The Executive Programme will explore and critique a range of intersecting issues relating to the illicit drug market within Afghanistan.  Approaching the topic from an evidence and rights-based perspective, it will familiarize participants with relevant UN treaty frameworks and system-wide initiatives. Focusing on national and regional levels, the Programme will also devote considerable attention to germane policy lessons learned and best practices from around the world to better understand the management of illicit drugs markets as a human security issue, including in relation to a broad spectrum of threats based around human rights and development. With analysis and discussion moving beyond the traditional securitization of drugs and law enforcement dominated approach, it is hoped that the Programme will provide insights for participants to explore effective and pragmatic measures that help mitigate a complex set of adverse consequences relating to drug use, production, trafficking and, in some instances, overly punitive counter narcotic policies