WFAD would like to forward the invitation for and open application off the 63th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) to all our members. Find the details on the session as well as the application to speak below. Bare in mind that the deadline to apply for a speakers slot is November 24th 2020
| The reconvened sixty-third session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) will be held from 2 to 4 December 2020 starting at 11 am and 3 pm at the Vienna International Centre, as well as via virtual platform. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, only members of the Commission may attend the meeting in person. In March 2020 the Commission agreed to vote on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on cannabis and cannabis-related substances at its reconvened sixty-third session in December 2020. On 2 December 2020, the Commission, therefore, is expected to consider and vote on the WHO recommendations under agenda item 5 (a), entitled “Changes in the scope of control of substances”. In March 2020 the Commission agreed to vote on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on cannabis and cannabis-related substances at its reconvened sixty-third session in December 2020. On 2 December 2020, the Commission, therefore, is expected to consider and vote on the WHO recommendations under agenda item 5 (a), entitled “Changes in the scope of control of substances”. Furthermore, two joint meetings of the CCPCJ and the CND will be held on 03 December, and one separate meeting of CND will be held in the morning of 04 December. The annotated provisional agenda and proposed organization of work can be found on the CND website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/63Reconvened_Session_2020/reconvened-session-63-of-the-commission-on-narcotic-drugs.html As part of the discussions, up to 4 NGOs are invited to make statements under the agenda item of their choosing. As it is a formal meeting, NGOs will speak at the end of each agenda item. Each speaker will have 3 minutes to present their views in regard to the chosen agenda item. Selected speakers will be asked to send in their statements or videos (including. transcripts) no later than 30 November 2020. Simultaneous interpretation in all official United Nations languages will be provided. In order to apply for a speaking slot, please fill out the google form by 24 NOVEMBER 2020 at 11:55 p.m. (CET, Vienna local time): https://bit.ly/32YMRie The VNGOC will follow the guidelines established by the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) in 2018: http://vngoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CSTF-Speaker-Selection-Guidelines-final-formatted.pdf We apologise for the short deadline and hope that many of you will take the opportunity to apply for a speaking slot regardless. Attending the CND reconvened as an observer (without making a statement) All organisations in consultative status with ECOSOC are invited to send observers, in line with the established rules. In light of social distancing requirements as well as restrictions on in-person participation at the time of the meeting, the intersessional meeting will be held as a blended (virtual and limited in-person participation) meeting. ECOSOC NGOs wishing to attend the meeting virtually (without making a statement) need to send an official letter to signed by the head of the organization with the name and email address of the participant. The number of observer slots is limited due to the platform used so it is likely that only 1-2 persons per organisation will be able to register as observers. However, the meeting will be webcast on the CND website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/63Reconvened_Session_2020/reconvened-session-63-of-the-commission-on-narcotic-drugs.html VNGOC Informal Meeting Monday, 30 November 2020 The board of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs is inviting all members and interested NGOs to participate in an online, informal membership meeting on Monday, 30 November. In order to accommodate as many time zones as possible the meeting will be held twice: 30 November, 10 am to 11.30 am Central European Time (CET) 30 November, 5 pm to 6.30 pm Central European Time (CET) The meeting will serve to discuss current issues and exchange updates and information. No formal decisions will be made by the committee, the draft agenda can be viewed on our website. It will be held online via MS Teams and we kindly ask you to register here in order to attend the meeting. The links will be shared a few days before the meeting. We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible to one or both of the meetings. |
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