This statement was developed by IWG Teresa Castro in collaboration with NGO Kosmicare (Portugal). The INCB Board invited, through the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, civil society representatives to meet with the Board during its 143rd session. The 143rd session of the Board took place from 20 to 30 May 2025. Due to the United Nations Secretariat’s regular budget liquidity crisis, the duration of the Board’s session was reduced and in view of the limited time available as well as interpretation constraints, the online meeting of the Board with NGOs on 22 May 2025 was unfortunately limited to 30 minutes, comprising six brief interventions by NGOs.