PNC deplores strike violence
Drugs still lead spread of AIDS - Annan IN spite of the tangible progress made in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, three to four per cent of the world's population still regularly consumes illegal substances, says UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan. Intravenous drug use is still one of the leading causes of the spread of AIDS, with devastating consequences across the globe, and the consumption of some new drugs is also increasing, particularly among youths, he said. Annan made these observations in a message to mark `International Day Against Drug Abuse' yesterday. Noting the trend in organised crime is to take advantage of globalisation and technological advances in transport and telecommunications, Annan said "drugs continue to blight and indeed destroy far too many lives". He pointed too to the inhibitive costs associated with the use of drugs in the heavy burden they continue to impose on the social infrastructure of numerous countries, be they developed or developing. "Valuable human and financial resources continue to be diverted away from productive activities which are essential for development and prosperity", the Secretary-General said, adding that "drug trafficking continues to forment corruption, [which is] one of the most formidable obstacles to good governance". On the upside, he said the most important breakthrough in the fight yet, has been the change in perception that drug abuse is intractable. "We now recognise that solutions are attainable, provided the political will and necessary financial resources are mustered", Annan said. Evidence of the breakthrough of which he spoke, Annan said, came during the UN General Assembly's special session a year ago when a record 185 governments adopted the first ever international instruments specifically tailored to combat drug problems. He said that with the benefit of the cooperation of the various partners, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme has come up with new initiatives to ensure that the necessary information, technology and funds will be available on a long-term basis. Noting that both demand for, and supply of, dangerous drugs has been markedly reduced as a result, Annan boasts that "indeed, some of the targets agreed upon this time last year may well be reached ahead of schedule". Warning against complacency and resting on our laurels, Annan says "the war...is far from won". He said one needs not be reminded that the struggle in which we are engaged is vitally important...and is "often a question of life and death". Noting that the very nature of drug abuse and illicit trafficking make the UN the most suitable instrument for waging this war, Annan vows: "We shall continue to join the efforts of those individuals, families, communities and states that are determined to put an end to the calamity of drug abuse". The UN Decade Against Drug Abuse ends this year.
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