Director General/Executive Director
State Secretary Moro,
Undersecretary Canay,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
My warm thanks to the Argentinian Government for organizing this side event to share Argentina's experiences with the international community.
Your presentation provides a valuable opportunity to hear how the operational recommendations of UNGASS are being translated into action in Argentina in the area of drug demand reduction and care.
The outcome document of the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem has reinforced and advanced balanced, comprehensive, rights and evidence-based approaches to the world drug problem, with an emphasis on prevention and treatment.
At the same time, the 2030 Agenda has made clear with Sustainable Development Goals three and sixteen that addressing drugs is necessary to ensure healthy lives, and to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, as part of overall efforts towards sustainable development.
Strengthening access to evidence-based and gender-responsive services for prevention of drug use and treatment of substance use disorders; and promoting interventions for people who use drugs, are thus major priorities for the international community.
Globally, there are more than two hundred thousand drug-related deaths a year, with up to half of these deaths involving opioids.
Twenty-nine million people have been identified as problem drug users, including twelve million people who inject drugs, fourteen per cent of whom live with HIV.
UNODC's global work on the treatment and care of drug use disorders aims to support Member States to improve the availability, accessibility, quality, diversity and affordability of science-based treatment services.
We are working closely with our partners at WHO to develop numerous tools, including the UNODC/WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, updated standards on prevention and best practices for treatment as an alternative to sanctions.
UNODC has enjoyed a long and productive cooperation with Argentina, including to improve access to health care service for drug users.
Together we have delivered training for health staff of the Federal Penitentiary Service, in particular for those working with drug users and people living with HIV.
We have held workshops for health and social care service providers, and civil society organizations, and representatives from Argentina took part in a recent training event for policy makers on drug control.
The recent reconfiguration of SEDRONAR as the Secretariat of Integral Policies on Drugs, with a strong emphasis on a public health approach, reflects Argentina's renewed commitment to prevention, treatment and care.
Similarly, the strengthening of the role of the national Drug Observatory lays the foundation for the further consolidation of evidence-based policies and programmes.
In this respect, I welcome the ongoing development of a new National Action Plan on Drugs with its focus on strengthening community-based treatment, expanding prevention programmes and improving coordination with provinces and municipalities, which appears to be very much in the spirit of UNGASS.
The full engagement of the Federal Council of Drugs in the development of the Plan should also ensure that drug policies will be fully implemented locally, which is crucial to realize the widest possible access to key services throughout the country.
Building on the existing fruitful partnership with Argentina, UNODC looks forward - and stands ready - to support SEDRONAR and its partners in their efforts to implement a fully integrated approach to the drug problem, including through the Office's significant expertise in the area of programme monitoring and evaluation.
Thank you.