Director-General/Executive Director
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Good afternoon. I had the opportunity to meet Ambassador Granit for the first time last week, and she told me about this event on the important topic of treatment for drug use disorders.
Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow me to stay long. Nonetheless I wanted to express my gratitude to Sweden, notably for support to promote gender mainstreaming across UNODC's work, and for presenting your national experience with implementing the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders.
The International Standards, which we first presented in 2016 in draft form for field testing by Member States, represent the result of many years of close collaboration between UNODC and our partner WHO.
Together, we launched the Global Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care in 2009, to help countries develop responses and evidence-based services for the treatment of drug use disorders.
Our cooperation has shown the value-added of two UN agencies with complementary mandates bringing together health, criminal justice and law enforcement actors to address the complex dimensions of drug use disorders.
The development of standards encourages all Member States to improve the coverage and quality of drug treatment systems, interventions and policies based on science, in line with national legislation and the international drug control conventions.
Strengthening prevention and treatment of substance use is a specific target under Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
The International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders represent a concrete step towards this Goal. I urge you to make use of this side event to look at how we can advocate for their implementation and support countries to support people in need of treatment, and leave no one behind.
Thank you.
