Latin America arrived at the 2016 Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGASS) on drug-related issues without a unified stance. This was despite the fact that the issue being addressed had become a matter of concern for the entire continent rather than just Andean or Central American countries. Mexico, once again, chose to take a solo stance. No Latin American summit was established on this topic, and regional bodies such as the Organization of American States (OEA), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) did not seem to guide the specific actions and pronouncements of the countries involved.
The session's behavior and statements could be categorized into three types: active participants, those taking an intermediate stance, and passive ones. These ranged from promoting revisionist programs to openly opposing changes to the status quo. The intensity of these stances varied from deep to moderate to limited, with some states advocating for significant revisions or obstruction of the status quo.
A strong dispersion was evident in Latin America's behavior regarding drugs, reflecting its distinct position in continental and global geopolitics and its conventional stance of preferring low visibility on negative agendas. In 1990, efforts focused on controlling supply through punitive measures, which was greatly influenced by the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and Asia, and the lack of a unified Latin American stance against prohibitionism. Eight years later, discussions shifted towards a more balanced approach and shared responsibility, though the essence of the global strategy remained unchanged.
In the current context, the main novelty was the early organization of the session in 2016 due to pressure from Latin American countries, which managed to articulate common positions within the assembly. Russia, Indonesia, China, and the US maintained high profiles, while Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Honduras, Cuba, and Venezuela chose a lower profile. Some countries like Russia and Indonesia advocated for deep obstructionism, while China was a moderate obstructionist who rejected innovative language on the subject. The US, however, supported a limited revisionism.
Overall, the main theme of this session was "war against drugs," which has been the cornerstone of global strategies against the problem of drugs since the 1980s. However, the discussion highlighted the need for alternative approaches, emphasizing health concerns, public health approaches, and the fight against international drug trafficking. It also noted the ongoing demand for a deeper focus on public health, prevention, and treatment.
