62nd session of UN drugs commission kicks off in

Vienna with Philippine participation

Vienna, Austria – The 62nd session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
(CND) in ministerial level kicked off on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Vienna, Austria
with Philippines‘ participation.

In the first day session on March 14, 2019 in Vienna, Philippine Foreign Secretary
Teodoro Locsin explains Philippines‘ actions and demands in the field of fight
against narcotics.

Teodoro is accompanied by Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, Chairman of the Philippipnes

Dangerous Drug Board and Ambassador and Permanent Representative Maria
Cleofe Natividad. 

Secretary Locsin mentioned in his speech that 1.4 million Filipino drug users have
surrendered "for rehabilitation" to authorities under the drug war.

„With the war on drugs the Philippines renews ist commitment to the state
responsibility to protect, first and foremost the law-abiding against the lawless by any
means efficient ot achieve the defining purpose and expense of a state; defense of
nation; extinction of threats to public welfare and safety. To that responsibility my
President has made an iron, unwavering and total commitment“, the Secretary said.
 Locsin also met with United
Nations Office of Drugs and
Crime Executive Director Yury
Fedotov for possible technical
assistance projects to the
Philippines, the DFA said.

After the speech of the

Foreign Minister, Locsin
together with Dangerous Drug
Board Chairman Secretary
Catalino Cuy and Philippine Ambassador to Vienna Maria Cleofe Natividad opened
the exhibit schowcasing the Philippines-Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy.

‚We hope that through this exhibit, we would be able to present how this strategy
provide an extensive
framework for law
enforcement and at the
same time adopt a
compassionate approach
to victims of drug use
encouraging voluntary
treatment and rehabilitation
under an overarching
framework which
emphasizes respect for human rights,“ Secretary Catalino Cuy said.

The CND has 53 members from five geographical groups and upgrading international
mechanisms to control narcotic drugs, considering all dimensions of drugs either
smuggling or consumption and meeting the demands of the international bodies on
drug control are among goals of the commission.

- Hector Pascua, Vienna, Austria