Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The United Nations General Assembly will hold a thematic debate on drugs and crime as a threat to development, Tuesday 26 June in New York.
 The event, convened on the UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, highlights the impact of drugs and crime on poverty alleviation and the Millennium Development Goals, and discusses ways of improving the international community's coordinated efforts to address the adverse impact of drugs and crime on development.
At the forum, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov will launch the 2012 World Drug Report.

We would like to draw attention to the message of the UN Secretary General, as announced today:

"Drug abuse and illicit trafficking continue to have a profoundly negative impact on development and stability across the world. The billions of dollars generated from illicit drugs fuel terrorist activities and abet other crimes such as human trafficking and the smuggling of arms and people.

Illicit drugs and related criminal networks undermine the rule of law.  And the impunity with which they go about their business causes tremendous fear and sows disillusion with governance at all levels.  (...)
 The drug, crime and corruption conventions of the United Nations form a solid basis for global solutions to these challenges. Together, these instruments offer a balanced approach to halt trafficking, promote viable alternatives to the farmers of cash crops, and offer drug users their health and human rights.    

 Our efforts to promote development and fight drugs and crime will be more effective if they are rooted in partnerships with the young, civil society, governments and the international community. Working together, we can alleviate the suffering of millions and break the hold of drugs and crime on countries, communities and families".  

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