Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi emphasized the wide-reaching impact of drug trafficking and abuse, which extends beyond individuals, to affect families and entire communities.
He urged GCC member states to unite their efforts and address this threat to the youth and future of the region.
During the “Preparing the GCC Strategy for Combating Drugs” workshop hosted by the UAE Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the GCC General Secretariat and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from September 16 to 19, 2024, Albudaiwi stressed that the unprecedented impact of drugs on societies is not only a public health issue but also a threat to social, economic, and political security.
He pointed out that Gulf societies, particularly the youth, are targeted by organized crime syndicates that relentlessly pursue their agenda to undermine communities and spread their poison globally, and reiterated that it is crucial to consolidate
Gulf efforts and maintain coordination and cooperation among GCC countries.
This workshop is a vital step toward enhancing Gulf cooperation and addressing the growing drug problem that poses a significant threat to the region’s societies.
Albudaiwi also stressed that tackling this problem is a collective responsibility, and that the success of any strategy depends on the collective effort and collaboration of all stakeholders.
He noted that drug addiction is not merely an individual challenge but a crisis affecting entire communities, and that dealing with it requires joint visions and plans.
He stressed that addiction does not affect only the user but threatens the fabric of families and society, and as such, coming up with a unified Gulf strategy to combat drugs, ‘protect our youth and safeguard our future’ requires full commitment and collective responsibility.
Albudaiwi expressed gratitude to the UAE for hosting the event, and thanked the UN for its continuous support, and all the organizations
and institutions that contributed to the event’s organization.
He specifically acknowledged the efforts of the GCC General Secretariat and assistant secretaries for their diligent work, and said he was keen to see fruitful discussions and constructive recommendations that will strengthen efforts to protect communities.
Source: Saudi Press Agency