United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Blog5 June 2025

'When the going gets tough’: Leadership change at UNODC amidst global turmoil, UN reforms and drug policy opportunities

Ghada Waly’s resignation offers the UN Secretary-General a chance to appoint a leader who will align UNODC with human rights-based drug policies and the broader UN system.

News28 November 2024

Human rights must be at the core of drug policy - Open letter to Ms. Ghada Waly calling for strong UNODC statement on International Human Rights Day

Organisations worldwide urge UNODC's Executive Director to mark International Human Rights Day 2024 by calling on Member States to align drug policies and practices with human rights, and commit to placing human rights at the centre of all dimensions of the UNODC’s work.

Events

The future of drug policy: Health and well-being for all

Online

20 September 2024

The ImPACT Coalition organises a discussion on how responses to drug-related issues can help progress the Sustainable Development Goals.

Blog26 June 2024

World Drug Day 2024: Human rights and harm reduction take centre stage while UN drugs agency grapples with denial

The UN system increasingly questions the validity of the 'drug war', embracing harm reduction and decriminalisation — so why is UNODC stuck in the inertia of the past?

Publications20 June 2024

World Drug Report 2024

UNODC provide an update on global drug markets, trends, and policy developments – including, for the first time, a chapter on the right to health and drug use.

Events

CND Chair's special event to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and to launch the 2024 UNODC World Drug Report

Vienna International Centre, Board room D & Online

26 June 2024

To mark World Drug Day 2024, join the CND at a special event to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as well as the launch of the 2024 World Drug Report.

Events

Evidence to impact: Powering effective drug policy with data collection and research

26 June 2024

This special event will commemorate World Drug Day and launch the 2024 UNODC World Drug Report.

Publications23 January 2024

Analysis of the World Drug Report 2023: The promise and peril of going green

IDPC, Viso Mutop and GDPO explore the report's discussion of buoyant drug markets and UNODC's stance on key issues like decriminalisation, human rights and environmental impact, noting the growing influence of green criminology and its potential to reshape perspectives.

Publications21 December 2023

Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023: Cultivation, production, and implications

The UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific describes the diverging trends and drivers in the production of opium and heroin in Myanmar and Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR).

Publications14 December 2023

Addressing gender-based violence against women and people of diverse gender identity and expression who use drugs

UNODC outlines practical responses that government can take to address gender-based violence and HIV experienced by women and people of diverse gender identity and expression who use drugs.

Blog11 December 2023

International Human Rights Day 2023: The time to correct course on UN drug policy & human rights is now

The entire UN system, including CND and UNODC, must join the growing number of UN agencies and Member States documenting and denouncing the harms of the ‘war on drugs’, and calling for drug policies that centre human rights.

Publications22 August 2023

Youth response to the 2023 World Drug Report

The Paradigma Youth Coalition present their response to the 2023 World Drug Report, emphasising the importance of involving young people in shaping progressive drug policies with evidence-based approaches, inclusivity and harm reduction at their core.

Explore more content