Director General/Executive Director
30 April 2013
Your Royal Highness,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for inviting me to address the Second Regional Symposium on Drug Control and Information Exchange.
I would especially like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Minister of Interior, who is the patron of this timely meeting.
Thanks to his wisdom and energetic support, the international community has an event that can help promote the implementation of the international drug control Conventions.
Next year, a high level review of the implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on Countering the World Drug Problem will take place. This will be followed by a Special Session of the UN General Assembly in 2016.
These events will provide a clear roadmap for the international community in discussing the international drug control system. And such a road map is necessary.
The Conventions are the foundation for the international drug control system, where the use of narcotic and certain psychotropic substances are permitted solely for medical and scientific purposes.
According to the Conventions controlled substances are the responsibility of medical doctors and licensed health professionals.
The Conventions are, therefore, health-centred and human rights-based.
Their existence guarantees the availability of controlled drugs for medical purposes.
At the same time, the Conventions protect vulnerable groups such as children, marginalized people and those suffering from psychological and mental health problems.
Fighting the illicit drugs trafficking is one of the corner stones of the international drug control system.
A focus on law enforcement, including information and intelligence sharing; cross-border operations; improving regional and international cooperation; capacity building; offering technical assistance; disrupting money laundering; and addressing corruption, is very important and can help to counter the organised crime networks.
However, we must balance our work on the supply side with more meaningful efforts in reducing and preventing the demand for illicit drugs.
Science-based drug prevention addresses the vulnerabilities that places children, youth, families and communities at risk.
In support of this approach, UNODC has recently published the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention.
The standards summarise scientific evidence and outline how prevention can be an effective investment in the future of children and youth.
Science-based prevention approaches can provide a return of 10 dollars for every single dollar spent.
In addition to drug prevention, voluntary and humane treatment that is based on scientific evidence and high medical standards must also be emphasized.
This is an effective approach, but it also respects the dignity and rights of people suffering from drug dependence.
They must be treated with adequate medical care. Punishment is not a solution.
Such an approach is fully in line with the Conventions, which were created for the protection of the "health and welfare of mankind."
Your Royal Highness,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last March in my office in Vienna, I met General Othman El Muhraj, General Director of the General Directorate of Narcotic Control, as head of delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
I also listened to his interventions during the plenary, as well as during a side event on drug treatment and I was delighted, yet not surprised, that we share the same fundamental view on the importance of the Conventions.
Let me say that today's event is a further sign of the clarity of our views on this issue, and it creates the prospect of a new partnership.
After all, it is essential that UNODC has the strong support of Member States such as Saudi Arabia.
I hope that we can continue to work on this issue in the spirit of shared responsibility, but also based on a shared desire to help the millions around the world who are problem drug users.
Thank you.