Transcript 4th International NGO Forum on the review of the United

Presents “Beyond 2008”
A global NGO Forum on the Review of the
United Nations General Assembly
Special Session on Illicit Drugs 1998/2008
to the
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Board of Directors
www.vngoc.org
An overview of key international institutions
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
Secretary General to the UN
New York City
K. Annan
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
New York City
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
Functional Commission on Drug for ECOSOC
Meets annually (March) in plenary in Vienna
Canadian delegation composed of (Foreign Affairs, HC,
Justice Canada, Public Safety, RCMP, CCSA and CECA)
Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC)
Standing NGO-led Committee to CND and UNODC
M. Perron Vice-chair
United Nations Office on Drug and
Crime (UNODC) - Vienna
Serves as Secretariat to CND
Exec. Dir: A. Costa
International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB)
Independent monitoring body on
member state compliance to
the Conventions
1961, 1971, 1988
“Beyond 2008” Forum
M. Perron, Chair
www.vngoc.org
Who we are
○ The Vienna Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee
(VNGOC) provides a vital link between NGO's, the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
○ Initially created in 1983, the objective of the Committee is to
provide information on NGO activities and involve a wide sector
of civil society in raising awareness of global drug policies.
www.vngoc.org
Introduction

The Vienna NGO Committee has a rich history and experience in
convening major international NGO events. These include:

1st NGO Forum organized in September 1986 with the financial
assistance of the Swedish government as a preparatory conference
for the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking (ICDAIT).

2nd NGO Forum in June of 1987 in conjunction with ICDAIT. This
event also saw an active representation from several government
delegates and a direct influence by the NGO community
concerning decisions being incorporated to the CMO.

3rd NGO Forum in Bangkok in December 1994, with financial
assistance of the UNDCP and the Thai government. The
organization for this event was carried out in joint partnership with
UNDCP and the NGO Committees in Vienna and New York.
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United Nations General Assembly Special
Session on Illicit Drugs (UNGASS)

In June 1998, the UN General Assembly met in a Special Session to
address the world drug problem.

The Session culminated in the adoption of a Political Declaration
committing some 150 states to the achievement of significant and
measurable results in reduction of illicit supply and demand for drugs by
the year 2008.

Two other resolutions were adopted dealing with Guiding Principles of
Demand Reduction and Measures to Enhance International
Cooperation to Counter the Drug Problem.

An NGO Village was organized in conjunction with the United Nations
General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Drugs in 1998. This
resulted in an active exchange of views amongst various NGO’s along
with an address to the UNGASS Plenary Session by six NGO’s
representing different points of view.
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“Beyond 2008”

The upcoming target date of 2008 for the achievement of “significant and
measurable results” presents an opportunity for the NGO community to:
 reflect on its own achievements in drug control, exchange ideas on promising
new approaches,
 reach agreements on ways to work together
 make recommendations to multilateral agencies and UN member states on
future directions for drug control and
 rethink current collaboration mechanisms with UN agencies with a view to
establishing a more effective partnership.

Building on their past experience, the Vienna NGO Committee is hosting “Beyond
2008”, a Forum to contribute to the 1998-2008 review and forward looking agenda
setting exercise.
 As lead up to that Forum, six regional consultations will take place in areas
where NGO structures are currently under-developed Central and South
America; Central and South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; North Africa and the
Middle East; South East Asia; Eastern Europe (non EU states)

The regional consultations will be championed by three lead NGOs from each
region one of which represents youth interests and who would also attend the
2007 & 2008 Commission on Narcotic Drugs
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Objectives & Deliverables

