Maldives to Partner with EU and UNODC on Drug Prevention

18 January 2010, Male’;  The Government of the Maldives signed an MoU with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union today that seeks to support the Government initiated project on “Strengthening the National Response to Combat Drug Abuse in the Maldives.”

The overall objective of the Project is to strengthen the national response on the prevention of drug abuse, rehabilitation and treatment, and to minimize the risk of drug use related HIV in the Maldives. The project is to be funded by EU in partnership with UNODC. A total of €1,500,000 will be provided to the Maldives under the project.

The Project will be implemented by UNODC in partnership with the Department of Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Services, Ministry of Health and Family and in close cooperation with the Narcotics Control Council (NCC). The NCC was established by the Government to further its effort to prevent drug abuse and trafficking in the Maldives.

H. E. Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the MoU on behalf of the Maldives. H. E. Mr. Bernard Savage, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and Maldives signed the MoU on behalf of the European Union and Ms. Cristina Albertin, Representative of the UNODC Regional Office South Asia signed the MoU on behalf of UNODC.

ENDS