Claudio Vitalone, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy, speaks at the Special Session on Drugs on 21 February 21 1990 in New York, United States. UN Photo/Milton Grant
17th Special Session of the General Assembly: narcotic drugs, 20-23 February 1990, New York
Background
An alarming situation
The 17th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly took place on February 20, 1990 in New York and was focused on international cooperation against illicit production, supply, demand, trafficking and distribution of narcotic drugs. Member States were concerned about the growing scale of the problem and were alarmed because it posed a threat to the health and well-being of mankind, as well as the stability of nations, and the political, economic, social and cultural structures of all societies.
At the end of this session it was decided that the upcoming decade 1991-2000 would be the United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse. The 17th Special Session also approved a to combat the drug scourge.
Documents