UN Political Declaration and Global Programme of Action

The UN Political Declaration and Global Programme of Action was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in February 1990 as part of a global response to the international drug problem.

Background:

The 17th Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) was convened specifically to address the growing global challenge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. This was one of the earliest high-level international efforts to coordinate a global response to the drug problem.

 Key Objectives of the Declaration and Programme of Action:

• Strengthen international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and abuse.
• Promote demand reduction, not just supply reduction — i.e., focusing on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Encourage national governments to adopt balanced and integrated strategies to deal with drug problems.
• Support alternative development programs to replace illicit crop cultivation (e.g., opium, coca).
• Enhance control over precursors and chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs.
• Improve legal and institutional frameworks, including training of law enforcement and judicial officials.
• Mobilize resources for anti-drug strategies, particularly in developing countries.
• Strengthen the role of the United Nations, particularly through the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) (which later merged into the UNODC).

Significance:

• It marked a unified global political commitment to combat drug-related problems.
• It emphasized a balanced approach between supply control and demand reduction.
• The declaration led to more coordinated efforts among member states and international bodies.
• It provided the foundation for future UN drug control efforts, such as the 1998 UNGASS and the 2009 Political Declaration.