For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/1426
8 December 2020
VIENNA, 8 December (United Nations Information Service) - Drug control officials from 10 African countries have joined an International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) training course this week which will help strengthen their compliance with the three international drug control conventions. Officials from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Senegal and Togo are participating in an online capacity building training course.
Over nine sessions, government officials will have an opportunity to further enhance their monitoring and reporting capacity in the field of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, as well as in the use of the Board's International Import and Export Authorization System (I2ES). The tailored sessions are a follow-up to the regional training seminar held in Dakar, Senegal in September 2018.
In his opening remarks, INCB Board Member Jallal Toufiq highlighted the importance of cooperation and collaboration among competent national authorities and with INCB to ensure access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing diversion and abuse. The opening of the training was followed by a presentation on the international drug control framework conducted by INCB Board Member and Rapporteur Bernard Leroy focused on the consistent application of and legal obligations under the three international drug control conventions.
During 2020, 119 government officials from 22 countries and territories have benefited from INCB Learning virtual training activities. In line with the preventive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, INCB Learning is offering this third online regional capacity building activity as part of efforts to continue supporting Member States during the pandemic. Training sessions have been held in 2020 in French, English and Spanish. In March, INCB's e-learning modules became available in Spanish.
INCB Learning provides assistance to Member States in their efforts to ensure the appropriate availability of internationally controlled substances while preventing their abuse and diversion into illicit channels. The activities of INCB Learning have been made possible through the contributions of the Governments of Australia, Belgium, France, the Russian Federation, Thailand and the United States.
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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.
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For further information please contact:
INCB Secretariat
Telephone for media inquiries: (+43-1) 26060 4163
Email: incb.secretariat[at]un.org
Website:
www.incb.org
