KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senator Mark Golding, minister of justice, today participated in a plenary session with several UN member states at the United Nations in a High Level Thematic Debate on International Drug Policy.

This High Level Debate was convened in cooperation with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in preparation for the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) scheduled for April 19-21 2016.

The Special Session will be an important milestone for the international drug policy debate and will provide an opportunity for an honest assessment of the successes and failures of global drug control policies. The Thematic Debate will therefore be the first time the UNGASS preparations will be discussed in New York and is intended to call attention to the future of international drug control.

These discussions are with a view to presenting a common and collaborative position and explore the way forward in light of new developments and global trends.

Minister Golding highlighted Jamaica’s perspectives on drug control policies and participated in this debate that encourages open and inclusive discussions.

These discussions are timely, given the recent amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act. These amendments bring the legislation more in line with the social and economic realities of Jamaica, including the Constitution. These changes also carefully weigh its international obligations under treaties dealing with drugs and other narcotics.