Director-General/Executive Director
27 June 2017
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the VIC for the twelfth meeting of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Europe.
HONLEA plays an important role in addressing regional challenges and strengthening global action on drugs.
These meetings have proven to be a crucial platform for discussing current trends and emerging threats, and for bringing these issues to the attention of the CND, which continues to show its strength as the policymaking body of the UN with prime responsibility for drug control.
This is the first meeting of HONLEA Europe since the UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem last year.
The UNGASS outcome document highlighted the role of the HONLEA meetings in strengthening the exchange of information, good practices and lessons learned among national practitioners to effectively implement an integrated and balanced approach to the world drug problem, and further facilitate meaningful discussion.
You have before you the important mandate by the General Assembly, translated in CND Decision 60/1, to examine how this body can contribute to the implementation of the operational recommendations contained in the UNGASS outcome document, as well as to strengthening regular exchange between practitioners from different fields.
I encourage all delegations to make a contribution towards fulfilling this important mandate.
Furthermore, the working groups at this meeting will address some of the biggest drug challenges facing the international community today.
This includes the use of the Internet for drug-related activities.
Cybercrime represents a major threat to all our countries. The number of internet users making use of the "dark net" for drug purchases is increasing, and such technologies are altering the nature of the illicit drug trade.
Moreover, the working groups will consider related issues of money laundering, illicit financial flows and effective countermeasures.
They will also focus on alternatives to conviction or punishment, in line with the international drug control conventions.
Such measures can be an important part of demand reduction strategies, and help to promote public health and public safety.
UNODC is currently working with WHO to document best practices in using treatment for drug use disorders as an alternative to criminal justice sanctions.
Another key challenge highlighted in the UNGASS outcome document that you will be discussing this week is mainstreaming gender perspectives in drug-related policies and programmes.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The threats posed by drugs and organized crime affect all aspects of our societies, from security and safety to health and development.
UNODC just launched the 2017 edition of our flagship World Drug Report last week.
The report makes clear that the international community faces a number of formidable challenges, including the continuing opioid crisis, increases in cocaine and opioid production, and the rapid growth and diversification of the market for synthetic drugs, including new psychoactive substances.
In a thematic chapter, the report examines the nexus between drugs and other forms of organized crime, illicit financial flows, corruption and terrorism.
These findings confirm the need to strengthen international cooperation and promote comprehensive, rights- and evidence-based approaches to address supply and demand, in line with the UNGASS outcome document and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ladies and gentlemen,
UNODC remains committed to supporting Member States in putting balanced approaches into action on the ground.
Through our global, regional and country programmes, as well as through initiatives like Networking the Networks, UNODC is building capacities and linking countries, as well as regional and global organizations, to further promote operational cooperation.
HONLEA represents an indispensable forum for the exchange of knowledge, operational experiences and strategies, and I hope you will use the opportunity provided by this meeting.
I wish you fruitful discussions.
Thank you.