Qatar calls for rapid and effective international action to protect people and future generations from the scourge of drugs

The State of Qatar affirmed giving priority to assisting developing countries in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development, as it is the key to political and social stability, and called for rapid and effective international action to protect people and future generations from the scourge of drugs. This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations organizations in Vienna, Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri, before the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. His Excellency said that the State of Qatar is proud to continue its active role in multilateral international action in various development and humanitarian fields, and to uphold the values ​​and principles of cooperation, partnership and solidarity in helping countries, peoples and societies suffering from economic crises, conflicts, poverty and debt. He stressed that the State of Qatar has made many humanitarian and development contributions, especially in the framework of strategic partnerships with the United Nations and other leading international institutions. He said that the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, which was hosted by the State of Qatar last week, is the latest example of these efforts. During the conference, Qatar donated $60 million to support the Doha Work Program and build capacities in the least developed countries. His Excellency touched on the endeavors made at the national level, and said that the State of Qatar has given priority to prevention efforts, immunizing society and educating it about the harm and dangers of drugs, and this was one of the most important factors for the success of its policy in the field of prevention and drug control, in addition to law enforcement efforts, monitoring Qatari air and sea ports, and the strict application of the law. With the modernization of Qatari national legislation to allow for responding to changes in drug trafficking patterns and new methods of drug smuggling, while preserving the principles of the Qatari constitution and with full respect for human rights. The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar reviewed what was stated in the World Drug Report 2022, which is the first report after the Corona pandemic, and said in this regard: The report presented a bleak picture of the drug situation in the world, as cocaine production reached a record high level, and seizures of synthetic drugs increased. Tremendously, the markets for these drugs are expanding in new areas, and more young people are taking drugs than previous generations, while people who need treatment are unable to obtain it, especially women. The statement called for rapid and effective international action to protect peoples and future generations from the scourge of drugs in accordance with the principle of general and shared responsibility, and in accordance with the mechanisms of international pluralism, including the United Nations bodies concerned with sustainable development, and based on the three international conventions on drugs, political declarations and action plans approved starting with the 2009 Declaration. He pointed to The decision to legalize the use of cannabis in some countries has had wide-ranging implications for public health, the rule of law and public safety, which calls for further monitoring of the consequences of this decision. HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations organizations in Vienna stressed that the failure of sustainable development efforts is necessarily reflected in efforts to combat drugs, which calls for extending international aid to the peoples and societies affected by this scourge.