Islamic Republic of Iran


Iran commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

 
This year, Iran celebrated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the participation of high level officials from different organizations active in the field of drug control as well as representatives from international community and UN agencies, including UNFPA, UNODC as well as UN Resident Coordinator Office in Iran. The event was organized by the Drug Control Headquarters.
 
H.E. Mr. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Minister of
Interior and Secretary General of Drug
Control Headquarters.		 In his opening remarks, Minister of Interior and Secretary General of the Drug Control Headquarters Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli stated that Iranian Police Force and Customs have seized more than 618 tons of different types of drugs in 2015. He praised NGOs for implementing the majority of harm reduction and treatment programmes in Iran with close cooperation with Drug Control Headquarters.
The Iranian government participation at UNGASS 2016 was marked as an opportunity for exchanging different views on drug control among Member States, the United Nations, and NGOs. Minister Fazli underlined the importance of expanding programmes on parenting skills and prevention measures to halt easy access to drugs in the society.

 


 Mrs. Shahindokht Molaverdi, Vice President on Women and Family Affairs. 		The Vice President on Women and Family Affairs, Mrs Shahindokht Molaverdi, welcomed the UNODC gesture in choosing 2016 theme "Listen First: Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe". Mrs. Molaverdi openly addressed the present drug use challenges in the Iranian society including rise in drug use among women, university and high school students, and working class. The importance of family as the first defensive preventing measure against the drug use among the youth was underlined by Mrs. Vice President.  The role of the NGOs for rehabilitation of drug users was highlighted as an important element to be included in the government's planning.

 


Mr. Leik Boonwaat, UNODC Representative in Iran.
Mr. Leik Boonwaat, UNODC Representative in Iran reiterated UNODC's continued support to Iran on its endeavors in the area of drug control. He stated that this year's theme is based on science and is thus an effective investment in the well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities. He also referred to the UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem in April as the event that embodied the strong will of the international community to counter the world drug problem and a motivation to help generate a global sense of purpose against this threat.

The event ended with a ceremony for the families and children of a number of young police officers who had lost their lives during 2015 in the fight against drug trafficking networks.