The international drug policy landscape is under review, and young people who use drugs or are affected by drug policies must be at the center of the conversation. If you have lived experience or work in drug policy advocacy, now is the time to shape the future of the global drug control system!
What is the CND Expert Panel and What is it Reviewing? Established by Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) Resolution 68/6, the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel consists of 19 independent experts tasked with reviewing how the three UN drug conventions, human rights treaties, and international drug policy commitments are being implemented on the ground. The Panel will produce clear, specific, and actionable recommendations to shape government priorities ahead of the 2029 global review.
Why Youth Experience is Fundamental Global drug policies are often justified as a way to “protect” young people, but the reality is that the implementation of these policies, such as punitive policing, criminal records, and age limits on harm reduction services, frequently causes profound harm. Your lived experience and perspective are essential to advise the experts, ensuring that future policies uphold public health and human rights rather than punishing young people.
Build Your Written Submission with Us!
We know that engaging with UN mechanisms can feel overwhelming, so we co-created a Statement Builder tool to help you construct your written submission easily.
Guided Steps: The tool asks you targeted questions about your specific issue and experience.
Connect the Dots: It provides plain-language options to seamlessly link your local challenge directly to the international system (treaties, human rights, and UN agencies).
Format and Send: Once completed, you can review your draft, save it as a PDF, and send it directly to the Panel from your own email account.
Catch Up on Our Info Sessions To help young advocates navigate this process, we recently hosted dedicated information sessions outlining how to engage with the Panel. If you missed them, you can review the core strategies and advice by accessing our slideshow.