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Summary: Why cannabis matters - Children exploited by fishermen - Perspectives, the new UNODC magazine, aims to bring its readers closer to the people behind the broad issues of drugs, crime and terrorism. The drug and crime industries are worth billions of dollars and have the power to erode the rule of law in the hardest-hit countries. Both fuel terrorism. Besides providing in-depth coverage of these overarching themes, Perspectives will talk to farmers striving to make a living away from drugs, to addicts and former criminals who want to make a fresh start, and to families and communities that are making a difference around the world. In this first issue, UNODC Perspectives interviews Antonio Maria Costa as he begins his second term as UNODC Executive Director, a position he finds both challenging and rewarding. The magazine also accompanies Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond on her mission to Ghana, where she witnessed the situation of trafficked children and learned about local and international responses to this crime. We present the findings of the 2006 World Drug Report, UNODC's flagship publication. This year's Report highlights recent research on cannabis, whose popularity among adults and young people alike makes it the world's most abused illicit drug. The Report, relied on by Governments and experts throughout the world as the most authoritative source of data on illicit drugs, estimates that 200 million people aged 15 to 64 consumed drugs that are under international control at least once in the previous 12 months. Cannabis, methamphetamines, cocaine and heroin top the list of drugs of choice. This year's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June focused on the risks to children under 15, seldom the object of national and international studies. A special feature in Perspectives sheds light on the various ways in which children and drugs are linked. Experiences from Africa, Asia and Latin America illustrate the different facets of a problem that concerns everyone, everywhere. It is our responsibility, as individuals and communities, to do our part to break these links and keep children and drugs apart. We hope you enjoy our new magazine and find it useful and informative. Your suggestions and ideas are welcome-please contact us at [email protected]. CONTENTS
Interview with UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa
pdf: http://www.unodc.org/newsletter/en/200603/index.html