UN drug conventions

News10 September 2026

CND Expert Panel invites contributions to independent review of UN drug policy

Civil society, communities and other stakeholders are invited to submit evidence, experiences and recommendations to the CND Expert Panel, as it considers the future of the UN drug control system ahead of the 2029 high-level review.

Events

Geneva course on drug policy, public health, and diplomacy 2026 [POSTPONED]

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

19 October 2026 - 22 October 2026

The University of Geneva organises a three-day course, in person and online, on the international drug control regime and its consequences for public health and human rights, with a limited number of full scholarships.

Blog8 September 2026

Celebrating Martin Jelsma’s contribution to the drug policy reform movement

After more than three decades at the forefront of drug policy reform, Martin Jelsma retires from TNI, leaving an extraordinary legacy of advancing human rights, social justice and more humane approaches to drugs.

Events

CND Intersessional meeting - Thematic discussions (December 2026)

Vienna, Austria

7 December 2026 - 9 December 2026

The CND will hold thematic discussions in December 2026.

Publications22 July 2026

Progress amidst uncertainty: Report of the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

IDPC discusses the Commission's post-consensus 'new normal' and how it creates opportunities for progress on harm reduction and reform amid growing divisions and threats to rights.

Publications20 July 2026

$Progress amidst fracture: reflections from the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (March 2026)$

Progress amidst fracture: reflections from the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (March 2026)

Bridge, Nougier and Barrett reflect on the fractures exposed at the 69th session of the CND and argue that the collapse of consensus is creating new space for harm reduction, human rights and reform.

News12 July 2026

The sacred Indigenous origins of the coca leaf

Indigenous communities are reclaiming the coca leaf’s sacred origins and challenging decades of international control, criminalisation and stigma.

Blog26 June 2026

Documenting failure, avoiding solutions: Reflections on the World Drug Report 2026

The publication provides compelling evidence of the failures of punitive drug policies, but sorely lacks engagement with harm reduction, decriminalisation, responsible regulation and other evidence-based alternatives.

Events

CND Chair's special event: World Drug Day - Launch of the 2026 UNODC World Drug Report

Vienna, Austria / Online

26 June 2026

Member States, UN entities, civil society and other stakeholders will address evolving drug policy challenges and evidence-based responses.

News17 April 2026

Every step to improve lives is worth fighting for: Martin Jelsma on a 30-year drug policy struggle

TNI's Programme Director for Drugs & Democracy reflects on his career, noting both key areas of progress and the persistent, damaging pull toward securitisation.

News13 April 2026

UNGASS promises unfulfilled: Marie Nougier on the challenges facing global drug policy

Marie Nougier discusses progress, limitations and setbacks after a decade of the 2016 UNGASS.

News12 April 2026

Coca chronicles: Monitoring the UN coca review - Issue #7: Coca review denouement

The WHO’s decision to keep coca leaf under strict controls highlights weak legal reasoning, disregard for scientific evidence, and ongoing harms to Indigenous rights.

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