[Title] Video Message by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at the Side Event of the 66th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

As the Prime Minister of Japan, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this event “Dame (Never). Zettai (Ever). Value Yourself. A Drug Prevention Appeal from Japan after 30 years,” which is organized by Japan during the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

For thirty years since 1993, with the Drug Abuse Prevention Centre of Japan assuming a central role, fund-raising and grants for the United Nations has been carried out to help assist organizations in developing countries where it is difficult to deal with the issue on their own.

I am informed that DAPC Grants helped assist hundreds of drug abuse prevention programmes in developing countries.

It is an ongoing activity for the people of Japan to join hands with the rest of the world to extend a social environment free from drug abuse.

I thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for assisting in this endeavor.

Nevertheless, to prevent drug abuse and also to provide effective support for those who unfortunately fell victim to drugs, with a view to helping them reintegrate into society, these efforts must continue from generation to generation.

I understand that today's event will bring together the young generation from various countries, including representatives from Japan, for a sincere exchange of views on drug abuse prevention.

I hope that the collective wisdom, thinking out of the box, and imagination of the young people will result in creating groundbreaking ideas.

Let us work together for a brighter future.

My Government is determined to work closely with the international community in this field.

Finally, I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my sincere hope that this event will contribute to the deepening of drug abuse prevention activities.