Türkiye's Signature at the UN: Atasoy Elected for Fourth Term

Türkiye's influence has been solidified in the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the highest-level technical body for drug policies of the United Nations (UN). Prof. Sevil Atasoy was elected as a board member for the fourth time, receiving the highest number of votes. Prof. Atasoy's new term of office covers the period 2027–2032.

In the elections held on April 8, 2026, by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, who is the President of the International Narcotics Control Board, was re-elected as a Board member.

Elected for the 4th Time for 5 Years…

Prof. Atasoy, currently serving as Vice Rector of Üsküdar University and Director of the Institute of Addiction and Forensic Sciences, and nominated by Türkiye, has been elected as a Board member for a 5-year term for the fourth time with this election, having served her first term between 2005–2010. Prof. Atasoy was elected in the first round, receiving the highest number of votes.

The Board Consists of a Total of 13 Members

In the Board, which consists of a total of 13 members, 3 members are selected from among experts nominated by the World Health Organization, while the other members are determined from among candidates proposed by governments. However, while representing their countries, Board members fulfill their duties within the framework of full independence and impartiality principles, solely based on their scientific and technical expertise.

In this context, Prof. Atasoy's re-election is not limited to the nomination process alone, but demonstrates that her long-standing scientific accumulation, international experience, and technical contributions to the Board's work have found a strong resonance among member states.

According to the voting results, as of May 2027, the Board will consist of members elected from Türkiye, Algeria, Chad, Colombia, China, India, South Africa, Morocco, Uganda, Netherlands, Paraguay, Thailand, and France.

The Board is an Independent and Technical Body

The International Narcotics Control Board is an independent and technical body operating within the framework of United Nations drug control conventions. The Board ensures the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, while also monitoring efforts to prevent these substances from being diverted into illicit channels.

Thanks from Prof. Atasoy 

In her statement after the elections, Prof. Atasoy thanked the member states for their trust and stated that the Board would continue to maintain its independent, balanced, and evidence-based approach.

Prof. Atasoy's new term of office covers the period 2027–2032.

Her election for the fourth time demonstrated that Prof. Atasoy's international expertise and institutional memory have found a strong resonance among member states.