MAJOR UN DRUG

CONVENTIONS
PRESENTED BY TRAINEE ASI
MUHAMMAD NOUMAN NASIR (522)
 What is Convention

• A set of agreed , stipulated or generally accepted

social norms , standards or criteria.
• An accord between states or nations, which
resemble a treaty: ordinarily applied to agreement
prior to an execution of an official treaty or which
serve as its foundation.
• An agreement between states , sides , or military
forces , especially an international agreement
dealing on a specific subject.
 International Drug Control

• International drug control is one of the

oldest forms of multilateralism.
• The international Opium Commission was
convened in Shanghai , China in 1909
• The first instrument of international law to
deal with psychoactive substances- the
Hague Opium Convention of 1912.
 International Drug Control

• 1931 Convention
International control over compounds derived from
natural raw materials , for example , natural alkaloids,
such as morphine or cocaine, and semi-synthetic
derivatives of opium alkaloids , such as heroin.
• The 1948 Protocol
Brought synthetic narcotic drugs under international
control
• The 1953 Protocol
Specially prohibited the non medical use of opium , and it
required each producing country to establish a monopoly
to control the cultivation of the opium poppy and the
production of opium.
 UN DRUG CONVENTIONS

• THREE MAJOR UNITED NATIONS DRUG

CONVENTIONS
 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics
Drugs , 1961 as amended by the 1972 protocol.
 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic
Substances , 1971.
 The Convention Against Illicit Traffic of Narcotic
Drug and Psychotropic Substances , 1988 (Vienna
Convention)
United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs ,
1961

• International treaty against illicit drug manufacture

and trafficking that forms the bedrock of the global
drug control regime.
• Previous treaties had only controlled opium , coca ,
and derivatives such as morphine and heroin.
• The single Convention adopted in 1961 , consolidated
those treaties , broadening their scope to include
cannabis and allow control of any drugs with similar
effects.
• The Single Convention entered into force on
December 13 , 1964.
 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs ,
1961

• This Convention aims to combat drug abuse by

coordinating international action.
• There are two forms of intervention and control that
work together:
- First , it seeks to limit the possession , use , trade in ,
distribution , import , export , manufacture and
production of drugs exclusively to medical and
scientific purposes.
- Second, it combats drug trafficking through
international cooperation to deter and discourage
drug traffickers.
 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs ,
1961

• This Convention affirms the importance of medical

use of controlled substances.
• It unambiguously condemns drug addiction.
• It takes a prohibitionist approach to the problem of
drug abuse , attempting to stop all non-medical ,
non-scientific use of narcotic drugs.
• It mandates International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB) to administer provisions of this convention.
 Limitations of 1961 Single Convention

• The single Convention allows only drugs with morphine ,

cocaine, and cannabis like effects to be added to the
Schedules.
• The strength of the drug is not relevant; only the similarity of
its effects to the substances already controlled.
• The Single Convention of Narcotics Drugs of 1961 could not
regulate the many newly discovered substances , since its
scope was limited to drugs with cannabis, coca, and opium
like effects.
• The abuse of barbiturates, tranquilizers , LSD and
amphetamines etc , increased greatly around the world in
1960s, especially in Western nations , while they were kept
outside the scope of the Single Convention.
 Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971

• The Convention established an international control

system for psychotropic substances such as
amphetamines , barbiturates , and LSD.
• It responded to the diversification and expansion of
the spectrum of drugs of abuse and introduced
controls over a number of synthetic drugs
• The convention contains import and export
restrictions and other rules aimed at limiting use of
psychotropic substance to scientific and medical
purposes.
 Limitations of United Nations Convention on Psychotropic
Substances 1971

• The 1971 Convention was designed to control

legitimate pharmaceutical markets, rather than illicit
markets , a limitation that hampered efforts to stem
clandestine production and trade of ATS like
amphetamines methamphetamine , MDMA (ecstasy)
and other stimulants.
• 1971 convention failed to be applied to “precursors”
i.e. substances “ readily convertible “ into a substance
under control.
 Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances , 1988

• This Convention provides comprehensive measures

against drug trafficking , including provisions against
money laundering and diversion of precursor
chemicals.
• It provides for international cooperation through , for
example, extradition of drug traffickers , controlled
deliveries and transfer of proceedings.
 The Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances , 1988

The Precincts behind the Convention :

• There is link between illicit traffic in drugs and other related organized criminal activities which
undermine the legitimate economies and effect the stability , security and sovereignty of States.
• Illicit traffic is an international criminal activity the suppression of which demands urgent attention and
highest priority.
• Illicit traffic generates large financial profits and wealth enabling transitional criminal organizations to
penetrate, contaminate and corrupt the structures of Government , legitimate commercial and financial
business and society at all its levels.
• Eradication of illicit traffic is the collective responsibility of all the states and the coordinated action
within the framework of International cooperation is necessary for the purpose.
• There was a need to reinforce and supplement the measures provided in the Single Convention on
Narcotics Drugs , 1961 and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances , in order to counter the
magnitude and extent of illicit traffic and its grave consequences.
 Main Features of 1988 Convention

Precursor Control
Confiscation of Proceeds of Drugs
Controlled Delivery
Eradication of Illicit Cultivation
Extradition
Mutual Legal Assistance
Transfer of Proceedings
 Precursor Control

• This Convention Lists the substance frequently used in

the illicit manufacture of narcotics drugs and
psychotropic substances , commonly referred to as
precursors , in two Tables called Tables I and II.
• Any party exporting the notified substance in Table I is
required to issue pre-export notification to the
importing country.
• Parties to take measures to prevent diversion of these
substances from the licit channels to the illicit
manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
It’s Over For Now