For information only - not an official document
UNIS/MA/243
Vienna, 5 March 2019
VIENNA, 5 March (United Nations Information Service) - Journalists are invited to cover the 62nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) to be held between 14 and 22 March in Vienna, Austria. The Commission decided to convene a ministerial segment at its 62nd regular session from 14 to 15 March 2019, taking stock of the implementation of the commitments made to jointly address and counter the world drug problem. The ministerial segment will include a general debate as well as two interactive, multi-stakeholder round tables, to be conducted in parallel with the general debate.
The opening session will be addressed by Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Viroj Sumyai, President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) followed by statements by representatives of the regional groups, as well as high-level representatives of a large number of Member States. During the ceremonial opening statements will be delivered by representatives of youth, civil society and the scientific community
Resolutions under consideration by the Commission address topics including strengthening forensic detection capability for synthetic drugs as well as for the control of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; promoting alternative development as a development-oriented drug control strategy; as well as measures to prevent transmission of HIV for women who use drugs, to name a few.
The whole list of draft resolutions can be found here.
The 62nd Session is expected to bring together more than 2,000 participants from Member States, parliaments, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, and the scientific community.
More than 100 side events will take place during the 62nd session of the CND on topics ranging from prevention, treatment and care of people with drug use disorders focusing on youth, women and most vulnerable groups of society; approaches to address the opioid crisis; alternative development for sustainable livelihoods, the fight against drug trafficking and the effects of drugs and violence on youth.
Media accreditation
Media representatives who wish to cover the 62nd session of the CND, and who are not accredited to the Vienna International Centre, should email press.vienna@un.org for accreditation.
Journalists are invited to attend plenary meetings, round tables as well as the side events.
Member States will make transcriptions and statements available to journalists at their own discretion.
Access to the M-building is via Gate 1 of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #CND2019 and follow @UNODC, @YuryFedotov, @CND_tweets and @UN_Vienna for updates.
Further information can be found here.
Draft Agenda of the 62 nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs is available here.
For further details on scheduling procedures, click here.
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For further information please contact:
Sonya
Yee
Speechwriter and Spokesperson, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-4990
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: sonya.yee[at]un.org
or
Brian
Hansford
Advocacy Section Chief, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-83225
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org
or
Anne
Thomas
Public Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Tel: (+43-1) 26060-5588
Email: anne.thomas[at]un.org
