Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.
World Drug Campaign
Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.
Events
June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and a unique opportunity for all of us to take a stand and support the world drug campaign. UNODC has encouraged everyone to join the pro-health campaign and organize events during the month of June, on World Drug Day and beyond.
Share with us information on the events and campaigns you have organized to mark World Drug Day and send out a strong message against illicit drug use. The information we receive will be published on this page.
World Drug Report
United States of America
In the run-up to World Drug Day, UNODC launched the 2009 edition of its flagship publication, the World Drug Report.
The event took place on 24 June in Washington, D.C., at a press conference during which UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa and newly appointed Director of the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, releasde the Report.
The webcast of the press conference is available at www.unodc.org. Updates were also posted on Twitter in English and Spanish.
World Drug Day
Afghanistan
The Government of Afghanistan organized with UNODC support a high-level World Drug Day event in Kabul. High-level representatives from the Afghan government and the international community attended to mark World Drug Day in Afghanistan. During the event, the Ministry of Counter Narcotics handed over food donations to the families of police officers who have lost their lives in opium poppy eradication efforts. All of UNODC's provincial offices in Afghanistan celebrated World Drug Day through public events, drama pieces, chores and speeches by officials and village elders.
Australia
Women's Federation for World Peace Australia, in partnership with Drug Free Australia (DFA) held a Forum on 23 June at the State Parliament in Sydney to acknowledge the work of the UN over the past 21 years and to launch DFA's latest research publication Cannabis - suicide, schizophrenia and other ill-effects which draws on world-wide current research into the effects of cannabis.
The event hosted by Hon David Clarke MP was attended by community leaders from organisations such as Life Education and Narcotics Anonymous and people working in support services for those affected by drugs. Support came from both sides of politics. Major Brian Watters, Member of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board presented a brief global update on drug policy and Josephine Baxter, Executive Officer; Drug Free Australia (DFA) presented an overview of the current situation in Australia. Those attending signed a Proclamation, supporting the UN's campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs". The Proclamation signing is continuing through many communities and networks like the Ambassadors for Peace of UPF
Belgium
To celebrate the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe (FDFE) organized the Flanders Anti-Drug Tour 2009 starting in Mechelen on 26 June to end one week later in Kortrijk, covering an average of 230 kms. Its purpose was to inform the different authorities - Mayors, Chiefs of Police, Drug Prevention Officers - as well as the youth and public at large. Along the Tour, FDFE promoted its educational tools: booklets and Public Service Announcements on "The Truth About Drugs".
Brazil
On June 24 th, UNODC and the National Secretariat on Drug Policies (SENAD) organized a press conference and the presentation of the World Drug Report 2009, in Brasilia. More than 150 people attended, including members of the Federal Police, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, National HIV/AIDS Programme, UN agencies and Embassies.
UNODC also supported a variety of events included in the "Preventing Drug Abuse National Week", held by SENAD between June 19 th and 26 th, in several cities all around the country, specially focused on community mobilization.
Websites in Portuguese: Brazilian Observatory of Information on Drugs, National Secretariat on Drug Policies, UNODC Brazil and South Cone.
Colombia
The UNODC field presence in Colombia organized the event "Drug use in Colombia: An analysis beyond the figures" on 25 and 26 June in cooperation with the National Drug Directorate, the Ministry of Social Protection, the Embassy of the United States and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. Conferences and panel discussions took place during the two-day event. Experts shared the latest global advances and successful practices to face drug use.
The 2008 study on drug use in the country was presented to the media at a press conference on 25 June. The publication includes information about the magnitude and characteristics of the situation sorted out by geographic location and socio-demographic variables.
India
UNODC and its partners organized a series of events throughout India and also in Bhutan and Nepal. Government institutions, non-profit organizations, the private sector, the media, young people, parents and teachers supported the local and regional efforts to prevent drug use and keep our youth safe from drugs.
For example, UNODC partnered with the Health and Fitness Trust, an NGO, to organize a run on 26 June. The event was attended by government officials, school and college children, members of civil society organizations and the private sector. Other events included a cultural evening with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, where modules for drug prevention at school were released, and an artistic evening with skits, puppet shows and music spread awareness on drug use prevention.
On 27 and 28 June, a Street Play Festival took place. This festival was organized by UNODC in partnership with PVR Nest, the Narcotics Control Bureau of India (NCB) and Butterflies, an NGO working with street children. The play on substance use prevention, was presented by street children themselves, some of whom have struggled with substance use.
Between 25 June and 25 July, an essay competition was organized for nearly 15,000 school students on the topic "How can I Protect myself and my friends from drug use?"
