International campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

The General Assembly,

Conscious of the adverse effects of the global problem of drug abuse, illicit production of and trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances, both on individuals, in that it has pernicious physical and psychological effects and limits creativity and the full development of human potential, and in relation to States, as it is a threat to their security and is prejudicial to their democratic institutions and their economic, social, legal and cultural structures,

Considering that the situation continues to deteriorate, owing, inter alia, to the growing interrelationship between drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations that are responsible for much of the drug traffic and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and for the increase in violence and corruption, which injure society,

Recognizing the collective responsibility of States for providing appropriate resources for the elimination of illicit production and trafficking and of the abuse of drugs and psychotropic substances,

Recognizing also that measures to prevent and control supply and to combat illicit trafficking can be effective only if they take into consideration the close link between illicit production, transit and abuse of drugs and the social, economic and cultural conditions in the States affected, and that they must be formulated and implemented in the context of States' social and economic policy, taking due account of community traditions, harmonious development and conservation of the environment,

Recognizing once again that transit routes used by drug traffickers are constantly shifting and that an increasing number of countries in all regions of the world and even entire areas, because of their geographical location and other considerations, are particularly vulnerable to the illicit transit traffic,

Considering that regional and international co-operation is required in order to reduce the vulnerability of States and regions to the illicit transit traffic and to provide necessary support and assistance, particularly to countries hitherto unaffected,

Taking into account the need to reaffirm the effectiveness of human, moral and spiritual values for preventing the consumption of narcotic drugs, at the national and international levels, through information, guidance and educational activities,

Considering the importance of the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control in its role as a catalyst in the United Nations system, and that it has become one of the major sources of multilateral financing for technical co-operation programmes in the context of the international campaign against abuse of and illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances,

Recognizing that the policy adopted by the Fund for the formulation of so-called master plans takes into account the principal social, economic and cultural factors of countries, as well as their national and regional programmes, and that in those plans both donor countries and recipients of technical assistance are actively involved in concerted action with a view to combating the problem at all stages,

Taking note of the close link existing between Governments, public institutions and the Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, in co-ordination with other organizations of the United Nations system concerned with controlling abuse of drugs and psychotropic substances,

Recalling its resolution 41/127 of 4 December 1986 and other relevant resolutions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and of the Economic and Social Council adopted to advance the international campaign against abuse of and illicit traffic in drugs and psychotrophic substances,

1.         Condemns unequivocally once again drug trafficking in all its forms - illicit production, processing, marketing and consumption - as a criminal activity and requests all States to pledge their political will in a concerted and universal struggle to achieve its complete and final elimination;

2.         Urges States to acknowledge that they share responsibility for combating the problem of illicit consumption, production, transit and trafficking and therefore to encourage international co-operation in the struggle to eliminate illicit production and trafficking and abuse of drugs and psychotropic substances, in accordance with the relevant international and national norms;

3.         Acknowledges the constant and determined efforts of Governments at the national, regional and international levels to cope with the increase in drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking and its increasingly close links with other forms of organized international criminal activities;

4.         Notes with appreciation the unanimous adoption of the Declaration and the adoption by consensus of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control by the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and urges States to apply the recommendations contained in those documents in a determined and sustained manner;

5.         Takes note of the First Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, African Region, held at Addis Ababa from 30 March to 3 April 1987, the First Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Latin American and Caribbean Region, held at Santiago from 28 September to 2 October 1987, and the Meeting of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific Region, held at Tokyo from 30 November to 4 December 1987, and requests the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to consider their recommendations at its tenth special session, in order to determine the specific measures required for implementation thereof, for possible adoption by the Economic and Social Council at its next session;

6.         Encourages States to use the meetings of the working group of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the purpose of exchanging experiences in their struggle against the illicit transit of drugs and psychotropic substances and to increase regional and interregional co-operation on this aspect;

7.         Reiterates once again its request to the Secretary-General to continue to make the necessary arrangements for holding, within the framework of advisory services, interregional seminars on the experience gained within the United Nations system in integrated rural development programmes that include the substitution of illegal crops in affected areas, including the Andean region;

8.         Commends the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control for the productive work that it has done as one of the main bodies of the United Nations system providing technical co-operation in the field of drug abuse, and encourages it to continue its activities, paying particular attention to applications from developing countries, at the request of the latter;

9.         Calls upon all States to continue and increase their political support of and financial contributions to the Fund, and encourages its Executive Director to continue systematically and consistently strengthening the activities of the Fund in affected countries and regions, so as to enable them to combat all aspects of the problem effectively;

10.       Endorses Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/32 of 26 May 1987;

11.       Requests the Secretary-General to take steps to ensure that the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat includes in its publications information designed to prevent the abuse of narcotic drugs, especially by young people;

12.       Calls upon the Governments of countries facing problems of drug abuse, particularly those most seriously affected, as part of their national strategy, to take the necessary measures to reduce significantly the illicit demand for drugs and psychotropic substances with the aim of creating in society a deep respect for its own health, fitness and well-being and to provide appropriate information and advice for all sectors of their communities with regard to drug abuse, its harmful effects and the way in which appropriate community action can be promoted;

13.       Requests the Secretary-General to take steps to provide, within existing resources, appropriate support for strengthening the Division of Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board, including through redeployment;

14.       Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution and decides to include in its agenda the item entitled "International campaign against traffic in drugs".