Vienna NGO Committee
Welcome to the Vienna Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee on Narcotic Drugs (VNGOC) e-home!
The committee is a vital link between NGO's and the key intergovernmental and international agencies involved in drug policy, strategy and control: the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Established in 1983, the Committee works with these organisations to provide information on NGO activities, draw attention to areas of concern, build partnerships between governmental and non-governmental organisations and to involve a wide sector of civil society in contributing to the development of global drug policies.
The VNGOC is composed of members representing international, national and local NGOs and represents a key mechanism for NGOs to substantively contribute to global drug policy. I urge you to learn more about the VNGOC and to contact us at info@vngoc.org.
Since 2007, "Beyond 2008", an initiative of the Committee in partnership with UNODC, has provided a unique and important platform for civil society to contribute to the review of the 1998-2008 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on illicit drugs. You can read more under the "Beyond 2008" tab.
The outcome of "Beyond 2008" has been a Declaration and three Resolutions adopted by consensus on 9 July, 2008 by all the participants of the Vienna Forum. These have been well received by many UN Member States, UNODC and INCB, and many of the recommendations are reflected in the documents being prepared for the High Level Segment of the 52nd session of CND.
The “Beyond 2008 Forum Outcomes” tab reports on what has been achieved to date. Please bring the declaration and resolutions to the attention of your own government and seek their support for the recommendations. We have created a series of proposals which command consensus across the rich diversity of philosophies and approaches within the NGO community. We now have the responsibility to build on that consensus and ensure that governments and international agencies draw on the recommendations to create inclusive and effective drug policy, strategy and practice.
Sincerely,
David Turner
Chair of the VNGOC
