For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA/44
13 February 2014

MEDIA ADVISORY

Media invited to attend or dial into briefing with the UNODC Executive Director on the world drug problem

VIENNA, 13 February (UN Information Service) - Journalists are invited to attend a briefing on Monday, 10 March 2014 at 16:00 hrs (Central European Time) by the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, on the High Level Review of the world drug problem to be held in Vienna on 13-14 March 2014.

"Heroin, cocaine and other drugs are serious threats to public health and kill some 200,000 people annually. Illicit drugs and drug trafficking are also fuelling armed violence, conflict and terrorism, while eroding the rule of law and human rights as well as economic and social development," said Mr. Fedotov.

"The ongoing discussion by Member States of the world drug problem is a vital one and it is essential to understand more about the issues that all countries are grappling with," he said.

In March 2009, at the high-level segment of the 52nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Member States adopted a Political Declaration confirming the three international drug control conventions as the cornerstone of the international drug control system, and a Plan of Action aimed at reducing or eliminating the impact of illicit drugs. The High-Level Review will focus on implementation of the Plan of Action to date.

The review will bring together more than 1,500 people from Member States, parliaments, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media.

Information on the press briefing:

WHO:               UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov

WHEN:             Monday, 10 March 2014 at 16:00 hrs (Central European Time)

WHERE:           Headquarters of UNODC, Vienna International Centre, Building E, Room E1419, Vienna, Austria

HOW:               Correspondents in Vienna are invited to attend in person, journalists from around the world can "dial-in" to the press briefing using a telephone number that will be sent to all those wishing to attend.

The on-the-record press briefing will begin with a brief statement from the UNODC Executive Director followed by a "Q and A" session with those journalists present and those dialling into the briefing.

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For further information, please contact:

David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org