Resolution Calling upon APPF to Promote International Cooperation in Educational Programs and Legal Reforms to Strengthen and Protect Family Life in Order to Fight Drug Addiction

8th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum
8-14 January 2000

Resolution Calling upon APPF to Promote International Cooperation in Educational Programs and Legal Reforms to Strengthen and Protect Family Life in Order to Fight Drug Addiction

APPF08/RES/18

(submitted by the Mexican Delegation)

Aware and alarmed at the rapid growth of drug addiction amongst youngsters of the countries belonging to the Asia Pacific area,

Worried by the fact that the largest efforts of our Governments are focused primarily on the production and traffic of drugs, and by the fact that those efforts are being turned fruitless in face of the ever growing demand for drugs,

Recognizing the need for a much stronger effort on the part of our Governments to change the living and environment conditions which lead young people to the consumption of drugs,

Recognizing also that among the basic conditions which should be strengthened in order to help keep our children away from drugs is the true role of families,

Worried that many factors, some regional, some global, such as poverty, ignorance, influence of mass media, self perception of parental roles, and others, are turning the experience of family life into a cause for drug addiction instead of reinforcing its natural role of primary educator and protector of the development of youngsters,

Wishing to help restore the natural role of the family as a means to keep our children away from the addiction to drugs,

Resolves hereby to call on all APPF member countries to take the necessary steps to establish an international forum to:

Develop education plans and programs focused on the prevention of drug abuse among children, beginning from early childhood. Such programs should include teacher and parents training courses, parent-teacher cooperation activities.
Establish education plans and programs through which children become aware of their own dignity and worth, and coordinate joint efforts of P.T.A., local authorities and other social entities, in order to help children live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Recognize the importance of the family, by means of laws that protect and foster the environment in which children are raised.