2016 OSCE-wide Conference on Combating Threat of Illicit Drugs and Diversion of Chemical Precursors

The conference will focus on challenges of tackling the world drug problem, achievements made and problems encountered in implementation of the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem. It will consider measures to support OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in implementation of the UNGASS 2016 outcome document.

The world drug problem still adversely impacts all aspects of development, including political, economic, environmental and social issues. It predominantly affects the young generation with long-standing consequences. Countering the transnational threat of illicit drugs is our common and shared responsibility.

The Conference will provide a platform to discuss how to effectively prevent and counter illicit cultivation, production and trafficking in illicit drugs and their precursors, while ensuring access to controlled drugs to relieve pain and suffering. They will consider how to more efficiently tackle drug-related crime, including money-laundering and illicit financial flows, using tools provided by the international conventions, relevant UN norms, standards and guidelines. Experts will also address prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration approaches rooted in scientific evidence and public health, and discuss cross-cutting issues related to respect for human rights, including rights of the youth, women and children in designing and implementing development-oriented and balanced drug control policies.

• Day 1:

  • Session I: “Drugs and Crime: supply reduction and related measures”. Domestic, regional and inter-regional responses to drug-related crime, countering money-laundering and promoting judicial co-operation in criminal matters. Emerging issues including new psychoactive substances, precursors and pre-precursors, and misuse of the Internet.

• Day 2:

  • Session II: “Drugs and Health: demand reduction and related measures”. Awareness raising, prevention and treatment, as well as health-related issues, blood-borne diseases prevention, treatment and care.

  • Session III: “Cross-cutting issues and development”. Human rights implications, youth, women and children issues related to designing and implementation of balanced development-oriented drug control policies and participation of civil society in these activities. 

Participants will include representatives of the OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation, OSCE executive structures as well as international and non-government organizations.

The main findings and outcomes of the conference will be compiled in a final document, which will serve as a basis for further discussions on this topic for the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as a guidance for the OSCE executive structures when providing technical assistance to the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

Participation in the Conference is by invitation only. Concept, agenda as well as practical arrangements are available on http://polis.osce.org/library/details?doc_id=5252.