International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Press release
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed around the world on June 26.
Uniting the efforts of the international community to counter the drug threat is extremely important. The World Drug Report 2024 was released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime today and states that the global drug situation has sharply worsened.
The Russian Federation believes that politicised field-specific cooperation caused by the propaganda of liberal drug use ideas by the United States and its allies and actual termination of contacts with law enforcement agencies from undesirable countries are what mostly caused this aggravation. The conflicts provoked by the Western countries in different parts of the world have created fertile ground for the drug trafficking merger with violence and other criminal activities, including terrorism, and are further compounding the situation.
Countering the drug threat is among our priorities when it comes to ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation. Three UN conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 which remain relevant to this day provide a solid foundation for cooperation between countries in this area.
Russia advocates a comprehensive and balanced approach to solving the global drug problem which combines effective law enforcement efforts with science-based prevention of drug addiction, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. This approach is at odds with the legislative initiatives advanced by the United States, Canada and a number of EU member states to lift the ban on the use and sale of marijuana, which create an illusion that drugs are harmless and pose a threat to promoting and protecting human rights, especially the rights of the children, who must be protected from the harmful effects of drugs.
As a responsible member of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs since its establishment in 1946, Russia remains active in developing global drug policies and supporting the aspirations of other countries to resolutely eradicate the drug scourge.
Together with a large number of like-minded countries, Russia advocates the importance of building a society that is free of drug abuse. The Russian side fully supported resolution 78/284 on making Central Asia a drug-free region which Uzbekistan submitted to the UN General Assembly.
The CSTO, which is expanding its interoperability with the countries of Asia, remains Russia’s key strategic partner in combatting the drug challenge. The anti-drug capability of the SCO has noticeably improved, and another six-year 2024-2029 SCO Anti-Drug Strategy and an action plan to implement it will be approved soon.
The anti-drug thrust is playing an increasingly tangible role in BRICS. The 7th meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group was held in Moscow on May 21-22 as part of Russia’s chairmanship. The anti-drug dialogue with ASEAN is making strides based on the joint statement by the leaders of Russia and the association’s member states of October 2021.
The Russian Federation is committed to fulfilling its obligations in the anti-drug sphere not only in words, but in deeds, which commitment is backed up by Russia’s extensive project cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other international partners. Russia will continue to provide donor help and offer training courses on law enforcement for its partners from Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan, and other regions. The Russian Federation financially supports the International Narcotics Control Board to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for healthcare purposes around the world.
The Russian Federation will continue to ramp up practical cooperation and constructive dialogue with all stakeholder countries in order to preserve and strengthen the existing international drug control legal system that is free from political interference.