On behalf of the FDFE, Mr. Fabio Amicarelli, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology International European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights, attended the 22 September 2006 meeting of the NGO Committee of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, at the Vienna International Centre.

The Foundation for a Drug Free Europe is the newest member NGO Committee of the United Nations Office for Drugs.

In 1998 the United Nations General Assembly, recognizing the severely increasing gravity of the international drug problem, issued a “Political Declaration,” stating.

Drugs destroy lives and whole communities, undermine sustainable human development and generate crime. Drugs affect every sector of society in all countries; in particular, drug abuse affects the freedom and development of young people, the world’s most valuable asset. Drugs are a grave threat to the health and well-being of all mankind, the independence of States, democracy, the stability of nations, the basic structure of all societies and the dignity and hope of millions of people and their families.”

As part of this, they called on “communities, especially families, and their political, religious, educational, cultural, sports, business and union leadership, non-governmental organizations and the media worldwide to promote a society free of drug abuse.”

One of the goals set was “achieving significant and measurable results in the field of demand reduction by the year 2008,” and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism, bears the responsibility for accomplishing this.

The Vienna-based NGO Committee of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime assists the UNODC as the coordinating body between the UNODC and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and Civil Society, whose objective is to provide information on NGO activities and involve a wide sector of civil society in raising awareness of global drug policies.

With a little over a year left to accomplish this goal, now is the time to produce dramatic results to prove that something CAN be done about the drug problem.

Attending the 22 Sept. 2006 meeting at the Vienna International Centre on behalf of the FDFE was Mr. Fabio Amicarelli, the Executive Director of the Church of Scientology International European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights.

The NGO Committee of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime assists the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to involve a wide sector of civil society in raising awareness of global drug policies.