UNITED NATIONS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for international cooperation and effective law enforcement responses to stop organized crime networks and drug traffickers.
In his message on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed on June 26 annually, the UN chief said that "drug challenges are among the most complex problems we face, with wide-ranging impacts on health and well-being, families and communities, security and sustainable development."
"Addressing them requires a holistic focus across many fronts, as highlighted in the outcome document unanimously adopted by the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem," said the secretary-general.
In addition to international cooperation and effective law enforcement responses, the UN chief also said that "we need to expand evidence-based approaches to prevention, treatment and support."
The UNGASS outcome document outlines concrete steps for taking such balanced action, rooted in the principle of shared responsibility, he said. "It is also flexible enough to allow countries to pursue national drug policies according to their priorities and needs, as I did when I was Prime Minister of Portugal."
In line with the three international drug control conventions, "I introduced non-criminal responses to drug possession for personal use, while increasing resources for prevention, treatment and social reintegration, and reinforcing criminalization of drug trafficking," he said.
"There are no easy solutions. But my own experience reinforces my strong conviction that we can chart a better path to counter the world drug problem," the secretary-general added.
Guterres urged countries to advance prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services; ensure access to controlled medicines while preventing diversion and abuse; promote alternatives to illicit drug cultivation; and stop trafficking and organized crime -- all of which would make an immense contribution to our work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
"Together, we can ensure that all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity," he said.
By resolution 42/112 of Dec. 7, 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
