21 June 1991

15th plenary meeting

Terms of reference of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 45/179 of 21 December 1990, requested the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to consider ways and means of improving its functioning as a policy-making body and to submit its recommendations to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1991,

Taking into account the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its thirty-fourth session,

Considering that the terms of reference of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as laid down in Council resolution 9 (I) of 16 February 1946, need adjustment and enlargement in the light of the intensification of international cooperation against illicit cultivation, production, manufacture, supply, demand, trafficking and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as against money-laundering and in the control of chemicals used in the illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Considering further the functions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs under the international drug control treaties,

Considering that in its future activities the Commission should apply an integral and balanced approach to the drug problem, taking into account all its aspects,

Reaffirming that, in fulfilling its mandate, the Commission should apply the principles underlying current international cooperation in this field, in particular, shared responsibility and balanced attention to supply and demand, and taking into account the relation in a number of countries between the drug problem and development issues, as well as the need for all international activities in this field to be conducted according to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Noting with satisfaction that the Secretary-General has taken the necessary steps to implement General Assembly resolution 45/179, in which the Assembly requested him to create the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,

Having regard to paragraph 2 (e) of Economic and Social Council resolution 9 (I),

1. Calls upon the Commission on Narcotic Drugs:

(a) To review the implementation of the Global Programme of Action annexed to General Assembly resolution S-17/2 of 23 February 1990, in accordance with paragraph 97 of the Global Programme of Action and General Assembly resolution 45/148 of 18 December 1990;

(b) To review the development and implementation of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control;

(c) To give policy guidance to the new United Nations International Drug Control Programme, based at Vienna, and to monitor its activities;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the appropriate administrative and substantive steps to ensure that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs will be able to assume those additional functions with effect from the date set for its 1992 session.