Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, welcomed Dr. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at the League's headquarters. The meeting focused on various joint initiatives between the League and the UNODC, particularly the implementation of the Regional Framework for Arab States (2023-2028).
The discussion centered on several key partnership areas within the UNODC’s mandate, including combating drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, and supporting the criminal justice system in Arab states.
The meeting also addressed the impact of regional conflicts on the efforts and support provided to member states. The importance of documented data and research in policy-making was emphasized, with references to recent UNODC publications such as "Dynamics of Drug Trafficking across Iraq and the Middle East (2019-2023): Trends and Responses" and the "World Drug Report," which is set to be released on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. This date coincides with the "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking," also known as "World Drug Day."
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations from the first Steering and Follow-up Committee meeting of the Regional Programme for Arab States (2023-2028), held from January 29-30, 2024, at the League's headquarters. These recommendations underscore the importance of activating and deepening the partnership with the United Nations and its relevant offices in executing all activities, programs, and projects outlined in the regional framework.
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