ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 26th 2013 [ME NewsWire]
Under the auspices of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ hosted on Wednesday a celebration to mark the “World Anti-Drugs Day”, being observed worldwide on June 26. The five-day celebrations, held under the slogan “Be in a Good Company… Say no to Drugs”, kicked off at a number of malls, namely; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall at Banyas city; Al Ain Mall in Al Ain; and the TAMM and Gayathi Centers for Integrated Government Services in the Western Region.
On this occasion, the Abu Dhabi Police called for strengthening community partnership against the dangers of drugs. It urged the public to get involved and contribute to spread awareness on the risks posed by narcotics and other psychotropic substances on mental health as well as their ill-effects that threaten the life of future generations. Moreover, the Abu Dhabi Police called for vigilance among families, urging them to help their children choose good companionship, and acquaint them with the useful means to fill their leisure time, and develop their ability to distinguish right from wrong.
As part of its participation in the day’s celebrations, the Abu Dhabi Police provided a number of awareness-raising activities, programs, and theater performances; along with a free drawing pavilion and community contests. Attendees, including children and students took part in these activities; prizes were distributed to all participants.
In his address on the occasion, Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director of the Capital Police Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police GHQ indicated that the Abu Dhabi Police has endeavored with all its might, as per the directives of police leadership, to address and combat the scourge of drugs and drug-trafficking.
“The UAE government has established strategies to combat this scourge, and penalized all forms of drug handling, namely; possession, purchase, import, export, and drug abuse; regardless of the intent or purpose behind such bad behaviors,” he said.
Al Sharifi added that the Abu Dhabi Police has placed awareness-raising on the dangers of drugs on top of its priorities, and continues to educate community members throughout the year, via the activities and programs of the Security Media Department, not only on the World Anti-Drugs Day. Moreover, he noted that the Abu Dhabi Police has stepped up its efforts to combat the scourge of drugs, due to their adverse effects on health, society, economy and on security.
Al Sharifi emphasized the Abu Dhabi Police’s commitment to achieve concerted efforts between the various society institutions and anti-drugs entities to combat this devastating blight. This would contribute to attain the objectives set by the World Anti-Drugs Day, and provide the necessary information to help the competent authorities disseminate prevention means to protect community members and families against these deadly substances.
He called on the various segments of society to participate actively in the fight against drug crimes, by extending a helping hand to police agencies, which spare no effort to ensure the security of the homeland, and preserve the safety of its people. “Everyone is required to report any security-threatening crime that comes to one’s knowledge, by calling the Aman service toll-free number on 8002626,” he continued.
Concluding, Director of the Capital Police Directorate called on drug abusers’ families to seek help and resort to specialized treatment centers; pointing out that drug abuse is a serious threat to communities, for the moral crimes and negative habits they ensue.
Attending the celebrations were Colonel Ibrahim Sultan Al Zaabi, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police; Colonel Ibrahim Hamid Zaabi, Head of Anti-Drug Section at the Criminal Investigation Department; and a number of directors and representatives of local departments and officers from Abu Dhabi Police.
For his part, Colonel Ibrahim Sultan Al Zaabi, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, delivered a speech on the occasion, highlighting the noble goals of the UAE’s World Anti-Drugs Day celebrations: “The UAE is a leading country in establishing and implementing awareness-raising activities and programs against drugs on all occasions; as per the firm belief and the higher leadership’s policy which stipulates the need to protect the family and its members, as they constitute the main pillar of society,” he said.
Moreover, he explained that this year celebrations’ slogan, “Be in a Good Company… Say no to Drugs” focuses on friendship, and underscores the importance of protecting the community and its members from the deadly dangers of drugs, with a particular emphasis on protecting the youth.
He continued: "This year’s slogan highlights the pivotal and direct impact of personal relations and friendships on shaping individuals’ character and behavior, negatively or positively, especially at a young age; thus confirming the need to stay away from bad companions.” Moreover, he noted that the celebrations’ slogan sheds lights on the family’s role to protect the youth against all forms of delinquencies in general and against drug abuse in particular, indicating that a close family is a real source of happiness.
Al Zaabi stressed the keenness of Abu Dhabi Police to shoulder its responsibilities to maintain the security of the homeland; and to harness efforts of all society organizations and segments in the fight against this blight; calling for full cooperation to achieve the objectives of the World Anti-Drugs day.
Concluding, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police expressed his thanks to all entities participating in the World Anti-Drugs Day activities. He lauded their fruitful cooperation to achieve the World Anti-Drugs Day’s objectives, namely; enhancing the efforts exerted to address this scourge and protecting family members.
