28 May 1985

22nd plenary meeting

Co-operation for the control of illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse in the African region

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 37/198 of 18 December 1982 and 38/98 and 38/122 of 16 December 1983,

Recalling in particular General Assembly resolution 39/142 of 14 December 1984, entitled "Declaration on the Control of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse",

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1845 (LVI) of 15 May 1974 on co-operation for drug law enforcement in the far east region and Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 6 (XXX) of 16 February 1983 on the need for activities in the African countries,

Recognizing the urgent need to establish co-ordination mechanisms for similar drug law enforcement co-operation in the African region,

Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 39/143 of 14 December 1984, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that a meeting of heads of national drug law enforcement agencies would be convened in 1986,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to convene regular meetings of the operational heads of the national drug control and law enforcement agencies of States in the African region to study questions related to illicit drug traffic in the region and to establish more effective mechanisms for co-operation and mutual assistance in the suppression of illicit drug traffic within, from and into the region;

2. Recommends that the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control should consider providing the financial support for those regional meetings, including the travel expenses and subsistence of one participant from each State in the region if, in the absence of such support, the Government concerned would not be represented;

3. Decides that the first regional meeting will be held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa, following consultations with the Executive Secretary of the Commission to determine an appropriate date in 1987;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to invite observers from the International Criminal Police Organization, the Customs Co-operation Council and other competent international and intergovernmental organizations to participate in the regional meetings at their own expense;

5. Further requests the Secretary-General, at his discretion, to invite observers from States which request observer status and which are actively involved in countering the illicit drug traffic in the region to participate as observers in the meetings, on the understanding that any expenses incurred by their attendance shall be borne by the States concerned;

6. Invites the International Narcotics Control Board to participate as an observer in the regional meetings;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the regional meetings to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.