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UN MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Official

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)in 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 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.

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UNDP is on ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP in Armenia was established in 1993 and supports the Government of Armenia to reach its own development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.