For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/1370
15 January 2019
VIENNA, 15 January 2019 (UN Information Service) - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) opened a training seminar for drug control officials from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras today in Vienna, Austria.
The activity is part of the global INCB Learning project, and it follows up on a training seminar held in Guatemala City in December 2017 with the participation of Guatemala and Honduras and supported by a contribution from the United States. The goal of the training seminar is to improve the monitoring and reporting capacities of participating national authorities, and to ensure that controlled substances are adequately available for medical purposes while at the same time preventing diversion into illicit channels, abuse or trafficking.
Central America continues to be used by transnational organized criminal organizations for the trans-shipment of drugs trafficked from South America to drug markets in the United States, Canada and Europe. At the same time, reported levels of consumption of opioids for pain relief and of psychotropic substances for the treatment of mental health and neurological conditions continue to be low among most countries in Central America.
Over four days, INCB Learning will provide specialized training on treaty requirements regarding the regulatory control and monitoring of licit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals. Participants will be introduced to the INCB online tools: the International Import Export Authorisation System (I2ES), the Pre-export Notification (PEN) Online System, the Precursor Incident Communication System (PICS) and the Project Ion Incident Communication System (IONICS). Technical expertise will also be provided in dedicated segments by representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization.
Launched in 2016, INCB Learning is an initiative of the Board to assist Member States in implementing the provisions of the three international drug control conventions, as well as the recommendations of the 2016 General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem and the Supplement to the INCB Annual Report 2015 on availability. The initiative addresses barriers to adequate availability of controlled substances, especially lack of training and awareness. Past activities include regional training seminars for authorities from countries in East Africa, South and East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Oceania, Central America as well as West and Central Africa.
Another component of the project is the development of e-learning tools for use by Member States. INCB Learning has benefited from contributions by the Governments of Australia, Belgium, France, the Russian Federation and the United States, and further support from Member States is required to sustain and expand project activities.
***
INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the thirteen members of the Board are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.
* *** *
For further information, please contact:
INCB Secretariat
Telephone for media inquiries: (+43-1) 26060 4163
Email:
incb.secretariat@un.org
Website: www.incb.org
