UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

About UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: 

• It isthe principal policy-making body of the United Nations on drug-related matters.
• Mandate: It is mandated to monitor global drug trends, support Member States in formulating balanced policies, and oversee the implementation of the major international drug conventions.
• It is mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances under the three international drug control conventions (1961, 1971 and 1988 Conventions).
• It was established by the resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) IN 1946.
• It is one of the functional commissions of the ECOSOC and a Governing Body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• Members: The CND has 53 member states that are elected by ECOSOC. It is chaired by a Bureau including one member per Regional Group.
• It has five subsidiary bodies: the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific and Africa, and the Subcommission in the Near and Middle East.
• It meets annually and adopts a range of decisions and resolutions. Intersessional meetings are convened throughout the year.
• Towards the end of each year, the Commission meets at a reconvened session to consider budgetary and administrative matters as the governing body of the United Nations drug programme.
• Headquarter: It is headquartered in Vienna.

Significance to India

• This is the first time that India has been named to Chair this important UN body.
• This reinforces India's growing leadership role on the global stage and its commitment to addressing international issues through established multilateral mechanisms

Q1: What is the role of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?

It is one of the six principal organs of the UN which was established by UN Charter (1945).It is responsible for the direction and coordination of the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities carried out by the UN.

News: In a first, India to chair 68th Session of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs