17TH IFNGO ASEAN NGOS WORKSHOP CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST
DRUGS

The 17th International Federation of Non-Government Organisations for
the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO) Asean NGOs
Workshop was officially declared open yesterday by the Minister of
Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang
Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang
Haji Mohd Yusof, at Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

Themed "Overcoming the Incidence of Recidivism for Asean Drug-Free
2015", the three-day event was organised by the National Anti-Drug
Association of Brunei Darussalam (BASMIDA) in cooperation with IFNGO
and supported by the Colombo Plan and International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs, US Department of State.

This is the third time BASMIDA honoured with the opportunity to host
the IFNGO Asean NGOs workshop, and this year, the workshop gathered
participants from the Asean NGOs and also from the USA, the Colombo
Plan, Macau, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and UN office of Drug
Crime to discuss the issue of recidivism.

Datin Hajah Masni binti Haji Mohd Ali, President of BASMIDA, in her
welcoming address said, "The processes of treatment and
rehabilitation indeed take time and require financial resources from
the individuals themselves, their families, communities and the
government."

"One objective of all processes of treatment and rehabilitation is to
seek a success rate where recidivism does not occur. The extent of
the success of any treatment and rehabilitation is measured by the
rate of recidivism and accordingly, we should agree on a standard,
which would be recognised by as many institutions and agencies, so
that we can make meaningful comparisons," said Datin Hajah Masni.

In its efforts to fight the scourge of drug abuse in Brunei and as a
national NGO, Datin Hajah Masni said that BASMIDA was always ready to
take new and proactive steps in reducing drug demands.

She emphasised that BASMIDA has recently been accorded further
recognition by ISESCO (Islamic Educational and Scientific Council),
and has received a grant in order to carry out a project that will
train former female drug-addicts the skills of traditional Bruneian
massage.

The opening ceremony also saw the President of IFNGO-cum-President of
the Asia Pacific Family Organization (OFAP), Arch. Nuno Maria Roque
Jorge, and Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan, Ms Patricia
Yoon-Moi Chia, delivering their welcoming speeches and thanks.