Morocco is fully committed to contributing to global efforts to combat the global drug problem, as well as to prevent and treat drug addiction, said, Wednesday in Vienna, the ambassador, permanent representative of the Kingdom of Morocco in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane.
In a speech at a special event commemorating the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Mr. Farhane recalled that the Kingdom has already committed, under the “Pledge 4 Action” initiative launched during the 2024 mid-term review, to support efforts to strengthen cooperation with African countries in combating different aspects of the global drug situation, by sharing its experience gained in the implementation of its national counter-narcotics strategy.
“I would like to reiterate the commitment made by my country and reaffirm our commitment to share, upon request, Morocco’s experience in data collection and analysis with African countries,” Mr. Farhane stressed.
The Kingdom remains convinced that the global drug problem is a common and shared responsibility, and therefore, “the fight against this phenomenon requires more than ever collective efforts, oriented actions, and optimal cooperation at all levels to address the challenges” posed by this scourge, he added.
Furthermore, Morocco welcomed the choice of the theme devoted to the special event, namely “data collection and research in the service of an effective drug policy”. According to Mr. Farhane, this theme refers to one of the “fundamental components of the global fight against drug addiction and illicit trafficking, without which our collective efforts to properly tackle the global drug problem would lack effectiveness.”
In this sense, the diplomat emphasized the “crucial” role of quality and reliable data in the development of policies based on scientific evidence, in order to better understand the persistent, new and emerging trends and dynamics of the world drug problem.
This task requires more than ever the promotion of effective drug policies, based on comprehensive data collection and solid research, with a focus on reducing drug-related crime and violence and reducing drug-related harm, he continued.
In this regard, Morocco continues to believe that capacity building programs and effective international cooperation should be maintained with a view to improving national capacities to base drug policies on solid data collection and research, and to enable decision-makers to create more effective and sustainable strategies to address complex issues related to drug use, the ambassador noted.
“We should encourage and strengthen synergies between the Vienna, Geneva and New York processes, with a view to identifying common perspectives and approaches in addressing the drug issue,” he concluded.
