Qatar stresses need to address root causes of global drug problem
QNA
VIENNA: Qatar has stressed the need to address the root causes of the global drug problem and not just address its manifestations in light of the expansion and diversity of drug types and markets, especially synthetic drugs, and the increase in drug abuse over the past decade by 23 percent.
This came in a statement delivered by Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, Ambassador of Qatar to Austria and its Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organisations in Vienna, before the high-level segment of the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND),being held in Vienna.
He called on the international community to set implementable goals within specific time limits to achieve progress in reducing the supply and demand for drugs and enhancing international cooperation.
He said that the global drug problem is not an isolated phenomenon from other criminal activities, especially corruption crimes and other forms of organised crime, on top of which is cybercrime, which has witnessed a significant expansion in the use of the Internet for drug trade, and money laundering, especially drug trade money, which calls for more efforts to uncover the links between these crimes and cut the supply chains between them.
The envoy stressed the need to give priority to prevention strategies, starting from the family, school, and local community, up to the level of state institutions, civil society, academic institutions, and the media, noting the importance of strengthening international cooperation, technical assistance, and building the capabilities of developing countries, pointing out that combating drugs and achieving the goals of the United Nations Development Plan Sustainability 2030 are two things that go hand in hand and reinforce each other.
He expressed Qatar’s deep gratitude for the pivotal role played by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the International Narcotics Control Board, as the United Nations bodies entrusted with the primary responsibility for combating drugs, calling for strengthening their role and capabilities in providing technical support to member states.
He explained that the global drug problem undermines sustainable development efforts, disturbs the balance of societies, and the security and economy of countries, and threatens international stability and security.
He added, “Unfortunately, our joint efforts are still falling short of containing this epidemic, as indicated by the World Drug Report for 2023 issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.”
He considered that the legalization of types of drugs represents one of the main challenges facing the issue of addressing the global drug problem, calling for a reconsideration of the issue of legalizing the use of cannabis for purposes other than scientific and medical since this legalization was based on false perceptions about the harms of cannabis use.
