21 June 1991

15th plenary meeting

Functioning of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and provisional agenda for its thirty-fifth session

The Economic and Social Council,

Having regard to its resolution 9 (I) of 16 February 1946 on the terms of reference of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recognizing the importance of the additional functions entrusted by the Council to the Commission and the heavy workload of the Commission,

Desiring to support the Commission in its efforts to fulfil its responsibilities,

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

1. Decides that:

(a) The Commission on Narcotic Drugs shall henceforth meet annually for a period not exceeding eight working days;

(b) The Bureau of the Commission shall consist of five members - a chairman, three vice-chairmen and a rapporteur - and, when examining questions related to procedure and organization of work, shall seek the advice of the chairmen of the five regional groups in its meetings;

(c) The Commission shall establish a Committee, the membership of which shall be open to all States members of the Commission, to perform such functions as the Commission requests in order to assist it in dealing with its agenda and to facilitate its work;

(d) The Committee shall consider specific items on the agenda as requested by the Commission and shall submit its comments and recommendations, including draft decisions and draft resolutions, to the Commission for consideration;

(e) The Committee shall meet concurrently with the annual session of the Commission for a period not exceeding four working days;

(f) The Commission shall review and, if appropriate, shall adapt the modalities for the functioning of the Committee in the light of experience and in accordance with the development of the activities of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme;

(g) Annual sessions of the Commission shall be convened during the period between the third calendar week of March and the third calendar week of April;

(h) Simultaneous interpretation in all six official languages of the United Nations shall be ensured during the meetings of both the Commission and the Committee;

2. Also decides that the provisional agenda for the thirty-fifth session of the Commission shall include the following items:

1. Election of officers

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters

3. General debate:

(a) Report of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (b) Examination of the world situation with respect to drug abuse, including the implementation of the Global Programme of Action on international cooperation against illicit production, supply, demand, trafficking and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances:

(i) Measures to control and reduce illicit demand (ii) Measures to control and reduce illicit trafficking (iii) Measures to control and reduce illicit supply

Documentation

Report on the operational activities of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in 1991 Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1991 (relevant parts) Reports of the regional meetings of heads of national drug law enforcement agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East Report of intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

4. Implementation of the international drug control treaties:

(a) Changes in the scope of control of substances and consideration of notifications of the Secretary-General from Governments, the World Health Organization and the International Narcotics Control Board

Documentation

Report of the Executive Director (b) International Narcotics Control Board

Documentation

Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1991 (relevant parts) (c) Other urgent action required under the international drug control treaties

Documentation

Note by the Secretariat (as necessary)

5. Priority topics:

(a) Promotion of coordination and cooperation at the international and regional levels

Documentation Report by the Executive Director on the implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 1 (XXXIV) Reports of the regional meetings of heads of national drug law enforcement agencies and of the Sub-Commission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East

(b) Review of the functioning of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Documentation

Report of the Executive Director on the implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 2 (XXXIV) Note by the Executive Director

6. Programme of future work and priorities

Documentation

Note by the Executive Director

7. Other matters

8. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 1992 session.