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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
NEW YORK -- H.E. Dr. Elliston Rahming, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of The Bahamas to the United Nations and the Organisation of American States
(OAS), participated in the high-level launch of the World Drug Report 2015 at
the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Friday, June 26, 2015.
The event, which coincided with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Trafficking, was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), the UN entity mandated to assist Member States in their struggle
against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
Published by the UNODC, the World Drug Report provides an annual global
overview of the latest developments with respect to illicit drugs. Included in the 2015 Report is a
comprehensive picture of the world's illicit drug markets, with a focus on the
impact of illicit drugs on health and a review of the scientific evidence on
approaches to drug use prevention while also addressing general principles for
effective responses to treatment for drug use.
The thematic chapter of the report highlights how alternative
development aims to break the vicious cycle of illicit crop cultivation by
providing farmers with alternative livelihoods.
In his remarks at the event, Ambassador Rahming commended the UNODC for its
presentation of the report and asserted that "the scourge of illicit drugs
has had a deleterious impact on our Small Island States for decades. It has sapped much of our human capital,
created an illusionary economy, exacerbated the challenges of crime and
violence and bloated our mental health budgets..".
The Ambassador further cautioned that "If there is one observation that is
worthy of note...it has to do with the tendency of reports such as this to lean
most heavily towards matters of production and distribution and not
consumption." He further added that
"...we know that countries that make up 20 per cent of the world's
population consume 80 per cent of its narcotics."
Turning to the matter of alternative development, Ambassador Rahming agreed
that "alternative economic development holds promise because it is
unreasonable to remove a viable source of income, though illicit, and replace
it with nothing," adding that “...whenever there is a vacuum, something or
someone will fill it."
Ambassador Rahming therefore recommended that alternative development be
devised for producing, transit and consumption nations. In conclusion, Ambassador Rahming challenged
the meeting to "seize the moment" and assured that, in the fight
against illicit drug trafficking, The Bahamas stood firmly with the UNODC.
A number of Member States represented at the meeting also expressed support for
the report and the work of the UNODC. It
is expected that the report will serve as a useful tool and key information
source in Member States' preparations for the Special Session of the United
Nations General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) to be convened from
19-21 April 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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