The “Beyond 2008” regional consultations and Forum will focus on
three specific objectives:
1.
To highlight tangible NGO achievements in the field of drug
control, with particular emphasis on contributions to the 1998
UNGASS Action Plan such as achievement in policy, community
engagement, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and socialreintegration.
2.
To review best practices related to collaboration mechanisms
among NGOs, governments and UN agencies in various fields of
endeavour and propose new and/or improved ways of working
with the UNODC and CND.
3.
To adopt a series of high order principles, drawn from the
Conventions and their commentaries that would be tabled with
the UNODC and CND for their consideration and serve as a
guide for future deliberations on drug policy matters.
www.vngoc.org
Participants, Timing and Budget

Regional Consultations and Forum participants will represent a
balanced cadre of ideological and geographical interests. Regional
consultations will consist of approximately 50 representatives per area.
The Forum will consist of approximately 300 representatives. All efforts
will be made to utilize a series of networks to involved as broad a range
of participants as possible.

The timing of the Forum is contingent on CND deliberations who are
responsible for selecting a date for the 1998-2008 review. UNODC has
indicated that it will include “Beyond 2008” in its road map to UNGASS.

The estimated costs for “Beyond 2008” is approximately €1 Million
(approx. $1.6M cad) where the largest share of the budget is for the
regional consultations and travel and accommodation of the participants
who may not be able to afford these costs. Most participants would be
expected to cover their own travel expenses. Financial contributions are
being sought from a variety of sources not tied to a particular ideological
perspective.
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Getting there: Governance & Management
Vienna NGO
Committee
Dr. Eva Tongue (Chair)
Beyond 2008 - Honorary Co-chairs
Dr. Eva Tongue (Vienna)
Mr. O. Strobino (NYC)
Beyond 2008 - Steering Committee
M. Perron (Canada), Chair
Program Committee
D. Turner, Chair
Secretariat
A. Cowl & B. Walsberger
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Getting there: Governance & Management
Program
Committee
D. Turner
Secretariat
A. Cowl
B. Walsberger
Objective 1
D. Turner
Objective 2
E. Carlin
Objective 3
M. Perron
Regional
Consultations
A. Cowl
Regional
Consultations &
Forum
Structure/Process
G. Somogyi
Participant
Composition
G. Jeremiah
www.vngoc.org
Work plan: Toward each Objective

Objective 1 (Lead: D. Turner – Ceis / Italy):
 Finalize BRQ based questionnaire – Sept 2006
 Finalize translation – Fall 2006
 Finalize statistical and web set up – Feb 2007
 Finalize initial dissemination list – Feb 2007
 Launch questionnaire – at 2007 CND

Objective 2 (Lead: E. Carlin – Mentor Foundation / UK):
 Prepare proposal on process to contract for deliverable – Oct 2006
 Execute contract and deliver final report on “Models for Consultation” –
March 2007

Objective 3: (Lead: M. Perron – CCSA / Canada)
 Prepare proposal on process to contract for deliverable – Oct 2006
 Execute contract and deliver final report on “Summary of Conventions
and recommended policy principles for discussion: - March 2007
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Work plan: Next steps

Structure and Process (Lead: G. Somogyi – Beckley Fdn / UK)
 Final draft completed
 Final report Fall 2006

Participant Composition (Lead: G. Jeremiah – NYC NGO Cttee)
 First draft of Recommendations - Nov 2006 (these will aid in
selecting regional leads)
 Final report – March 2007

Regional Consultations (Lead: A. Cowl – VNGOC Secretariat / Peru)
 Initiate process to identify possible regional leads – Oct 2007
 Select and negotiate Terms of Reference with regional leads –
Dec 2006 to Feb 2007
 Meeting of program committee & regional leads on margins of 2007
CND
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Work plan: Next steps

Funding Strategy (Lead: M. Perron, CCSA)




Target: secure 75% of Forum budget by March 2007
Current contributions: (€483,000 - confirmed, €350,000 –
solid lead)
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) to provide
ongoing financial management for the VNGOC –
remunerated by VNGOC
Communications Strategy (Lead: A. Cowl – VNGOC
Secretariat)



Web site launched: www.vngoc.org
Promotional documentation – Oct 2006
Presentation to CND plenary – March 2007
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