Support of UNODC on the Second Exhibition of Life Helpers

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports its national counterparts to organize the second Exhibition of Life Helpers on 13 November 2024, at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. This exhibition displayed the latest achievements in the fight against drugs, focusing on prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and combating the entry and supply of drugs. High-ranking military and civilian officials, along with ambassadors attended the ceremony.

In this event, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, expressed his gratitude to all participants, and UNODC national counterparts. He highlighted the severe impact of illicit drug cultivation, production, and trafficking on global safety, health, and well-being. He announced that drug use is increasing, especially in developing countries, due to urbanization, demographic changes, and socioeconomic inequalities. He emphasized the need for concerted and sustained national and international efforts to address the world drug problem, as committed by the United Nations Member States.

Mr. Fedulov highlighted that the United Nations system in Iran, through the Iran United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), supports improved access to evidence-based drug prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and drug-related services, while strengthening national capacity for effective border management and drug trafficking control. A consortium of UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and UNODC, along with academia, civil society organizations, and Iranian national partners led by the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters, aims to enhance, and expand existing programs and introduce new ones tailored to vulnerable populations. UNODC Iran Country Representative expressed gratitude for the efforts of nongovernmental and governmental partners, led by the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters, in enhancing effective and balanced drug control measures to improve human safety, public health, and well-being in Iran. In conclusion, Mr. Fedulov thanks all participants for organizing the exhibition and wishes them success in the future.

Mr. Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Interior, at the opening ceremony of the second “Life Helpers” exhibition, expressed his gratitude to the UNODC Iran Country Representative, and emphasized on the cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Country. He highlighted recent scientific findings, stating that social harms should be addressed through social mechanisms, and efforts should be made to prevent these issues from escalating into security concerns.

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For additional information please contact
Sougand Babaei (Ms.), National Programme Assistant.
UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77 - 81
Email: sougand.babaei@un.org