[Pak-Media] Press Releases: 26 June: " International Day in Support of Victims of Torture" and "International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking"

Dear Media colleagues,

26 June is proclaimed by the General Assembly, in separate resolutions and years for the following two important observances;

1. By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
2. While,on 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly also proclaimed 26 June as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, (resolution 39/46), annex, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.
   

Please find attached the Press Releases on messages by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for your information and kind placement. You shall find the following web links useful to have more information materials and backgrounders on both occasions;

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking:

• The website for the Day: http://www.un.org/en/events/drugabuseday

• Documents and conventions: http://www.un.org/en/events/drugabuseday/docs.html

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture:

• The website for the Day www.un.org/en/events/torturevictimsday

• Which States have, or have not, ratified human rights treaties, including the Convention against Torture,http://treaties.un.org/Pages/Treaties.aspx?id=4&subid=A&lang=en

• UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/TortureFundMain.aspx
  

• Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment:http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/  

• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat.htm

 We appreciate your cooperation in raising awareness on the issues and efforts against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and Supporting the Victims of Torture.

With kind regards,
Ishrat