International Geneva and the International Drug Control System

Madam President [Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland],
Mr. Secretary-General [Kofi Annan],
Professor Mohamedou,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen
Dear friends:

It is estimated that, 1 in 20 adults between the ages of 15 and 64 years used at least one drug in 2014. Statistically speaking, that would amount to about 15, maybe 25 people of you in this room today. Over 29 million people who use drugs are estimated to suffer from drug use disorders. And these are disturbing numbers. And they underline the urgency to continue our efforts to strengthen the international drug control system. Today’s event highlights the substantial contributions that International Geneva can make on different aspects of drug policies, and I am very pleased to join you at this important discussion.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy is an incredibly experienced organization with dedicated leaders who have tremendous expertise on various aspects of drug policies. The Chair of the Commission, President Dreifuss, exemplifies this expertise, having played a key role in innovative efforts on drug control at the national and international level for many years. Her personal engagement as well as the usual high level of support from the Swiss Confederation have also been important in establishing the Secretariat of the Global Commission here in Geneva, adding to the unique ecosystem of expertise in this city, touching upon different aspects of drug policies.

This ecosystem has been built up in Geneva over a long time. The League of Nations established the Opium Advisory Committee, the forerunner of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. And there are the Geneva Opium Conventions of 1925. Today, the expertise on drug policies is spread throughout the UN system, with the UN Office for Drugs and Crime in Vienna and many partner entities being on the frontlines around the world in the fight to bring down those dramatic numbers I mentioned at the outset.

Here in Geneva, the human rights aspects of the world drug problem have been discussed on various occasions in the Human Rights Council [Resolution 28/28]. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently conducted a study on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights last year in 2015. It concluded that the right to health should be protected and that human rights standards such as the prohibition of torture, the right to life and the protection from discrimination among others should be respected in drug policies to avoid adverse effects. At the [United Nations General Assembly] Special Session on the World Drug Problem of April this year, Member States reiterated their “commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting all human rights […] in the development and implementation of drug policies”, showing that the human rights dimension will continue to play an important role in policy considerations.

Similarly, the World Health Organization has critical know-how and experience to be used to the fullest by Member States when considering drug policies. From definitional clarity on drug “dependence” to research tools and concrete on-the-ground projects such as the joint UNODC/WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care, there are many examples of the important role that the WHO plays in the global efforts to reduce drug abuse and its consequences. The fight against HIV/AIDS will not be won without addressing the links between drug-use and the spread of the disease. UNAIDS is leading efforts in this domain.

Drugs are a horizontal issue that touches many of the areas of activity of the United Nations. 2016 – this year – has opened great opportunities to deepen the collaboration across the international community with respect to drug policies. Not only did the Special Session in April set a new course, but the wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted last year is pushing all of us, across the public and private sectors, to work together in a more integrated and horizontal manner.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are all interconnected. And target 3.5 of the “Health-Goal” to “strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol” will not be achieved in isolation. Drug abuse has an impact on many of the other Goals and targets. Drug cultivation can be linked to sustainable agriculture, taking away land that could be used to end hunger [Goal 2] and to generate legal income to fight poverty [Goal 1]. Instead, drug cultivation sometimes leads to land degradation which is addressed as part of Goal 15. The difficulties of drug users or recovered addicts to find jobs and reintegrate in society touch on Goal 8 on decent work. The inclusivity of cities, Goal 11, can be threatened when drug users are pushed into ghetto-like areas. And the list goes on.


International Geneva is playing an important role as the operational hub of the international system in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the past year, new partnerships have been created and we are pushing hard to adopt an ever more integrated way of working. Many entities here have crucial contributions to make to a holistic approach to strengthening the international drug control system. Ensuring that this expertise complements the important work in Vienna and elsewhere will be absolutely essential, and I very much welcome today’s discussions in this context. I thank the organizers very much for having convened this meeting. Only when we mobilize knowledge and resources across the entire system, will we be able to bring down the disturbingly high numbers of people with drug disorders worldwide. And to that end I very much welcome the Secretariat of the Global Commission on Drug Policy into our family of organizations here in International Geneva.

Thank you very much.