Addressing the rapid expansion of illicit synthetic substance production and trafficking is crucial for safeguarding public health, security, and social stability worldwide. While legitimate pharmaceutical innovation offers benefits, the unregulated proliferation of potent synthetic drugs made possible by exploitation of legal loopholes, new synthetic compounds and the usage of artificial intelligence to find alternative chemicals for drug production fuels addiction, organized crime, and violence, devastating communities and overwhelming healthcare systems globally. The international community must focus on strengthening precursor regulations, enhancing cooperation amongst governments, private companies, and international organisations, investing in public health prevention and treatment programs, and disrupting online trafficking networks. International cooperation is crucial for harmonizing regulations, sharing intelligence, and building capacity in vulnerable regions. Effectively countering this threat ensures that scientific progress and global connectivity do not come at the cost of fueling a devastating and unregulated illicit drug trade. 

Chair Reports Coming Soon

Addressing illegal mining, trafficking, and instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) driven by surging mineral demand is critical for achieving sustainable development, peace, and human rights protection. While mineral extraction offers potential economic benefits and is vital for commerce and production worldwide, illicit activities fuel conflict, finance armed groups, enable severe human rights abuses, and deprive local communities of vital revenues. The international community must focus on establishing and enforcing robust supply chain due diligence and traceability mechanisms, supporting formalization of the mining sector, strengthening governance and anti-corruption measures, and ensuring responsible sourcing by global industries. International cooperation is essential to provide technical assistance, support security sector reform, and hold companies accountable for their supply chains. Tackling this complex nexus ensures that the global transition to green and digital technologies does not come at the cost of perpetuating conflict and exploitation in mineral-rich regions like the DRC. 

Chair Reports Coming Soon