Welcome to the VNGOC e-home

Welcome to the Vienna Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Committee on 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.  From 9 December 2011 the VNGOC was legally registered as an Austrian Association with the Registration Number ZVR-Zahl 995552988.  You can view the registration document here.

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 by exploring this web site and then to contribute to its work through applying for membership by completing the Membership Application Form and returning it to membership@vngoc.org

"Beyond 2008", an initiative of the Committee in partnership with UNODC, provided a platform for civil society to contribute to the review of the 1998-2008 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on illicit drugs. It produced a Declaration and three Resolutions adopted by consensus by all the participants of the Vienna Forum in July 2008. These put forward 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. We have now published a book - Making a Difference - to record the work of Beyond 2008 and the contribution of NGOs from around the world to the UNGASS review. You can read more about "Beyond 2008" by clicking on the "Forum" and "Resolutions and Follow-Up" tabs.

To maintain and build on the achievements to date, the VNGOC has prepared and adopted a Strategic Plan. You can read and download the Strategic Plan here. The independent evaluation of "Beyond 2008" also provides many valuable ideas for future development of the work of the VNGOC. The evaluation can be downloaded here or from the UNODC web site.  To implement the Strategic Plan and respond to the independent evaluation, an Operational Plan has been developed and agreed.  The plan for 2011 - 2012 can be downloaded here.  The plan for 2009 - 2011 can be downloaded here.

Much has been achieved in recent years but there is much more to achieve in ensuring that NGOs are valid and valued contributors and partners in the debate and the development of international drug policy. We hope that you will join us in this work through active membership of the VNGOC.

Sincerely,

Michel Perron
Chair of the VNGOC