Morocco expresses resolve to address world drug problem

Morocco reaffirmed, its determination to effectively address the world drug problem in a particular context where the world drug situation is experiencing rapid and profound changes, making the challenges to combat the global drug problem even more complex.

“This challenging situation calls on us to reinforce the international consensus and to reaffirm our determination to effectively address the world drug problem, and to promote a society free of drug abuse to ensure that all people can live in security, peace, health, dignity, and prosperity, through innovative approaches and strategies”, Morocco’s permanent representative in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, said Tuesday at the intersessional meeting devoted to thematic discussions on the Implementation of all International Drug Policy Commitments, following up to the Ministerial Declaration of 2019.

In this context, the diplomat welcomed the launch, last July, of the United States of America initiative of the Global Coalition to address Synthetic Drugs Threats, recalling that the Kingdom made three key recommendations during the virtual Ministerial-level meeting organized for the launch of this Global Coalition, as a contribution by Morocco to achieve the goals and objectives of the Coalition: The establishment of an effective alert system to identify new emerging synthetic substances to facilitate the rapid exchange of information and intelligence between member countries, the reinforcement of prevention, treatment, and awareness measures, by prioritizing early health care intervention and treatment options and by strengthening scientific and research partnerships, and the promotion of international cooperation, by leading joint operations and strengthening capacity building and partnerships.

In the same vein, Farhane proposed that the thematic debate of the next Session of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs next session to be held March 2024, focus on the specific threats of synthetic drugs.

The rationale behind this proposal is to create synergies between the Global Coalition and the CND, to contribute to the mid-term review, in 2024, of all progress made in implementing all international drug policy commitments to address and counter the world drug problem, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, and to have a collective input for future work and agenda of the CND and to the next Ministerial Declaration, to be adopted in 2029, he pointed out.

The diplomat also reiterated that Morocco, which participated actively and positively in the negotiations for the adoption of all documents related to the world drug problem, is fully engaged in implementing all drug policy commitments and looks forward to contributing substantially and constructively to the debates of the high-level segment of the 67th session of the CND, within the framework of 2024 mid-term review, which will be an opportunity to give a new impetus to our concerted action aimed at effectively addressing root causes and manifestations of the world drug problem.