India to Chair UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the First Time
On Friday, the Indian Embassy in Austria announced that India has been selected to Chair the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, formally took over the Chairmanship of this esteemed UN forum.
The CND is the UN's primary policy-making body on drug-related issues. It is tasked with monitoring global drug trends, assisting Member States in developing balanced policies, and overseeing the enforcement of major international drug conventions.
The CND is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and serves as a governing body for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which is based in Vienna.
In a post on X, the embassy said, "India has been chosen to Chair the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). Shambhu Kumaran officially assumed the Chairmanship of CND today. This is the 1st time that has been named to Chair this important UN body."
This marks the first time India has been appointed to chair this significant UN body. It highlights India's expanding leadership on the global stage and its dedication to tackling international issues through established multilateral frameworks, according to the statement.
As Chair, India will be responsible for representing the interests of the Global South, emphasizing its role in championing the perspectives of developing countries in global discussions.
India will seek to build on the current efforts of the CND to promote dialogue and understanding on drug policy issues, especially by aligning the concerns of emerging economies with the priorities of developed nations, to promote comprehensive and balanced approaches to this important matter.
Over the next year, the CND's agenda is likely to prioritize enhancing international cooperation to tackle key challenges such as illegal drug trafficking, substance abuse, and their related social and health consequences, as well as ensuring the availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific use.
By focusing on multilateral discussions and solutions grounded in evidence, India will maintain its collaboration with other CND member states to promote fair, inclusive, and sustainable strategies on all these matters, the statement noted.