Political News

Australia Re-elected to UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

By Joshua Smith - 10th May, 2001

In a decision made in New York on the the 3rd of May, Australia was re-elected to the United Nation's Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

Australia will fill one of five positions on the Commission reserved for the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). The other WEOG members are the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Australia secured 49 votes from the 54 members of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN body that oversees CND.

Australia's re-election to CND demonstrates the international community's high regard for Australia's continuing commitment and contribution to the fight against the global trade in illicit drugs. Australia will continue to make an important contribution to CND’s work in supervising the activities of the United Nations International Drug Program (UNDCP), which coordinates the international response to the global drug problem.

Australia's re-election also demonstrates the country's long-term commitment to CND, having been a member continually since 1973. Australia's membership will now continue until 2006.

CND, established in 1946, is the central policy making body within the United Nations for dealing with all drug related matters, and develops proposals to strengthen international drug control.