Director-General/Executive Director
14 March 2013
Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very glad to be here today to discuss the post-rehabilitation programme held at the Tambling Indonesia Nature Conservation.
Let me say how much I welcome the meaningful partnership between the Indonesia National Narcotics Board and the Tambling Wildlife Conservation and the Artha Graha Care Foundation.
This partnership of equals has come together with the worthwhile goal of providing care and support to the people of Indonesia, and at the same time, improve the country's environment.
The agreement also contributes to efforts to prevent and eradicate drug abuse and to hinder illicit drug trafficking.
During their stay in the centre, residents will be enrolled in various activities ranging from character building activities to the introduction to nature; and from project work to "brain storming" on fresh approaches.
As a way of providing service to the community, residents will offer free health care, and counselling on the dangers of drug abuse to wider society and schoolchildren in local villages.
The after-care programme offers individuals the opportunity to manage agricultural, livestock and fisheries projects, and in turn, they will receive advice from local farmers and others connected to the projects.
UNODC views such projects as important. The 1961 Single Convention was created for the purpose of protecting the health and welfare of mankind.
The conventions call for treatment, education, rehabilitation, after-care and social reintegration.
Treatment is wide ranging and includes using a range of measures, including substitution therapy, to reduce the health and social consequences of drug abuse.
All of these measures must also respect the human rights of people who use drugs. This is why the conventions are so important; they are health-based, humane, and human rights focused.
Measures to reduce the social and health consequences of drug use should include interventions to prevent the spread of HIV among drug users and those in prison settings, as well as interventions to prevent overdose, the prevention of driving under the influence of drugs, hygienic measures and first line social assistance.
These approaches are important in Indonesia because drugs, such as Amphetamine Type Stimulants are on the increase. Based on UNODC's figures around 1.2 million people in the country used crystalline methamphetamine, and 950,000 people used ecstasy.
I also note that the rehabilitation programme in the Tambling Nature reserve is closely connected to a treatment centre in Jakarta. This is important.
It sends a strong message that the Indonesian government is developing a network of connected centres capable of providing assistance and support to drug users in both urban and countryside settings.
With this in mind, I would encourage the Indonesian government to develop more out-patient and community-based drug dependence treatments wherever they are needed.
Thank you.