Vienna, 11 March 2014 - Dignitaries from all over the world arrive in Vienna this week to attend the High-Level Review of the world drug problem starting Thursday, 13 March.
Notable guests and participants include Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, the Chairperson of the 57 th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Ambassador Khaled Shamaa, Permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN in Vienna, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, and the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, and many other dignitaries.
"I look forward to this important meeting of Member States on the world drug problem. I hope that by the end we will have a meaningful document that not only reviews the implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action, but also supports the future work of the United Nations, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime," said UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov.
The two-day event begins with an opening and general debate at 09:30 on 13 March and brings together around 1,500 high-ranking individuals from Member States, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, and the media. The Review is a major milestone in preparations for the UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem in 2016.
Aside from the opening and general debate, there are also a number of other important events both before and during the Review. On 12 March, a Youth Forum begins which promotes exchanges of ideas on how young people can better protect the health and wellbeing of their peers. On the same day civil society will discuss the world drug problem at the 3 rd Civil Society Informal hearing. The outcome of the discussions will be presented during the High-level Briefing on the Civil Society Hearing on 13 March.
Member States will issue a Joint Ministerial Statement-known as the Outcome Document-on the world drug problem at the end of the Review. A press conference will be held on Friday, 14 March at 17:00. To read the full programme, please go to the following Website dedicated to the High Level Review: http://www.unodc.org/hlr/
Media events during the High-level review at a glance:
Opening of the High-Level Review
Thursday, 13 March, 9.30
M-Building, MO1, Plenary Hall (Board Room B)
Press Conference with UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov
Friday, 14 March, 17:00
M-Building, MOE, Press Room
For additional information on media arrangements and updates go to: http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2014/cnd57_high_level_segment.html
For further information please contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43- 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
or
Reka Furtos
Public Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-83019
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3019
Email: reka.furtos[at]unvienna.org
