Children and youth first!

Last week the Member States of the United Nations were gathered in Vienna for the annual main session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. CND is the highest policy-making body on drug issues in the UN system.

FORUT was among the few civil society organisations that spoke when the CND was discussing the implementation of the UNGASS Outcome Document from 2016. FORUT’s view were presented by Dag Endal (picture right) under the headline “Children and youth first!”.

“We appeal to governments to give the care for children and youth the highest priority when implementing national policies. These drug policies must most of all protect children and youth from drug use, the consequences of drug use, and the sale of illegal substances, as described in the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, said Dag Endal among others.

“I am today speaking to you also on behalf of Drug Policy Futures (DPF); a broad international network of NGOS from all corners of the world, called Drug Policy Futures. Our organisations are involved in local and national action within the framework of a broad, balanced and integrated drug policy approach”.

FORUT underlined that preventing drug use in adolescence is the best investment for the individual and the society. “Prevention is humane. It gives immediate and good results. Prevention is needed and effective in all cultures. It is cost effective. It gives life-long positive outcomes. And The International Standards on Drug Use Prevention from UNODC represent an excellent guide to how to get the best results”.

Drug Policy Futures was easily visible during this year’s CND session. The message “Children and youth first!” was presented in a number of ways; a large exhibition, flyers, the report “Peoples’ Voice”, a lunch meeting for Member States, in social media, in side-events and in plenary speeches.

Drug Policy Futures urged national governments to prioritize five areas of action in their implementation of national drug polices; five areas that would protect the well-being of children and youth. These areas were:

• Low prevalence;
• Community action;
• School programmes;
• Support to parents and mobilization of parents;
• Early intervention.

The FORUT representative elaborated on these five areas in his speech in the CND plenary session and concluded by welcoming what has been named as “The Decade of Action”, lasting till 2029. “As NGOs we offer our collaboration to Member States in making the good intentions from UNGASS into practical action on the ground level in the ten years to come”.