The General Assembly,
Deeply concerned that the illicit production, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are increasing every day, and that these illicit activities are claiming a growing number of victims,
Considering that, despite the continued and vigorous fight that is being waged by countries at the local, regional, bilateral and multilateral levels and some encouraging developments, the global situation with respect to drug abuse and illicit trafficking continues to worsen,
Convinced that, given the magnitude and global nature of the drug problem, international cooperation in conformity with the international drug control treaties, the Global Programme of Action adopted at its seventeenth special session, the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control adopted by the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and other relevant consensus documents is fundamental to confronting this scourge,
Acknowledging that there are obvious links, under certain circumstances, between poverty and the increase in the illicit production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and that policies of alternative economic development can make a contribution in addressing this problem,
Acknowledging the responsibility of Governments in alleviating poverty, reducing the dependency of their citizens on narcotics and narcotics production and enforcing legal measures against narcotics,
Reaffirming its resolutions 45/147 of 18 December 1990 and 46/101 of 16 December 1991 concerning respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable for establishing a basis for international cooperation in the war on drug abuse and illicit trafficking,
Reaffirming also the importance of the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme as the main focus for concerted international action for drug abuse control,
Reaffirming further the multifaceted nature of the problem and the principle of shared responsibility for drug abuse control contained in the Declaration adopted by the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,
Convinced of the necessity of further strengthening international cooperation and redoubling efforts to broaden the areas appropriate for this cooperation, taking into account experience gained and the need to renew commitment and establish goals to guide the decisions aimed at eradicating this scourge,
Calling attention to the growing connection between terrorist groups and drug traffickers,
Bearing in mind the commitment made in the Political Declaration adopted at its seventeenth special session to keep under constant review the activities set out in the Global Programme of Action,
1. Decides to hold four plenary meetings, at a high level at its forty-eighth session, to examine urgently the status of international cooperation against the illicit production and sale of, demand for, traffic in and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, with a view to:
(a) Evaluating the implementation by Member States of the Global Programme of Action and making recommendations on improving cooperation in the field of drug abuse control, taking into account the priority given to this issue by the international community;
(b) Identifying those policies on which there has not been satisfactory progress in order to expand and increase the effectiveness of this cooperation and to establish measurable goals and renew commitments;
(c) Promoting the universal ratification of or accession to the international drug control treaties, particularly the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;
(d) Encouraging the adoption and implementation of legislative and administrative measures necessary to ensure that national judicial systems are compatible with the spirit and the intent of the treaties and to encourage States that are not yet parties, to the extent that they are able, to apply provisionally the provisions of the treaties;
(e) Encouraging the pursuit of trade liberalization measures which will enhance the trading opportunities of all countries affected by the illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;
(f) Considering ways to strengthen and enhance international cooperation in programmes of alternative rural development;
(g) Strengthening international cooperation to eradicate the growing and dangerous links between terrorist groups, drug traffickers and their paramilitary gangs, which have resorted to all types of violence, thus endangering the constitutional order of States and violating basic human rights;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to implement the present resolution;
3. Also requests the Secretary-General to present, at the next regular session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, an evaluative report containing recommendations on measures to be taken with regard to paragraph 1 above;
4. Requests the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to submit, through the Economic and Social Council, its comments regarding the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at the high-level plenary meetings of its forty-eighth session.
89th plenary meeting
16 December 1992
