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  • Regional Workshop on Drug and Substance Use

Regional Director Mr Raj K. Mishra and Government Officials

Regional Workshop on Drug and Substance Use

29 May 2008

Youths participate in a 5-day workshop aimed at preventing Drug and Substance use among young people in Asia.

A regional workshop on 'Drug and Substance Use Prevention' was held in the Maldives from the 7-11 May 2008, in a bid to motivate young people to bring about positive changes in their communities.


'It's a fight against the drug mafia and criminal elements in our society who are out to destroy our traditional social fabric and values', said an emotional Ms Aisath Mohammed Didi, Minister for Gender and Family while inaugurating the five-day Commonwealth Asia Regional workshop on Drug and Substance use Prevention among Youth, the event was jointly organised by the CYP Asia Centre and the Ministry of Youth and Sports from the Maldives with technical support from the UNDOC Regional Office for South Asia.
Calling for tough action on the supply side of the drugs problem which affects an estimated 30% of her county's population, the Minister exhorted young people to bring about positive changes in their respective societies without compromising on their traditional values. She thanked the CYP Asia Centre for taking the initiative in organising the workshop in the Maldives.

Welcoming the 19 youth participants, some of whom were reformed drug users, from six counties in the region viz: Brunei Darussalam, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka to the league of the Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living, Mr Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director - CYP Asia Centre urged them to wear their 'Badge of Honour' with dignity and pride and take up the gauntlet of halting the spread of the HIV virus and Drug and Substance abuse in their respected countries.

The inaugural function was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Deputy Minister, senior Government Officials, representatives from UN agencies, the WHO, civil society organisations and local media.
The workshop involved interactive lectures, sessions on various dimensions of the problem, case studies, group work, role play, country presentations and a visit to the Regional Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Himmafushi, during which the participants had an opportunity to interact with the clients under rehabilitation.

Sabrena Abdullah from Singapore expressed her thanks saying that: " The five day trip was not only a learning trip on drugs, but was indeed, one of the very beautiful moments in life making lots of friends and being able to appreciate the finer things in life.."

Zahira, Programme Officer of the Youth Health Cafe, Male said that the experience was "A learning process and fun while learning"

While Kunal Kishor, Drug Demand Reduction Officer, UNODC and one of the key resource persons at the workshop wrote "You guys are safe and secure in my most fond memories and I would always be keen to hear of all the good things that is going to happen to you all.."
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