World Drug Day observed today

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade.

It is observed annually on 26 June, since 1988, a date chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu's dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, just before the First Opium War in China.

The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of Dec 7, 1987

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guteress mentioned in a statement that how last year at the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS), the international community took steps to mobilize a multifaceted, collective response to the full range of issues related to drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

" Governments came together to chart a new path forward that is more effective and humane, and leaves no one behind," read the statement.

"UNGASS was a ground-breaking moment that provided a detailed and forward-looking blueprint for action. Together, we must honour the unanimous commitments made to reduce drug abuse, illicit trafficking and the harm that drugs cause, and to ensure that our approach promotes equality, human rights, sustainable development, and greater peace and security," he said.

He said: "The UNGASS follow-up process provides us with an institutional framework to learn from each other and share best practices. It is vital that we examine the effectiveness of the War on Drugs approach, and its consequences for human rights. "

He said :"This would be the best possible way to implement the UNGASS recommendations and to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world."

UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov said in a statement that UNODC, on this day, remained committed to peacefully and effectively addressing the challenge of illicit drugs based on the international drug control conventions, and their key principle of protecting the health and welfare of humankind.