We would like to share the reminder by the VNGOC for their call for speakers for the 2024 Mid-Term Review.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), in preparation for the 2024 Mid-Term Review, will conduct a comprehensive stock-taking of progress made in implementing the international drug policy commitments to address the challenges identified in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. The thematic discussions will consist of two intersessional meetings in October and December – the first will take place 23-25 October 2023, in Vienna Austria. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format.

The discussions in October will cover the following topics. Please also consult the CND Discussion Guide to learn more about the challenges to be addressed:
23 October:

• Morning: Expanding & diversifying range of drugs & drug markets
• Afternoon: Illicit abuse, cultivation, production, manufacture of & trafficking in illicit narcotic drugs & psychotropic substances

24 October:

• Morning: Links between drug trafficking, corruption & other forms of organized crime
• Afternoon: Low value of confiscated proceeds of crime related to money laundering arising from drug trafficking

25 October:

• Morning: Criminal misuse of information & communications technologies
• Afternoon: Non-compliance with international drug control conventions & international human rights law

For each topic, up to 3 NGOs will have the possibility to present their work and positioning. In order to ensure inclusive, comprehensive and meaningful civil society participation, NGOs will work through the Vienna and New York NGO Committees on Drugs (VNGOC & NYNGOC). Each speaker will have 3 minutes to present their work on the thematic focus of the half-day. 

Interpretation will not be available during the meetings and all abstracts and statements have to be submitted in English.

In order to apply for a speaking slot, please fill out this online form.

DEADLINE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2023 at 11.45PM CEST (Vienna time, UTC+2)

Make sure that your abstract is relevant to the topic of the half-day,  and clearly describes what you will be presenting about. Statements focusing on good practice examples and lessons learned with regard to addressing each challenge identified in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration are especially welcome. NGO representatives who spoke in previous thematic discussions are invited to re-apply and could provide an update since their last intervention.  The VNGOC & NYNGOC Boards will follow the speaker selection guidelines established in 2018.