Permanent Mission of India, Geneva
30th Session of the Human Rights Council
(14 September- 02 October 2015)
Panel discussion on the impact of the World Drug Problem on Human Rights, 28 September 2015

Statement by H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to UN offices and Other International Organizations

Thank you Mr. President,

1.    We welcome the convening of this panel discussion and thank the distinguished experts for their insightful presentations on the complex interactions between the drug problem and human rights.

Mr. President,

2.    The world drug problem adversely affects a wide range of rights of the affected persons, not just their health, and destabilises families and societies. It constitutes a serious challenge to national security and safety and to sustainable development.

Mr. President,

3.    While drug abuse has emerged as a serious concern in India. Saddled between the 'golden crescent' and the 'golden triangle', our geographical location makes us highly vulnerable and creates unique challenges for controlling the drug menace.

4.    India has also a robust and effective legislative mechanisms supported by targeted programmes to address the drug problem in the country. There is also a strong political will at the highest level to tackle the drug menace in a holistic and coordinated manner. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his public outreach through 'Mann ki Baat' (Voice of the Soul), has recently described drug abuse as a "national pain" that caused darkness, destruction and devastation and has urged everyone to come together for making a "drugs-free India".

Mr. President,
5.    We recognize that drug abuse is a "psycho-social-medical" problem and needs to be addressed as such through concerted and coordinated efforts at all levels. Families and societies should acknowledge that it is drugs that should be shunned and not the addicts themselves. Media, in particular social media, and civil society organizations have an important role in driving this message.

6.    To provide a more holistic nation-wide approach, we are in the process of finalizing the first draft National Policy for Drug Demand Reduction (NPDDR). The focus is on a Whole Person Recovery (WPR) of addicts to make a person drug free, crime free and gainfully employed. A national toll free helpline number was also launched in January 2015 for assisting the victims and their families in successful rehabilitation.

Mr. President,

7.    The 20th Special Session of UNGA in 1998 had emphasized demand reduction as an indispensable pillar of drug control strategies. While effective law enforcement and supply reduction should continue to play an important role, given the multidimensional nature of the problem, greater emphasis should be on harm reduction, rehabilitation and social integration of drug dependent persons. It is our shared responsibility to adopt a balanced approach in our global and the national responses to effectively address the world drug problem by placing the affected individuals and communities at the centre of our strategies.

Thank you Mr. President.