“Extraordinary” 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs closes with commitment to keep protecting people

60th Session ends with speech from the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reflecting on five days of extraordinary achievement with record participation and side events.

VIENNA, 17 March (United Nations Information Service) – The UNODC Chief Yury Fedotov closed the 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) with a call for countries to keep protecting the health and welfare of people everywhere.

“Together we have made a commitment under the international drug control conventions to the health and welfare of people and communities everywhere — an enduring promise to millions of children, women and men that we must uphold,” he said.

Speaking of the resolution setting out the follow-up to the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem, Mr. Fedotov said: “You have succeeded in charting a clear course towards 2019 and the 62nd session of the CND.”

He finished his speech by saying: “In so many ways, the 60th Session—the diamond session—has been extraordinary. It has been a session of records regarding the number of participants and side-events.”

Around 100 side events and numerous exhibitions were held during the session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which was attended by more than 1,500 people representing Member States, civil society, academia and international organizations.