Topic: 2024-Substance Abuse
Country: Afghanistan
Delegate Name: Reid Osieki
Delegation of Afghanistan
World Health Organization (WHO)
Topic: Substance Abuse
Afghanistan recognizes the devastating impact of substance abuse on individuals, communities, and nations. As one of the largest global producers of opium, Afghanistan faces significant internal challenges related to drug cultivation, trafficking, and consumption. However, the delegation emphasizes that addressing this issue requires a nuanced, context-specific approach that respects Afghanistan’s economic realities and sovereignty.
The delegation advocates for a nationally driven response to substance abuse, prioritizing domestic strategies such as public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programs, and focused law enforcement measures. While Afghanistan welcomes international assistance, it insists that such support align with its national development programs and avoid undue external influence.
Afghanistan calls for increased technical and financial support from the WHO and other international partners to develop harm reduction strategies, with an emphasis on community based interventions that respect local customs and traditions. The delegation further underscores the urgent need for economic alternatives for those involved in the opium trade and urges WHO member states to support livelihood programs tailored to Afghanistan’s rural population.
At the international level, Afghanistan calls for greater cooperation to address the global demand for narcotics, emphasizing that the narcotics problem cannot be solved solely through supply side measures. The delegation proposes the establishment of a WHO-led platform to share best practices among member states, disrupt trafficking networks, and strengthen the global response to the drug trade.
The delegation firmly opposes the politicization of substance abuse issues and stresses that solutions should be grounded in humanitarian principles and aligned with international frameworks, particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Afghanistan reiterates its commitment to SDG 3—ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being—but emphasizes that progress must be pursued in a way that strengthens national sovereignty and avoids one-size
fits-all approaches.
