Thematic Discussions on the Implementation of All International Drug Policy Commitments

Every year, between 2024-2028, annual thematic discussions will focus on the implementation of all international drug policy commitments to address the challenges identified in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. In addition, Member States will have the chance to discuss and expose new issues, under “Other substantive matters”.

The first intersessional meeting of the 70th Commission is scheduled for 7–9 December 2026.

The following topics will be discussed:

7 December: Drug Trafficking and Converging Criminal Markets

8 December: Criminal Misuse of Information and Communications Technologies for Drug-Related Activities

9 December: Enhancing Responses to Drug-Related Money-Laundering including Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime; and other substantive matters

The topics proposed by Member States for discussion under the session on “Other substantive matters” will be held on 9 December from 3 to 6 PM.

PARTICIPATION

The thematic discussions aim to include governmental experts, representatives from the United Nations system, representatives from international organizations, and civil society organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC.

FORMAT

The thematic discussions will be organized in English only and in a hybrid format:  at the Vienna International Centre & online. The online meeting links will be shared here: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/69_Session_2026/thematic_discussions.html

The morning meetings will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Vienna time), and the afternoon meetings from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Vienna time).

Each session of the thematic discussions (morning and afternoon sessions) will be organized in different components:

• Introductory statements by UNODC
• Expert panel discussion
• Pledge4Action Progress Spotlight
• Discussion with interventions from the floor

The discussion format for “Other substantive matters” will open with a general introduction by UNODC, followed by an interactive debate with brief floor interventions, moderated by the CND Chair. Member States that submitted specific topics will be given the floor first to introduce them.

OUTCOME

The outcome would be a Chair’s summary of the most salient points, not subject to negotiations, available to the Commission in the form of a Conference Room Paper during the following regular session.

REGISTRATION is open until Thursday 3 December: https://indico.un.org/event/1026298/