New Delhi, India/26 June 2023: Presenting "People First: United Against Drug Use and Stigma", a special UNODC e-feature showcasing diverse voices from across South Asia, advocating drug responses that are rooted in empathy, built on science and focused on people.

Read this UNODC South Asia Exclusive on the International Day against Drug Use and Illicit Trafficking here: http://t.ly/Dh3k

Featuring messages by: 
  • H.E. Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director, UNODC
  • Mr. Marco Teixeira, Regional Representative, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia
  • H.E. Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives
  • Mr. Satya Narayan Pradhan, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau, India
  • Mr. Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan, Director General, Department of Narcotics Control, Bangladesh
  • Mr. Shakya Nanayakkara, Chairman, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Sri Lanka
  • Mr. Imad Solih, CEO, National Drug Agency, Maldives
  • Ms. Rudra Devi Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal 
  • Ms. V Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary and Director General, National AIDS Control Organisation, India
  • Person X*, A Recovering Drug User from Bhutan (*name hidden on request)
  • Ms. Navjeet Klair, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, India
  • Dr. Rakesh Chadda, Chief, National Drug Dependence and Treatment Centre, AIIMS, India
  • Mr. Ahmed Shakir, Chief Superintendent, Head of Drug Enforcement, yaldives Police Service
  • Dr. Upneet Lalli, Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh, India
  • Mr. Kranthi Naidu, A young person from India
  • Ms. Samhitha Sugathimala, Program Director, Foundation for Innovative Social Development, Sri Lanka 
  • Mr. Bishnu Fueal Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Recovering Nepal
  • Ms. Wangchuk Lhamo, Intern, UNODC Bhutan 
  • Dr.  Sandeep Bhola, Deputy Medical Commissioner, Kapurthala, India
  • Mr. Ali Adyb, Master Trainer, NGO Journey, Maldives
  • Dr. Sarwar Reza, Assistant Surgeon, Cumilla Central Jail, Bangladesh
  • Mr. Yeshi Nidup, Program Officer, Nazhoen Lamtoen, Bhutan
  • Ms. Jahnavi Mishra, a young person from India
  • Mr. Enrico Boninsegna, Head of Programme Office a.i., UNODC Maldives

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