FINAL ACT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961

1. The Eonomic and Social Council of the United Nations, noting that amendments had been proposed to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and bearing in mind article 47 of that Convention, decided by its resolution 1577 (L) of 21 May 1971 to call, in accordance with Article 62, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations a conference of plenipotentiaries to consider all amendments proposed to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.

2. The United Nations Conference to consider amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, met at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 6 to 24 March 1972.

3. The following 97 States were represented by representatives at the Conference:

4. The following States were represented by observers at the Conference:

5. The Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 1577 (L), requested the Secretary-General to invite to the Conference the World Health Organization and other interested specialized agencies, the International Narcotics Control Board and the International Criminal Police Organization. The World Health Organization, the International Narcotics Control Board and the International Criminal Police Organization were represented at the Conference.

6. The Conference elected Mr. K. B. Asante (Ghana) as President of the Conference, Mr. D. Nikolić (Yugoslavia) as First Vice-President, and as the other Vice-Presidents the representatives of the following States:

Lebanon

Mexico
Turkey

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland

United States of America

7. Mr. V. Winspeare-Guicciardi, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, was the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Executive Secretary of the Conference was Dr. V. Kušević, the Legal Adviser of the Conference was Mr. G. Wattles and the Deputy Executive Secretary and Deputy Legal Adviser was Mr. P. Raton.

8. The Conference had before it the amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, which were proposed by States participating in the Conference.

9. The Conference set up the following committees:

General Committee

Chairman: The President of the Conference

Committee I

Chairman: Dr. R. A. Chapman (Canada)

Committee II

Chairman: Dr. Béla Bölcs (Hungary)

Drafting Committee

Chairman: Mr. J-P, Bertschinger (Switzerland)

Credentials Committee

Chairman: Mr. J. W. Lennon (Ireland)

10. Committee I established a working group on article 14, the Chairman of which was Mr. A. C. Kirca (Turkey).

11. As a result of its deliberations, as recorded in the summary records of the Plenary and Committees I and II, the Conference adopted and opened for signature the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. In addition, the Conference adopted three resolutions annexed to this Final Act.

DONE at Geneva, this twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-two, in a single copy in the English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic. The original text shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the representatives have signed this Final Act.

RESOLUTIONS

ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961

Resolution I

SECRETARIAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD

The Conference,

Considering that the measures adopted by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1196 (XLII) of 16 May 1967 (1464th plenary meeting) met the wishes of the States Parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and to the earlier conventions still in force,

Recommends the continuation of the system which was instituted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and whose main provisions are as follows:

1. The International Narcotics Control Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board) has a secretariat distinct from the Division of Narcotic Drugs;

2. That secretariat is an integral part of the Secretariat of the United Nations; while under the full administrative control of the Secretary-General, it is bound to carry out the decisions of the Board;

3. The members of the secretariat are appointed or assigned by the Secretary-General; the head of that secretariat is appointed or assigned in consultation with the Board.

The Conference,

Resolution II

ASSISTANCE IN NARCOTICS CONTROL

Recalling that assistance to developing countries is a concrete manifestation of the will of the international community to honour the commitment contained in the United Nations Charter to promote the social and economic progress of all peoples,

Recalling the special arrangements made by the United Nations General Assembly under its resolution 1395 (XIV) with a view to the provision of technical assistance for drug abuse control,

Welcoming the establishment pursuant to United Nations General Assembly resolution 2719 (XXV), of a United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control,

Noting that the Conference has adopted a new article 14 bis concerning technical and financial assistance to promote more effective execution of the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961,

1. Declares that, to be more effective, the measures taken against drug abuse must be co-ordinated and universal;

2. Declares further that the fulfilment by the developing countries of their obligations under the Convention will be facilitated by adequate technical and financial assistance from the international community.

Resolution III

SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND PROTECTION AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION

The Conference,

Recalling that the Preamble to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, states that the Parties to the Convention are "concerned with the health and welfare of mankind” and are "conscious of their duty to prevent and combat" the evil of drug addiction,

Considering that the discussions at the Conference have given evidence of the desire to take effective steps to prevent drug addiction,

Considering that, while drug addiction leads to personal degradation and social disruption, it happens very often that the deplorable social and economic conditions in which certain individuals and certain groups are living predispose them to drug addiction,

Recognizing that social factors have a certain and sometimes preponderant influence on the behaviour of individuals and groups,

Recommends that the Parties:

1. Should bear in mind that drug addiction is often the result of an unwholesome social atmosphere in which those who are most exposed to the danger of drug abuse live;

2. Should do everything in their power to combat the spread of the illicit use of drugs;

3. Should develop leisure and other activities conducive to the sound physical and psychological health of young people.