United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Central Asia

26 June - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Observance in Central Asia

Republic of Kazakhstan

A special event for youth was held at the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC). Over 40 undergraduate students from Almaty high schools participated in the event. The UN Secretary - General's message on the occasion of 26 June was shared with the audience. Head of CARICC Operational Unit briefed participants on CARICC's role in countering drug trafficking in the Central Asian region and coordination of joint counter-narcotic operations. The Deputy Director of the Republican Scientific Practical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Narcology made a presentation on situation in the field of drug abuse in Kazakhstan with focus on opium, cannabis and new psychoactive substances, which are mostly used by youth.

In Astana "Listen first" concert as well as sport competitions gathered together adults and children. Activities were organized in cooperation with the Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Interior.

Kyrgyz Republic

In cooperation with the State Service on Drugs Control, under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic a numbers of activities were conducted in the framework of the campaign "Closer to each other, away from drugs" which was financially supported by the UNODC project "Strengthening the State Service on Drug Control of the Kyrgyz Republic". In order to conduct the final campaign concert and dance flash mob, a Memorandum of cooperation was signed by the UNODC Programme Office, the State Service on Drug Control (SSDC) and the Shopping center "Bishkek Park".

Popular Kyrgyz bloggers posted the thematic posts with world drug campaign slogan in their network official profiles kicked off the social media campaign. Over 200 posts were published in Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. More than 500 000 subscribers and followers joined the campaign.

50 dancers dressed in t-shirts with the campaign's sloganperformed a flash mob in the most popular shopping center "Bishkek Park". Concert with participation of popular Kyrgyz singers and dancers, winners of music and song contests, joined the flash mob. At the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the SSDC Mr. Mambertaliev and Head of UNODC Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan Mr. Fedulov announced the key messages of this year's global campaign. Over 14 000 people visited the shopping center that day.

The release of the findings of World Drug Report 2016 was held at the SSDC at a press conference. Participants also took part in the SSDC Museum tour as well as SSDC Special Forces demonstration. The event was attended by the embassies, international organizations and mass media representatives. Mr. Fedulov also gave an interview to the UN radio.

Republic of Tajikistan

The release of the findings of the World Drug Report 2016 was at the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. Mr. Yusuf Kurbanov, OIC of the UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan, delivered the UNODC Executive Director's message on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as well as provided with a global overview of the latest trends in the drug markets, drug trafficking flows, opium production and drug seizures in Central Asia.

Prior to the round table "Support, don't punish" was organized at the DCA for the NGO's and government officials representatives. In cooperation with national counterparts' "Life without drugs" competition on the best dance was conducted at the Center of children and youth in Dushanbe, the competition on the best picture and photo exhibition in "Iram" botanic garden. Sport competitions and concerts were organized in the regions of Tajikistan for children and youth.

Turkmenistan

The campaign "Listen First" was conducted for children and youth in Turkmenistan. Visitors of the Central Park of Ashgabat had an opportunity to take part in the event organized in cooperation with the Medical University. The campaign aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle. More than 400 students of the State Medical University, representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior Affairs, National Red Crescent Society, Youth Organization, UNFPA, and Yenme participated in this event. Volunteers presented musical show, educational and entertaining performances, including quizzes on the consequences of use psychoactive substances.

Republic of Uzbekistan

The findings of the World Drug Report 2016 were released in Uzbekistan during the press conference conducted in cooperation with the National Centre of Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Ms. Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative presented the main findings of the World Drug Report 2016 to the journalists, including an overview of the drug markets, drug trends, sustainable development goals. She particularly focused on the new trends in the drug situation in the Central Asian region. She stressed the importance of the role of communities in drug use prevention and announced the slogan of this year's campaign "Listen first". The Director of the National Centre for Drug Control Mr. Mansurov shared information on drug trafficking and use trends in Uzbekistan and the Governments response. «It is obvious today that Afghan drugs are a destabilizing factor for the region and beyond", said Mr.Mansurov, the Director of the National Information Analytical Centre on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan. "In 2015, the law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan were focused on suppressing drug trafficking while paying special attention to the destruction of the illicit drug supply channels into the country and their transit through its territory, in addition to the steady demolishment of organized criminal groups».

A drug burning ceremony was organized by the National Security Service where over 1.38 tons of drugs were burnt. According to the official data, since 1994 Uzbekistan destroyed 55 tons 438 kg of drugs. The event was attended by the embassies, international organizations, OSCE, government representatives, law enforcement agencies and mass media. "On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, mentioned Ms.Mittal, -UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon calls on countries and communities to continue to improve the lives of everyone blighted by drug abuse by integrating security and public safety with a heightened focus on health, human rights, and sustainable development". In the evening new future film "Baron" produced by the Uzbek filmmakers was screened at the Panorama Cinema hall. The film was sponsored by by the State Commission on Drugs and Uzbek Cinema.

Links to media coverage:

http://bnews.kz/ru/news/obshchestvo/tsarikts_planiruet_nachat_sotrudnichestvo_s_evropoi_okeaniei_i_arabskimi_gosudarstvami-2016_06_27-1278642

Mr.Fedulov Interview to the UN Radio: http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/russian/archives/220866/#.V3Ohi_l96Uk

http://gskn.kg/novosti/v-bishkeke-proshla-antinarkoticheskaya-aktsiya-bli/

http://www.gskn.kg/novosti/v-bishkeke-proshla-antinarkoticheskaya-aktsiya-bli/

http://kabar.kg/rus/society/full/107953

http://inter.kg/sobytiya-dnya/15657-v-bishkeke-proshla-antinarkoticheskaya-akciya-blizhe-drug-k-drugu-dalshe-ot-narkotikov.html

http://aripress.org/main/28663-v-bishkeke-proshla-antinarkoticheskaya-akciya-blizhe-drug-k-drugu-dalshe-ot-narkotikov.html

http://ru.sputnik.kg/society/20160626/1027006971.html

http://www.gskn.kg/novosti/sostoyalas-tseremoniya-podpisaniya-memoranduma-mez/ http://kabar.kg/rus/society/full/107625

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%BA%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B3%D1%83/

http://kabar.kg/rus/society/full/107952