Bolivia Withdraws from the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

Will re-accede with a reservation on the coca leaf and its traditional uses

30 June 2011

Drugs and Democracy

TNI/WOLA Press release

The Bolivian government formally notified the UN Secretary General of its withdrawal from the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

The withdrawal will enter into effect on 1 January 2012. At that time, Bolivia will re-accede to the Convention with a reservation on the coca leaf and its traditional uses. Bolivia’s step – the first of its kind in the history of the UN drug control treaties – comes after the rejection earlier this year of its proposal to delete the Single Convention’s obligation that "coca leaf chewing must be abolished" (article 49). A number of countries, including the United States, objected. Read more.

Kristel Mucino, TNI/WOLA Drug Law Reform Project Communications Coordinator kmucino@wola.org; 01-617-584-1713

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