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YEŞiLAY
GreenCrescent organizedaspecial event at its Istanbul headquarterson June26 tomark“International
DayAgainstDrugAbuseand Illicit Trafficking” attendedbyDeputyPrimeMinisterNumanKurtulmuş
alongwithnumerousguests frombusiness, art andsportscommunity.
CALL FOR COOPERATION TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE
COMMUNITY AN INTERNATIONAL
E
veryyear inTurkey, activities aimed at raisingawareness are
organized on June 26 International Day Against Drug Abuse
and Illicit Trafficking, which was declared by the United Na-
tions (UN) to draw attention to drug addiction and trafficking. The
UN’sWorld Drug Report is also announced on this date every year.
The reception hosted by Green Crescent on the occasion of this
special day at Sepetçiler Pavilion for Social Cooperation Against
Drugs was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş
along with businesspeople, artists, athletes, government repre-
sentatives, academics, addicts’ families, nongovernmental orga-
nizations and experts. Kütahya Seramik Board Chairman Erkan
Güral, Elginkan Community Executive Board Chairwoman Gaye
Akçen, singersMuazzez Ersoy and Umut Akyürek, Serdar Kılıç, the
producer of the “Doğada İnsan” (Human in Nature) show, actress
Açelya Akkoyun, radio broadcaster Cem Arslan, TV series actors
Ufuk Bayraktar and Serhat Kılıç were among those who took the
stage during the program and shared their messages in the fight
against drugs.
The reception, where messages on social cooperation in the fight
against drugs were given, commenced with the opening of Rus-
sian photographer Irina Popova’s photo exhibition titled “İnsanlık
Namına” (For the Sake of Humanity), the story of the life struggles
of a drug addict mother and father.
Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Numan
Kurtulmuş attended the program with his wife, Sevgi Kurtulmuş.
The deputy prime minister, who inaugurated Popova’s exhibition,
got information on the work. Later, together with Green Crescent
President Professor Mücahit Öztürk, Kurtulmuş signed the board
with, “I amalso in the fight against drugs,” written on it.
Kurtulmuş thanked Green Crescent stating that the organization
gathered friends from a range of very different circles on such an
important day to increase public awareness.
‘GreenCrescent: Primary responsible in thisarea’
Indicating that the fight against drugs renders it obligatory to form a
newperspective ineducationaswell, Kurtulmuş said:
“The fight against drugs also has a securtiy aspect. to it.There is also
a narco-terrorism aspect to this. Numerous terrorist organizations
everywhere around theworld are involved indrug trade. Bothplanta-
tion, distribution, trade and international transfer of drug substances
aremadethroughterroristorganizations.Hence,wearegoingtocarry
on this struggle both in the education area and in the family life, these
are theactual partsof the job, butwe shouldnever forget that narco-
terrorism is a huge problem for humanityworldwide. It is a duty upon
us all to protect our children; the government and Green Crescent are
primary responsibleparties in thismatterwhicheveryonewill beuni-
ted.”
Green Crescent President Professor Mücahit Öztürk, who spoke
at the event, gave information on efforts both in Turkey and abroad,
thanked everybody and all organizations that have supported Green
Crescent’s struggle for awareness in this area. Stating that theywork
to draw attention to the drug problem both in our country and the
world and increase public awareness in this fight through the events
organizedbyGreenCrescent on June26everyyear, Öztürksaid:
“According to theWorld Drug Report 2016 announced by the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in the last one year, 250 million
people worldwide used drug substances and the number of heavy
drug addicts has increased from 27 million to 29 million. This number
has seen a rise for the first time in the last six years – inwhich it was
stable–andthisshowsthatdrugaddiction isonarisethroughoutthe
world. Unfortunately, only one out of every, six drug addicts around
theworld canbe treated.Thenumber of peoplewhodied through re-
asons directly linked to drugs is reported as 207,000 per year. In the
fight we have been continuing in our country as Green Crescent, we
establishedour strategyonpreventionefforts.
Prof. NumanKurtulmuş
GREEN CRESCENT-2016