Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Mr. Tsutomu OSAWA on the occasion of the Special event commemorating the centennial of the signing of the International Opium Convention of 1912

Let me first congratulate UNODC and INCB, on behalf of the Japanese delegation, on the celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the International Opium Convention. It is indeed a great honor to speak as a delegate of one of the original signatories of the Convention.

The International Opium Convention is the first multilateral initiative geared towards tackling the world drug problem in general, and the international opium issue specifically. The determination of the convention to control the trade of opiates, while allowing them to be utilized for scientific and medical purposes, helped form the foundation for current conventions which control narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The international community has achieved much over the last one hundred years towards improving the world drug problem, including the reduction of illicit opium poppy cultivation in East Asia through the development of an international framework for drug control. This innovative and extensive framework of drug conventions has increased the capacity for countries to combat this issue, to improve scientific and evidence-based treatments for drug addicts, to encourage the adoption of drug demand reduction policies, and to aid in the development of alternative livelihoods.

For many years Japan has supported, in conjunction with stakeholders such as UNODC, counter narcotic drug activities in South East Asia, Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Japan would like to play a more active role in strengthening cooperation among those partners in tackling the world drug problem.

Thank you.