The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26 to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs.
The day is also observed as an expression of United Nations’ (UN) determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
Theme 2017
Listen First - Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. It is an initiative to increase support for prevention of drug use that is based on science and is thus an effective investment in the well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities.
Observances
On this occasion, World Drug Report 2016 was also released by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In India, Border Security Force (BSF) had organised a Cycle Rally in Punjab comprising 65 BSF personnel.
The cycle rally aimed to spread the message of awareness against drugs as an utmost dedication to national security and awareness about physical fitness amongst the citizens and particularly among the youth.
Background
The day was officially instituted by UN after the United Nations general Assembly (UNGA) had passed resolution 42/112 in December 1987.
The date, 26 June was chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu’s (Chinese scholar and official of the Qing dynasty) efforts of dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong, China just before the First Opium War in China (1839&ndash42).
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