Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to join Minister Teo to open this event on this very important topic.
Cooperation and effective synergies are essential to promoting effective, broad and holistic responses to drug use prevention and treatment.
I therefore welcome the fact that this event covers a number of regions, and that representatives from government as well as civil society are taking part in the discussion.
You have helped to show that approaches rooted in science, public health and human rights, providing mutual support, can make a decisive difference in people's lives.
Prevention of drug use can be an effective and cost-effective investment in the lives of children and young people, helping them to grow up healthy and safe, and away from negative health and social consequences linked to drug use and drug use disorders.
Far too often, prevention is marginalized in response to drugs, with too little in the way of resources, coverage and quality.
That is why UNODC worked with our partners to publish the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, which also informs our practical work in this area.
We have now updated the prevention standards in close cooperation with WHO, and will present the second edition on Thursday.
At the same time, we are working closely with WHO and other partners to advance recovery-oriented treatment services to help prevent negative health and social consequences of drug use.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This discussion can help to showcase good practices in making the Standards on prevention and treatment a reality, particularly with regard to supporting vulnerable groups such as women and young people.
The experiences to be shared today are important to inspire more and more policy makers and practitioners to increase the coverage and quality of services and support, in line with SDG target 3.5 and the UNGASS outcome document.
In this way we can take a big step in promoting the health and well-being of everyone - individuals as well as their families and loved ones, their peers and communities.
I wish you a productive and enlightening discussion.
Thank you.