On 30 June, Empower- a local NGO- launched a Narcotic Anonymous programme in Tuticorin on the occasion of the International Day. Narcotic Anonymous aims to motivate drug addicts to reduce their risk behavior, increase their risk perception and guide them towards abstinence. EMPOWER decided to start this programme to garner support from the community and get people to care for their health and well-being. Drug users, peer educators and Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon members participated and shared their experience.
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, UNODC supported a youth march conducted under the "Astana is a drug free city" programme and provided flags and badges for participants. The youth-targeted event served to advocate against illicit drug use. In addition, as part of UNODC work in the penitentiary system, UNODC distributed advocacy and educational materials. This activity is part of a larger project of peer to peer support, awareness raising and prevention activities conducted in the penitentiary system by UNODC.
Lebanon
UNODC organized an event with the Ministry of Interior at the occasion of the World Drug Day. A round table was planned for the 25 June, where the Minister of Interior Mr. Ziad Baroud, UNODC, NGOs and other social actors discussed the challenges in implementing the drugs law. At this occasion, a joint campaign (MoI, NGOs and UNODC) was launched targeting pubs, cafes and beaches. From 25 to 28 June, a team of narcotic bureau staff and volunteers from UNODC and NGOs distributed 20,000 coasters made specifically in line with the UNODC global campaign layout.
Puerto Rico
The Police Force's community programme in the region of Guayama organized a talent show to mark World Drug Day. The event took place in an area hard hit by drug use and trafficking. The talent show focused on individual and group dances, as well as karaoke singing and impressions. With this and other activities, the community is changing for the better.
Serbia
This year, the International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was marked in Serbia under the UNODC slogan "Do Drugs Control your Life?"UNODC partnered with a number of relevant national institutions: The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Institute for Addictions, the Institute for Public Health "Batut", the Belgrade Public Health Council, the Red Cross, the Ministries of Interior, Defence, Education, Culture, Labour and Social Policy as well as UNICEF and WHO.
The Health Minister, Mr. Tomica Milosavljevic, gave an opening statement at the press conference held at the Institute for Public Health "Batut" by presenting the strategy for the fight against drugs and the related Action Plan for the period 2009-2013. His speech was followed by an afternoon Conference of Experts that included presentations by relevant partners in the campaign and institutions leading the fight against drug abuse in Serbia. In parallel, outreach street events were held in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia which included the distribution of brochures and leaflets, games for teens and awarding of T-shirts and caps to the winners.
Thailand
The Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacific (RCEAP) cooperated with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Ministry of Justice of Thailand to raise awareness, especially among youth, about the multiple threats posed by drugs.
Under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Thailand, ONCB organized a wide array of activities for a month. The events included press conferences, exhibitions, magic shows, computer games contests, TV shows, panel discussions, and burning of confiscated drugs. RCEAP supported these national efforts by co-organizing with ONCB a ceremony on 26 June during which, with the the Prime Minister present, UNODC rewarded the winners of the poster painting competition among the schools in Bangkok, under the theme "Do drugs control your life?". The UNODC Representative was also interviewed during a TV show broadcast across Thailand.
Tajikistan
UNODC supported a round table on effective drug addiction and HIV/AIDS prevention conducted by the Ministry of Health in Khojent on 18 June. Participants included representatives of the Ministry of Health, Regional AIDS Centre, Regional Narcological Centre, Medical College and the Drug Control Agency. In addition, UNODC supported a television quiz program devoted to the World Drug Day produced by the Ministry of Health.
Uzbekistan
UNODC organized a press conference devoted to the World Drug Day on 26 June in partnership with UNDP and the Drug Control Committee of Uzbekistan. During the press conference, the World Drug Report was publicized. Additionally, presentations by UNODC and its partners covered HIV/AIDS and drug abuse in Uzbekistan. The press conference served to raise awareness on drug use and HIV/AIDS issues and responses. UNODC will also support the annual drug burning ceremony conducted by the Drug Control Committee to mark the World Drug Day.
Viet Nam
UNODC marked the International Day, 26 June 2009, by supporting the Government in organizing awareness raising events on the harms of drug abuse to health and communities, as well as distributing promotional materials with the UNODC thematic slogan related to current issues in Viet Nam, such as health, education and the drug 'speed'. These efforts encouraged individuals, NGOs and the Government to join in the fight against drugs and trafficking.
The National Committee on Drugs Control also held an official ceremony in collaboration with the National Police Academy in Hanoi on 26 June. Representatives of the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UNODC, WHO and UNAIDS were invited to attend. On World Drug Day various meetings were held throughout the country by the local governments and organizations.
Worldwide
Narconon International organized events worldwide: From drug-free hip-hop to girl bands, city center rallies to lecturing to young Buddhist monks, Los Angeles to Copenhagen, Nepal to Ghana, Narconon groups helped kids and families enjoy the UNODC drug-free communities day.