FINAL ACT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
CONFERENCE TO
CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE SINGLE CONVENTION
ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961
1. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, noting that amendments had been proposed to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and bearing in mind article 47 of that Convention, decided by its resolution 1577 (L) of 21 May 1971 to call, in accordance with Article 62, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations a conference of plenipotentiaries to consider all amendments proposed to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
2. The United Nations Conference to consider amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, met at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 6 to 24 March 1972.
3. The following 97 States were represented by representatives at the Conference:
Afghanistan | Haiti | Nigeria |
Algeria | Holy See | Norway |
Argentina | Hungary | Pakistan |
Australia | India | Panama |
Austria | Indonesia | Peru |
Belgium | Iran | Philippines |
Bolivia | Iraq | Poland |
Brazil | Ireland | Portugal |
Bulgaria | Israel | Republic of Korea |
Burma | Italy | Republic of Viet-Nam |
Burundi | Ivory Coast | Saudi Arabia |
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic | Jamaica | Senegal |
Canada | Japan | Sierra Leone |
Ceylon | Jordan | Singapore |
Chile | Kenya | South Africa |
Colombia | Khmer Republic | Spain |
Costa Rica | Kuwait | Sudan |
Cuba | Laos | Sweden |
Cyprus | Lebanon | Switzerland |
Czechoslovakia | Liberia | Thailand |
Dahomey | Libyan Arab Republic | Togo |
Denmark | Liechtenstein | Tunisia |
Ecuador | Luxembourg | Turkey |
Egypt | Madagascar | Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic |
El Salvador | Malawi | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
Federal Republic of Germany | Mexico | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Finland | Monaco | United States of America |
France | Mongolian People’s Republic | Uruguay |
Gabon | Morocco | Venezuela |
Gambia | Netherlands | Yugoslavia |
Ghana | New Zealand | Zaïre |
Greece | Nicaragua | |
Guatemala | Niger |
4. The following States were represented by observers at the Conference:
Cameroon | Malaysia | Romania |
Dominican Republic | Malta |
5. The Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 1577 (L), requested the Secretary-General to invite to the Conference the World Health Organization and other interested specialized agencies, the International Narcotics Control Board and the International Criminal Police Organization. The World Health Organization, the International Narcotics Control Board and the International Criminal Police Organization were represented at the Conference.
6. The Conference elected Mr. K. B. Asante (Ghana) as President of the Conference, Mr. D. Nikoli (Yugoslavia) as First Vice-President, and as the other Vice-Presidents the representatives of the following States:
Argentina | Lebanon | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Egypt | Mexico | United States of America |
France | Turkey | |
India | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
7. Mr. V. Winspeare-Guicciardi, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, was the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Executive Secretary of the Conference was Dr. V. Kuševi, the Legal Adviser of the Conference was Mr. G. Wattles and the Deputy Executive Secretary and Deputy Legal Adviser was Mr. P. Raton.
8. The Conference had before it the amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, which were proposed by States participating in the Conference.
9. The Conference set up the following committees:
General Committee
Chairman: The President of the Conference
Committee I
Chairman: Dr. R. A. Chapman (Canada)
Committee II
Chairman: Dr. Béla Bölcs (Hungary)
Drafting Committee
Chairman: Mr. J-P, Bertschinger (Switzerland)
Credentials Committee
Chairman: Mr. J. W. Lennon (Ireland)
10. Committee 1 established a working group on article 14, the Chairman of which was Mr. A. C. Kirca (Turkey).
11. As a result of its deliberations, as recorded in the summary records of the Plenary and Committees 1 and 11, the Conference adopted and opened for signature the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 196 1. In addition, the Conference adopted three resolutions annexed to this Final Act.
DONE at Geneva, this twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-two, in a single copy in the English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic. The original text shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the representatives have signed this Final Act.
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