The celebrations began with the national anthem followed by a recitation of the Holy Quran. Then Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director of the Capital Police Directorate honored the main sponsor and strategic organizer, along with the sponsors and participating entities in the World Anti-Drugs Day celebrations. He also honored a number of institutions, who played a prominent role in the anti-drugs activities and programs, in addition to a group of officers from the various police departments.
Brigadier Al Sharifi also inaugurated the exhibition held in conjunction with the World Anti-Drugs Day celebrations. Accompanied by officers and participants, he toured the exhibition’s various pavilions and listened to an explanation on the types of drugs and tools used in drug abuse and trafficking. He also reviewed some of the awareness publications and guidance pamphlets on Drugs and their dangers, including the ones targeting children at an early age.
Taking part in the exhibition are a number of Abu Dhabi Police departments, namely; the Traffic and Patrols Directorate General; the Community Police Department; the Medical Services Department; the Emergency and Public Safety Department ; the Crime Scene Department; the Punitive Reformatory Establishments Department; and the Social Support Centers. Also participating are the Al Sha’biya police station; the Anti-Drug Section; the Tourism Police Section; 999 Magazine; along with a number of civic entities, namely; the Red Crescent Authority; the Finance Department (represented by the Customs Department); the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI); and the Saaed Society to reduce traffic accidents.
Celebrations will continue until Sunday, June 30, with the closing ceremony to be held in the Al Ain Mall in Al Ain city, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain Celebrations
On behalf of the Director of Al Ain Police Directorate, Colonel Abdullah Mohammed Al Shamsi, inaugurated the World Anti-Drugs Day celebrations, held in Al Ain Mall, under the slogan “Be in a Good Company… Say no to Drugs”.
A number of civic and police entities took part in the celebrations, along with several national and private institutions, including the Al Ain Municipality Department; the Customs Operations Department- Al Ain; the Al Ain Mall; the Social Support Centers Department; the Community Police Department; the Punitive Reformatory Establishments Department; the Security Inspection Department (K9); and Public Relations Department at the Al Ain Police Directorate.
The ceremony began with the national anthem. Major Abdullah Mohammed Al Hassani, the Al Ain Anti-Drug Branch Manager delivered a speech, stressing the importance of parenting based on original Islamic and Arab values. He called on parents to educate their children on the need to adhere to the teachings of Islam and to encourage them to seek cohesion, social communication and good companions.
For his part, student Raeed Al Hassani, underscored the need for effective cooperation with police bodies, calling on community members to report any information regarding drug abusers to police entities and the various anti-drug health centers across the country, to provide help for drug addicts and arrest all those who threaten the security and stability of society.
At the end of the ceremony, Colonel Abdullah Mohammed Al Shamsi, accompanied by a number of police officers from the Al Ain Police Directorate, inaugurated the police exhibition, held with the participation of numerous police and civic entities.
300 awareness lectures in 2012 in Abu Dhabi
In 2012, the Abu Dhabi Police organized about 300 awareness-raising lectures shedding light on the dangers and adverse effects of drug abuse, as well as the means to prevent and curb this blight. According to Brigadier General Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director of the Capital Police Directorate, a significant number of students from the various educational institutions benefitted of these lectures across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
“Our Youth, Our Responsibility”: Awareness Play on the dangers of drugs
As part of the World Anti-Drugs Day celebrations, the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ is organizing a social play titled “Our Youth, Our Responsibility”.
The play, written and directed by Emirati citizen Engineer Maasouma Al Idani Al Bu Ali, focuses on the risks of drugs and their adverse effects. It aims to educate community members, particularly the youth, on the dangers posed by these drugs on humans’ health and their future; urging the need to choose good companions, as per the World Anti-Drugs Day’s slogan “Be in a Good Company… Say no to Drugs”. The play also includes a theatrical ode of a miniature operetta titled “The Unified Home”.
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Photo Captions:
Photo 1: Brigadier General Al Sharifi cutting the ribbon on the celebrations opening
Photo 2: Brigadier General Al Sharifi honoring one of the participating entities
Photo 3: Brigadier General Al Sharifi honoring ne of the actors involved.
Photo 4: Brigadier General Al Sharifi touring one of the exhibition booths
Photo 5: Brigadier General Al Sharifi and Colonel Al Zaabi cutting off the cake
Photo 6: Colonel Abdullah Al Shamsi inaugurating the Al Ain city celebrations
Photo 7: Colonel Abdullah Al Shamsi touring the exhibition in the Al Ain City
The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Contacts
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-908-5946
E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com
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