India has been chosen to Chair 68th Session of United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the first time. Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, officially assumed the Chairmanship of this key international body.
Key Highlights
This is the first time India has been appointed as Chair of the UN CND.
India’s leadership reinforces its growing role on the global stage and commitment to addressing drug-related challenges through multilateral mechanisms.
As Chair, India will:
- Represent interests of the Global South in international drug policy discussions.
- Promote a balanced and holistic approach to drug control by integrating the concerns of developing and developed nations.
- Strengthen international cooperation in tackling drug-related issues.
Significance of India’s Role as Chair
- Expands India’s global influence in policy-making on drug control and enforcement.
- Enhances India’s diplomatic leadership within multilateral institutions like the UN.
- Strengthens India’s position in global discussions on drug-related crimes, trafficking, and health policies.
About UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
Established: 1946 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Mandate:
- Monitor global drug trends and support nations in formulating balanced policies.
- Oversee international drug control conventions (1961, 1971, 1988).
- Decide on the control of substances under global drug laws.
Membership: 53 member states, elected by ECOSOC, with a Bureau representing different regional groups.
Subsidiary Bodies: Includes Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies from Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Near & Middle East.
Meetings:
- Annual sessions to adopt policies and regulations.
- Intersessional meetings throughout the year.
- Reconvened session at year-end to discuss budgetary and administrative matters.
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.