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Remarks by the President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly,<\/strong> at the 68th session of the <\/strong>Commission on Narcotic Drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n Monday<\/strong>, 10 March 2025, <\/strong>Vienna<\/strong><\/p>\n [Pre-Recorded Video Message]<\/strong><\/p>\n Your Excellency Shambhu Kumaran, Chair of the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me begin by thanking the Chair for the invitation and by congratulating him and his Bureau.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I also commend Ms. Ghada Waly and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for their commitment to supporting Member States in addressing the challenges of drugs and crime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The work of this Commission is vital.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It aligns with my vision for the 79th session of the General Assembly\u2014a vision of unity in diversity, peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Human dignity also means ensuring health and well-being.<\/p>\n This includes living in safe societies free from crime and the harm caused by drugs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And this allows individuals to thrive and contribute to sustainable development.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, the world drug problem threatens this reality, weakening institutions, undermining the rule of law, and contributing to instability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Indeed, the profits from these activities often support terrorism and violent extremism as well as other forms of organised crime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The numbers speak for themselves:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These rising numbers reflect a growing public health challenge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a result, progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3\u2014ensuring health and well-being for all\u2014is being undermined.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must also acknowledge the far-reaching consequences of illicit drug production.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It disrupts social and economic stability, further deepening vulnerabilities in affected communities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the damage goes beyond security and economic and social stability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Deforestation, soil degradation, and toxic waste\u2014drug trafficking leaves a lasting scar also on our environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, what can we do?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First, we must tackle the root causes of illicit drug production while actively engaging young people in prevention programmes, policymaking, and education.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The World Programme of Action for Youth, now marking 30 years, gives us a roadmap to support them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By investing in awareness raising and education.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And by ensuring that they are not victims of drugs but champions of change.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Second, we need stronger international cooperation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In today\u2019s digital age, drug trafficking networks exploit online platforms to operate and evade detection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n International cooperation is key to disrupting these activities while upholding privacy and human rights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Pact for the Future, along with the Global Digital Compact reaffirms the Member States\u2019 determination to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organised crime in all its forms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must combat illicit drug use, while ensuring controlled substances remain accessible for medical and scientific needs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellences,<\/p>\n Mesdames et messieurs<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enfin, nous devons agir avec urgence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cette ann\u00e9e, nous c\u00e9l\u00e9brons le 80\u1d49 anniversaire des Nations Unies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cela doit nous rappeler pourquoi cette institution a \u00e9t\u00e9 form\u00e9e en 1945 \u2013 pour promouvoir la paix, la dignit\u00e9 et un avenir meilleur.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Avec le m\u00eame \u00e9lan et en r\u00e9affirmant cette m\u00eame raison d\u2019\u00eatre, je vous exhorte \u00e0 b\u00e2tir un monde o\u00f9 le progr\u00e8s, la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et la dignit\u00e9 humaine ne sont pas seulement des mots, mais une r\u00e9alit\u00e9.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saisissons cette opportunit\u00e9.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Je vous souhaite une session fructueuse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Je vous remercie.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * ***** *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email:\u00a0birchs@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser\/ Social and Digital Media\/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email:\u00a0mariam.shaikh@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n More Information and Updates\u00a0:\u00a0Website<\/strong><\/a>: \u00a0YouTube:\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0X (Twitter):<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Instagram<\/strong><\/a>: \u00a0LinkedIn:\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Photo Repository<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0Bluesky<\/a><\/strong>; Weekly Highlights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Mr. Philemon Yang<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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