A/RES/56/124
political systems, stability, national security and sovereignty of many States,
especially those involved in conflicts and wars, and that trafficking in drugs could
make conflict resolution more difficult,
Deeply alarmed by the violence and economic power of criminal organizations
and terrorist groups engaged in drug-trafficking activities and other criminal
activities, such as money-laundering and illicit traffic in arms, precursors and
essential chemicals, and by the increasing transnational links between them, and
recognizing the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation and
implementation of effective strategies on the basis of the outcome of the twentieth
special session of the General Assembly, which are essential to achieving results
against all forms of transnational criminal activities,
Welcoming the call on States and appropriate international and regional
organizations in a position to do so to provide assistance, upon request, to combat
the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons linked to drug trafficking,
transnational organized crime and terrorism, as expressed in the outcome document
of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects, 5
Noting with grave concern the global increase in the use of minors in the illicit
production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well
as in the number of children and young people starting to use drugs at an earlier age
and in their access to substances not previously used,
Alarmed by the rapid and widespread increase in the illicit manufacture,
trafficking and consumption, in particular by young people, of synthetic drugs in
many countries and by the high probability that amphetamine-type stimulants, in
particular methamphetamine and amphetamine, may become drugs of choice among
abusers in the twenty-first century,
Deeply convinced that the special session made a significant contribution to a
new comprehensive framework for international cooperation, based on an integrated
and balanced approach with strategies, measures, methods, practical activities, goals
and specific targets to be met, that all States, the United Nations system and other
international organizations must implement them with concrete actions and that the
international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, and the regional
development banks should be invited to include action against the world drug
problem in their programmes, taking into account the priorities of States,
Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting
the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration
adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, and welcoming the
guidelines for reporting on the follow-up to the twentieth special session adopted by
the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its reconvened forty-second session, 6 as well
as the elements recommended to the Executive Director of the United Nations
International Drug Control Programme by the Commission at its forty-fourth session
for the preparation of subsequent reports, 7
_______________
5
See A/CONF.192/15, chap. IV.
Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1),
part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, annex.
7
Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/2.
6
2