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International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Vietnam

Hanoi, 26 June 2009 - To mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffiking, which is also adopted as the National Day for Drugs Prevention and Control, the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Control held official celebration ceremony at the Police Academy in Hanoi on June 26.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Truong Vinh Trong chaired the meeting. Among other dignitaries attending the meeting were Minister of Labor, Invalids, Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Vice Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem, Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee, Deputy Commissioner of Police Department Vu Hung Vuong, Deputy Commander of Border Army and Vice Director of Police Academy Nguyen Xuan Yem. Representative of WHO and UNAIDS also attended the meeting. At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said the fight against drug abuse is a duty of the Party committees and the political system as a whole, as well as of the public in general. He urged the entire nation to support the efforts to battle drug abuse. Mr.Trong, who is also chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, Drug Abuse and Prostitution, said that the drug fight is vital to AIDS control and the nation had scored important achievements against drug abuse, with many drug rings busted and tens of thousands of drug addicts rehabilitated. Despites these successes, he said, greater prevention efforts were needed, particularly by Youth Union members and students.

On behalf of the United Nations in Vietnam, UNODC Representative Narumi Yamada delivered a speech to the meeting. She presented a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the occasion of the day. She encouraged young people to put their health first and not to take drugs and pointed out new approaches are needed to promote behaviour-changes through effective communication and more community-based activities involving local people, particularly the youth, in urban, rural and mountainous areas.
The meeting drew the participation of more than 4,000 participants, mostly Youth Union members and students from various high schools and universities in Cau Giay district of Ha Noi City, including the Police Academy, Security Academy, Military Technology Academy, University of Commerce & Trade, College of Finance, University of Mining and Geology, Ha Noi Foreign Studies University, and Co Nhue Secondary School.

The meeting had participation from private sector for the first time. Mai Linh Taxi Company sent a convoy of taxi cars carrying slogan "Say 'NO' to drugs" in the parade after the meeting.

According to the Standing Office on Drugs Control, on this occasion celebration meetings were held throughout the country by the local governments and mass organizations.

UNODC Viet Nam Country Office produced promotional materials for the International Day against Drug Abuse, including mouse pads, eco-bags, raincoats, notebooks, wall posters, folding leaflet, motorbike stickers, and badges. All the products carry UNODC logos and slogans in English and Vietnamese

Mouse pads carry picture of girl standing in class room with the UNODC logo and slogan "Math or Meth?" and "Do drugs control YOUR STUDY?"

The eco-bags carry the UNODC logo and a message "Do drugs control your health?"

The rain coats were produced to be used on motorbikes, the options are grey and green color with the slogan "Do drugs control your life?" and UNODC Country Office Viet Nam logo.

The notebooks - A5 format notebooks with the UNODC logo and the slogan "High with kite not with ice". The notebooks can be produced in two versions, either harder cover with the ring binding or softer cover without the ring binding.

The wall posters carry the logo of UNODC and the slogan "Do drugs control your speed?" and were distributed to UNODC's Government counterparts, donors, and people at the project sites of UNODC projects, as well other UN agencies, organizations and counterparts.

The folding leaflets carry information about the UNODC country office in Vietnam and drug situation. It will be translated to Vietnamese and will be possible to be folded into small one which is good for the distribution at different occasions, events and meetings.

The badges carry the UNODC logo and slogan "Do the drugs control your body?".
Proposed materials will be delivered to UNODC's Government counterparts, donors, and people at the project sites of UNODC projects, as well other UN agencies, organizations and counterparts.

Motorbike stickers were produced to be placed on the back of the motorbike. Decorating and personalizing ones motorbike is very popular in Vietnam. The stickers carry the campaign logo and a message "Do drugs control your speed?"

UNODC Project H68; Comprehensive Drug Prevention through Communication and Community Mobilization has received promotional material for the distribution in the provinces.

UNODC Project J04; Drug abuse and HIV prevention among ethnic minorities in Northwest Vietnam also distributed these materials in its four project provinces.

In addition to the distribution of materials produced for the International Day against Drug Abuse, UNODC Vietnam received coverage in the Viet Nam One UN Publication The One To Know. This innovative publication, placed on the walls the washrooms of all UN agencies, is widely read by all UN staff in Vietnam.

These materials have been delivered to UNODC's Government counterparts, donors, people at the project sites of UNODC projects, as well other UN agencies, organizations and counterparts. Large quantities of promotional material were provided to the Standing Office on Drugs Control (SODC) under the Ministry of Public Security, for distribution in the events organized by the Government.