people and children from illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances sold over the internet.
Sixty-five side events will also be held during the 58th Session. The side events reflect the wide-ranging discussion on the world drug problem and cover such topics as sentencing reform and alternatives to prison; recovery from drug abuse; access to opioid medications in Europe; youth substance use and misuse; children, parents, families and prevention; overdose deaths and judicial cooperation, among others.
On Tuesday 10 March, between 13:10 and 14:00, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, will take part in a panel session on alternative development. He will also attend, between 13:30-15:00, a special side event titled, "Each Person Counts: Treating Drug Dependent People with Respect" on the need for evidence-based care for drug users. Earlier on the same day, between 9:00-9:50, the UNODC Executive Director and the Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, will co-chair an event on addressing illicit trafficking and drug consumption in West Africa.
Media are invited to attend the numerous side-events and exhibitions, as well as the opening and plenary sessions of the conference that begins at 10:00 on 9 March. Journalists attending, especially camera teams, should consider coming as early as possible.
For media accreditation:
Media representatives who wish to attend the Opening of the Conference and side events, and who are not accredited to the VIC, should contact press@unvienna.org.
Access to the M-building is via Checkpoint One of the Vienna International Centre.
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For further information on the draft resolutions go to:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/58_Session_2015/58draft-resolutions.html
For further information on the programme go to:
https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CND_CCPCJ_joint/Side_Events/2015/15-00524_apprv_ebook.pdf
For further information please contact:
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43- 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
or
Reka
Furtos
Public Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-83019
Mobile: (+43) 699-145-83019
Email: reka.furtos[at]unvienna.org
