At the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs Lithuania condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
At the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys, strongly condemned open, large-scale, unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine an independent, sovereign and peaceful country by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The Minister emphasized Lithuania's full solidarity with the people of Ukraine and demanded that the Russian Federation immediately ends this aggression, which poses a threat to international peace and security.
In his speech, the Minister of Health confirmed Lithuania's commitment to the principles of a balanced, evidence-based and comprehensive approach to drug policy and respect for human rights. A. Dulkys noted that in Lithuania which has started this year its membership in the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the United Nations Human Rights Council, international principles are already being applied in the implementation of Lithuania’s policy on the reduction of the use of psychoactive substances in accordance with the State Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol Control and Use Prevention Regulations 2018–2028 programme.
“Last year, Lithuania approved an Action Plan for 2021–2024 to improve the availability and quality of treatment for addiction and harm reduction. The plan aims to ensure that people with addictions receive timely treatment and care that meets their needs. In the areas of demand and harm reduction, we must strive for qualitative change, acting on the evidence of science and practice, and fully respecting human rights”, - said A. Dulkys.
The session will also feature side events on demand and supply reduction in psychoactive substances. Lithuania (Department of Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol Control) together with the Czech Republic, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe and the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association m. March 15 organizes a remote side event "Cooperation between the non-governmental and governmental sectors in the field of drug policy".
Commission on Narcotic Drugs March 14-18 will discuss drug supply and demand reduction policies and strengthening international cooperation, adopt resolutions, assess progress in the implementation of already adopted resolutions and international agreements, and vote on the inclusion of new substances in the lists of controlled substances in international conventions. Lithuania was elected as a member of CND for the period 2022-2025.
