International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: June 26

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26 across the world to raise awareness of major problem that illicit drugs. The day is also observed as an expression of United Nations’ (UN) determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
The 2018 theme of this day is “Listen First – Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe”. It seeks to highlights ncreased incidence of drug abuse in the youth and kids. It aims at increasing support for science-based prevention of drug use and invests more in  well-being of kids, youngsters and their families.

Background

The day was officially instituted by UN after UN General Assembly (UNGA) by adopting resolution 42/112 in December 1987. The date was chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu’s (Chinese scholar and official of the Qing dynasty) dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, just before the First Opium War in China (1839–42).
The day recognizes that despite continued and increased efforts by international community, the world drug problem continues to constitute serious threat to public health, safety and well-being of humanity, in particular young people, and national security and sovereignty of States and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development.
It encourages Commission and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to continue their work on international drug control and urges all Governments to provide fullest possible financial and political support to enable UNODC to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, within its mandates.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2018