Andrés Finguerut

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Andrés Finguerut
Chief, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, UNODC
In office
2021–2023
Preceded byGilberto Gerra
29th Secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board
In office
2011–2020
Preceded byJonathan Lucas
Succeeded byMark Colhoun
Secretary of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
In office
2004–2011
Preceded byJonathan Lucas
Succeeded byJo Dedyne-Aman
Personal details
NationalityBritish[1]
SpouseHelena Johansson
ResidenceVienna, Austria
EducationMaster, development economics

Andrés Finguerut is a former United Nations civil servant, successively secretary of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board (2011–2020) and chief of the drug prevention and health branch at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2020–2023).

Career[edit]

After graduating a M.A. in development economics,[2] Finguerut started working as civil servant at the United Nations Office at Vienna.[3][4][5]

Finguerut was appointed Secretary of the United Nations' Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in 2004,[6] under the Commissions Secretariat Section of the UNODC's Division for Treaty Affairs.[7] He remained in that position until 2011 when he was replaced by Jo Dedyne-Aman.[8]

In 2011, Finguerut was appointed Secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) by Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, in replacement of Jonathan Lucas.[9] Fingerut was INCB secretary during the chairmanship of Hamid Ghodse,[10] at times of prime relevance for the institution, characterized by an increased diplomatic presence.[11] He was Secretary until 30 June 2020. Upon his departure, the INCB released a communiqué to:

express its appreciation to Mr. Finguerut for his almost nine years at the helm of the INCB secretariat, and for his service to the Board in strengthening international drug control, and in responding to the emerging challenges and the changing nature of the world drug problem.[12]

In June 2020, Finguerut joined the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as chief of the "Drug Prevention and Health Branch"[13] under Director-General Ghada Waly.[14] In that position, he was involved in various working groups with governments[15] and civil society.[16]

Criticism[edit]

As CND Secretary, Finguerut was criticized by some civil society groups, including Human Rights Watch, for banning non-governmental organizations from access to the main negotiating forum of the commission.[17]

During Finguerut's term as INCB Secretary, he maintained conflictual relations with some countries, particularly in the case of Bolivia after its withdrawal from the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 2011 and subsequent reservation on coca leaf the next year.[18][19] Finguerut also opposed countries like Uruguay and Canada after their decisions to legalize cannabis for non-medical use.

His nomination as head of the health section of UNODC at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic[20] was criticized for his lack of qualifications in health-related sciences.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ United Nations Handbook. New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2012.
  2. ^ UNOV (2015). "UNODC Senior Officials" (PDF). Republic of Austria, Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs.
  3. ^ "Bi-monthly Note for the Secretary-General for the period 1-15 October 1999 [UNOV/ODCCP No. 19/1999]" (PDF). UNOV. 1999.
  4. ^ Industria: órgano informativo de la Confederación de Cámaras Industriales (in Spanish). Confederación de Cámaras Industriales. 1996.
  5. ^ Nuestro futuro depende de su presente. La niñez ante los riesgos de las adicciones (PDF). Mexico City: UNODC. 1999. ISBN 970-9074-02-4.
  6. ^ "Special issue on the Commission on Narcotic Drugs: High-level segment of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs adopts declaration" (PDF). FOCUS on International Drug Control - Newsletter of the International Narcotics Control Board. 2009 (3). 2009 – via INCB.
  7. ^ "UNODC Organizational Chart" (PDF). 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  8. ^ Asghar Soltanieh, Ali (2011). "Statement of the G77 and China delivered by H.E. Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh, permanent representative of the I.R. of Iran, during the 54th reconvened session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 12-13 december 2011" (PDF). G77 and China, Vienna chapter.
  9. ^ INCB (2011). "NEW INCB SECRETARY: Mr. Andrés Finguerut (United Kingdom) has been appointed as Secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board". incb.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 11 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Gulland, Anne (2013-02-19). "Hamid Ghodse". BMJ. 346: f1069. doi:10.1136/bmj.f1069. ISSN 1756-1833. S2CID 220097783.
  11. ^ "INCB President meets Pope Francis to discuss drug control, youth prevention and access to essential medicines". IDPC. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  12. ^ International Narcotics Control Board (2020). "Change in the INCB secretariat". www.incb.org. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  13. ^ "Andrés Finguerut". United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  14. ^ Heredia, Franchesca (2021). "Consejo de Drogas afirma trabaja para erradicar los casos de adicciones a sustancias ilícitas en RD". Extra Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  15. ^ Александровна, Тюрина Алевтина. "CARICC take part in Paris Pact Initiative Expert Working Group online meeting". caricc.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  16. ^ Penal Reform International; WHO; Health in Prisons Programme; UNODC (2021). "Event: COVID-19 in prisons: vaccinations and responses". Penal Reform International. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  17. ^ "Letter to ECOSOC and the UNODC re: exclusion of NGOs from CND Committee of the Whole – HIV Legal Network". www.hivlegalnetwork.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  18. ^ Redacción (2012). "Defensa del acullico causa fricciones entre Bolivia y la JIFE". La Opinión de Bolivia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  19. ^ "Bolivia tilda de sesgada e inaceptable la posición de la ONU sobre la hoja de coca | Noticias | elmundo.es". El Mundo. 2012. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  20. ^ INCB; WHO; UNODC (2020). "Statement on access to internationally controlled medicines during COVID-19 pandemic". www.who.int. Retrieved 2022-12-30.

External links[edit]


Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Secretary, Commission on Narcotic Drugs
2004–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary, INCB
2011–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, UNODC
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
-
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrés_Finguerut&oldid=1193149261"