UN MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING

armradio.am
26.06.2008 13:06

Today the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia marks
the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The
slogan launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
anti-drugs campaign is "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your
community. No place for drugs." It will be used for three years
and focus on different aspects of drug control: drug abuse in 2007,
drug cultivation and production in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking
in 2009.

UNODC 2007 World Drug Report estimates that nearly 200 million people
are using illicit drugs worldwide. Cannabis leads by far with 162
million users, followed by 35 million users of amphetamine-type
substances. An estimated 16 million people use opium, morphine,
heroin, and some 13 million people use cocaine.

"Drug abuse has become a pervasive issue and cuts across social,
racial, cultural, religious, language and gender barriers. It may
also result into people engaging in various social ills such as
theft, assault and domestic violence, which manifests into family
dysfunction. It, therefore, needs to be confronted with a sense of
urgency and decisiveness by all members of our society, if we are to
protect our future and build a people’s contract to create a healthy
future," said Mr. Grigori Malintsyan, Coordinator of the South Caucasus
Anti-Drug (SCAD) Programme in Armenia.

The United Nations, having a key role in the fight against drugs,
has produced 3 international conventions on trans-national control
of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances. Armenia joined these
three major UN drug control treaties back in 1993.

Nonetheless, realizing that drug abuse and trafficking is still a
challenge to national authorities in South Caucasus, UNDP, EU and
national governments of the region have initiated the South Caucasus
Anti-Drug (SCAD-5) Programme on gradual reinforcement of EU good
practices on drugs policy, which includes also provision of continuum
care to drug addicts. This, in addition to other activities, includes
legal assistance in harmonizing national strategies and legislation,
trainings for the law-enforcement bodies in the region and public
awareness campaigns on drug prevention. SCAD will facilitate the
implementation of the drug-related components of the action plans of
the European Neighborhood Policy.

Mr. Malintsyan called on all relevant stakeholders to create an
ongoing awareness and consciousness about the dangers of drug abuse
amongst the people of this country.

Within the framework of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Trafficking, SCAD-5 initiated an exhibition, where the art
works of 20 school children from city of Gyumri were presented. This
exhibition is a unique call to youngsters to stay away from drugs and
towards the adults to prevent the youngsters from drug abuse. Based
on the votes of the visitors, the authors of three best art works will
be awarded with illustrated books, while the rest of the participants
will get other gifts.