The 1988 Convention, arguably the most prescriptive and punitive of the three, is focused on the illicit traffic of the substances under control in the 1961 and 1971 Conventions. Its primary aims are increased international law enforcement and stronger domestic criminal legislation.
International drug control law is arguably one of the more obscure areas of international law. With near universal ratification of the three international drug control treaties, however, and with national laws in many countries reflecting their terms, this area of international law has been and continues to be very influential.
Each treaty encourages, and in some instances requires, criminal sanctions to be put in place at the national level. Collectively, in more than 110 articles covering many areas that impact upon human rights, such as extradition, crop eradication and penalties, there is only one, limited reference to human rights.
Ostensibly there are two main aims to the drug control treaties – to limit supply of and demand for controlled substances for non-scientific or medical purposes, and to ensure access to those substances for scientific and medical purposes. Traditionally the overwhelming focus, however, has been on the former.