For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/1413
23 June 2020
The International Narcotics Control Board e-learning modules attract hundreds of new participants
VIENNA, 23 June (United Nations Information Service) - Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the introduction of restrictions that have stopped face-to-face training, the demand for online training by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for competent national authorities has significantly increased. In the last three months alone, 394 government officials of 33 countries and territories have enrolled in the
INCB e-learning modules.
INCB Learning assists Member States in implementing the three international drug control conventions, particularly the recommendations of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) outcome document and the Board's 2015 and 2018 reports on availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. Three e-learning modules are available in English and Spanish for competent national authorities free of charge. These support governments in estimating and assessing their needs for internationally controlled substances, and provide interactive training on:
•the estimates system for narcotic drugs,
•the assessment system for psychotropic Substances, and
•estimates of annual legitimate requirements (ALRs) for imports of precursors of amphetamine-type stimulants.
The e-learning modules are intended to assist competent national authorities in building capacity and maintaining an institutional knowledge base so that they are able to retain the relevant knowledge, even at times of staff turnover.
As of 18 June 2020, INCB Learning has received access requests to the e-learning modules from 740 government officials of 94 countries and territories. This is a significant level of acceptance, particularly considering that these modules are exclusively for use by officials of competent national authorities. Access to the modules can be requested at
incb.learning@un.org. Upon completion of the INCB e-learning modules, participation is acknowledged with an online certificate of completion.
INCB Learning is looking forward to reaching a larger audience with the development of the e-modules in other United Nations official languages besides English and Spanish. The Board
has invited Governments to consider actively supporting INCB Learning by participating in its activities and providing the resources required to ensure the project's continuation and expansion. The activities of INCB Learning have been made possible through the contributions of the Governments of Australia, Belgium, France, the Russian Federation, Thailand and the United States.
Under the INCB Learning global project, the e-learning modules are complemented by
regional training seminars and availability workshops. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, live webinars commenced on 8 June 2020 to provide further training on the implementation of the international drug control conventions with a focus on treaty compliance and exchange of best practices among countries.
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INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the thirteen members of the Board are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.
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For further information, please contact:
INCB Secretariat
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060-4163
Email: incb.secretariat[at]un.org
www.incb.org