News and Events

The Regional Project Office for South Eastern Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking jointly with UNDP Sofia, the Municipality of Sofia, Ministry of Interior and the Antidot Foundation.

The event was held in the St. Ivan Rilski Seminary, with an opening prayer held by Episcope Velichki Sionii, Rector of the Seminary. Several schools were invited to attend the event. Opening addresses were also made by Mr. Henry Jackelen, UNDP Resident Coordinator, representatives of the Sofia Municipality and the Antidot Foundation.

A quiz for school children was organized with presents provided by UNODC and UNDP. All invitees also received promotional material and the anti drug brochures provided by UNODC (in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria) and the Antidot Foundation. A short concert followed with performances made by children from the vocal group "Vrabcheta" as well as a cocktail organised by the Antidot Foundation.

Report on June 26 Activities in Albania (2008)

On the occasion of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking and Drug Abuse, UNODC Project Office in Tirana, the Ministry of Health through the Institute of Public Health and "Feniks" NGO joined efforts to forge an awareness campaign and voice their concern about the seriousness of the drug problem in Albania.

June 26 activities were anticipated by the broadcast of a UNODC - Institute of Public Health radio spot on Top Albania Radio and Top Channel and an interview of the UNODC NPO on Top Channel during the programme "A New Day". UNODC Project Office also produced T-shirt bearing the slogan of the year: "Do Drugs Control your Life? Your Life. Your Community. No place for Drugs".

To celebrate the day, 100 students from various secondary schools of Tirana and peer educators from "Gjoke Shqiptari" secondary school in Pogradec, south-eastern Albania, dressed in specially produced T-shirts, gathered at Imperial Cinema Hall to deliver anti drug messages and make an artistic performance of various role plays on the values of a healthy lifestyle.

Present at the ceremony were also the Minister of Health Mr. Nard Ndoka, Head of the Italian Cooperation Office in Tirana, Mr. Flavio Lovisolo, Deputy Head of the Anti Drug Unit, teachers, parents and students from various schools. The ceremony was widely attended by the Roma community among which the drug abuse is a concerning matter. Speeches were delivered by the Minister of Health, Head of the Italian Cooperation Office, Anti Drug Unit etc. The message of the UN Secretary General was read to the participants and disseminated to the press. All speeches were permeated by the message that our lives can be lived better without drugs and to live it we should fly with the wings of an eagle and be strong. A special message to the students was delivered by the representative of the Catholic Church that is managing Emanuel Community - a rehabilitation facility for drug addicts in Albania.

The best messengers during the activity were the students of various schools of Tirana and the peer educators of Gjoke Shqiptari School in Pogradec. Through their written messages that were displayed all over the cinema hall and their role plays they made a very good choice of showing their friends that drugs are just rubbish and have nothing to do with their lives.

26 June - Belgrade, Serbia

A nation-wide Drug Free Month campaign in Serbia ended with the marking of 26 June, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The one month campaign was led by a local recipient of the DAPC grant, NGO "Kula", assisted and supported throughout by the UNODC Project Office in Belgrade, while the marking of the Anti-Drug Day, under the UNODC slogan "Do Drugs Control Your Life?" was a joint effort on national scale of the following partners: Ministry of Health, City of Belgrade, Belgrade Institute for Addictions, Public Health Institute "Batut", Red Cross of Serbia, Youth Peer Network, NGO "Kula", national network of NGOs fighting drug abuse, UNICEF, WHO and UNODC.

Administered by NGO "Kula", a national campaign website was launched with the internet address: do-drugs-control-your-life (in the local language) with links to websites of all partners, including UNODC, and featuring on the front page the UN Secretary General's 26 June message as well as interview with the Serbian Health Minister.

In the capital, Belgrade, events and activities organized for 26 June included a joint press conference, festivities in the Belgrade Youth Park and a discussion evening followed by a cocktail. The discussion among main stakeholders and invitees focused on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with a first-hand story from an ex-addict.

UNODC Project Office in Belgrade provided translation of the SG's message which was distributed to all news agencies. Also, T-shirts with logos, baseball caps, "Drugs under international control" brochures in Serbian and factsheets for distribution at the main manifestation in the Belgrade Youth Park. As a way of promoting healthy lifestyles, UNODC also provided a gift voucher for a one day use of the prestigious Fitness and Spa Center at the Belgrade 5 star hotel Hyatt Regency, which was awarded as lottery at the evening cocktail, also in the organization of UNODC.

Marking of 26 June in Serbia received extensive media coverage nation-wide as seen as from samples below:

The overall aim of the one month campaign and events on 26 June was awareness raising on the dangers of drug abuse and the need for primary prevention, with focus on demand reduction and the importance of treatment. The campaign also called for action reminding of the fact that 2008 is the year of evaluation and reporting on activities carried out in the last 10 years as pledged at the 1998 UNGASS on illicit drugs.

Through joint efforts of all local partners, the extent of this year's outreach to the public on 26 June noticeably and by far outweighs that of the previous year.

26 June - Sofia, Bulgaria

Report on June 26 Activities in Albania (2008)

26 June - Belgrade, Serbia