In the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Representatives from Malta and Brazil are at the center of an effort to build a coalition for a new resolution on drug prevention. Their success will be based on the ability to reconcile various Member State’s stances on public education with views on security and enforcement. This contrasts their different priorities creating complex negotiations.

For smaller Member States like Malta, the coalition is a way to have a broader representation in the committee. Representative Brian Holmstrom of Malta said, “As Malta, we’re a small country, so anything of substance that we say gets added to a resolution would be huge for us.” The ongoing negotiations will test whether concerns of awareness and security can be put together into a single resolution capable of addressing the reality of global drug prevention. Representative Holmstrom said,“Malta is mainly focused on awareness. We believe that having an educated population that knows the types of drugs and signs of human trafficking is the biggest stop toward a generally safer international community.” This view is grounded in a strategy of change through education.

In contrast, Brazil’s representatives bring a focus on immediate security concerns. Representative Rafael Almanza Jr. of Brazil says, “Brazil is very steadfast on keeping militarization to a maximum when it comes to dealing with terrorists and cartels. We feel one of the best ways to curb drugs is to prevent the traffic from happening in the first place.” This stance is reflective of Brazil’s direct experience with transnational criminal organizations.

Representatives are now wrestling with the difficult task of bringing together education and enforcement into a single strategy. The final resolution will prove its value in how well it combines the desires of the whole committee. A lasting solution must protect at-risk youth while also dismantling the criminal networks that target them.