International Day against drug abuse: Date, theme and significance

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International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking is observed on June 26 every year. United Nations General Assembly had passed a resolution on December 7, 1987, as an "expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse."

Various individuals, communities and various organisations worldwide celebrate the day. It aims to raise awareness of the problems that illicit drugs bring to society.

The theme for this year is ‘Health for Justice. Justice for Health'. It highlights that "justice and health are two sides of the same coin when it comes to addressing drug problems."

The United Nations says, "Effective responses to the world drug problem require inclusive and accountable institutions of criminal justice, health, and social services to work hand in hand to provide integrated solutions, in line with the international drug control conventions, human rights obligations and the Sustainable Development Goals."

United Nations Office on drugs and crime wants to urge individuals, non-profit organisations to mark the day. Twitterati has also shared posts to celebrate the day:

The 2019 World Drug Report will be launched at the United Nations Secretariat in New York today.

Top news stories of the day

The Dutch mystery: Missing man kept texting wife's friends after she died
Information about Avdhut Shinde, who is missing since the mysterious death of his wife Sharmila in the Netherlands, doesn't cease to bemuse the couple's acquaintances and the police. Sharmila's friends now say Avdhut was chatting with them over Whatsapp after her death in an attempt to pretend everything was normal. (Read full story)

Mumbai: Student falls off local train after phone thief hits him with iron rod
A 23-year-old student is battling for life after he was allegedly attacked with an iron rod by a robber who snatched his mobile phone while he was on a moving train between Goregaon and Ram Mandir railway station on Monday morning. (Read full story)

BEST bus fares reduced, minimum fare down to Rs 5
After going back and forth on the issue of reducing the minimum fare for buses, the BEST Committee has finally decided to make the base charge Rs 5. The proposal will first be sent to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and then to the Metropolitan Regional Transport Authority for approvals, a process that would take less than a month. As per the new fare structure, price of tickets for regular buses will range from Rs 5 to Rs 20 and for AC buses from Rs 6 to Rs 25. (Read full story)

Sex toys in Mumbai: The pleasure is all yours, so what's the fuss about?
In stark contrast to the hush-hush tones of conversations concerning sex, south Mumbai's Fort area sees an audacious sale of sex toys, complete with prominent displays. Motorised and non-motorised toys adorn the footpath stalls right opposite a court. A visit by team mid-day to this area confirmed the rampant sale of sex toys there. The vendors claim to have been selling these banned products for the past 40 years. (Read full story)

Mumbai biker's Leh death exposes regulation lapse
On June 21, 57-year-old Jojy Cherian, who was in Kargil on a motorcycle trip, sent a message at 6.53am to his son Rohan back in Navi Mumbai that he would soon be in a no-network area and that he was headed to Leh. Seventeen hours later, his family received news of his death in a road accident there. The incident that shook Rohan and his mother, Jessy, has also raised questions on the unorganised two-wheeler expeditions to Leh-Ladakh, which are turning out to be more a ruthless business and less an adventure sport. (Read full story)

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