Doha, 20 Jan 2026

At the 4th National Human Rights Committee Forum in Doha, speakers delivered a clear and thoughtful message: tackling global challenges like drugs, organized crime, and cybercrime requires more than strict laws. It requires putting people first, protecting human dignity, and building strong, trustworthy institutions. This balanced vision was highlighted by UNODC Doha Office Chief Mustafa Erten and Professor Abdelaziz Hashim of Cairo University.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Mustafa Erten stressed that human rights must always be at the heart of efforts to combat crime. As the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime oversees key international conventions, he explained that its responsibility goes beyond enforcement. Crime, he said, is itself a violation of human rights, and so is the failure to protect the health and well-being of those affected by addiction.

Erten shared worrying global figures, noting that drug use has reached a record 316 million people worldwide. He expressed particular concern for young people, who are increasingly targeted by synthetic drugs and new forms of use such as vaping, as well as for women, who often face greater barriers to treatment and support. In this context, he emphasized that access to prevention, healthcare, and rehabilitation is not a luxury but a basic human right.

He praised Qatar for adopting a comprehensive and forward-looking approach that aligns its National Vision 2030 and GCC anti-drug strategies with public health, education, and social support. By strengthening families, investing in awareness, and focusing on treatment and reintegration, Qatar was described as a strong regional example. Erten reaffirmed UNODC’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Qatari institutions to develop sustainable solutions that protect human dignity.

Complementing this human-centered perspective, Prof. Abdelazez Hashem focused on the systems behind the fight against drug trafficking. Presenting his research on financial governance, he argued that institutions responsible for combating crime must themselves be well-managed, transparent, and financially sustainable. Criminal networks, he warned, are highly organized and well-funded, making them difficult to defeat without equally strong and credible public institutions.

Professor Hashim highlighted that sound financial governance allows anti-drug agencies to plan for the long term, use resources efficiently, and maintain public trust. Without this solid foundation, even the most well-intentioned human rights policies risk falling short. He also called for closer cooperation among national institutions to confront the growing regional and global drug threat.

Together, the contributions of Erten and Hashim offered a complete and practical roadmap. One focused on the moral purpose—protecting people’s health and rights—while the other addressed the operational strength needed to sustain that mission. Both agreed that success depends on cooperation across society, from families and schools to governments and international partners.

The forum ultimately reinforced a shared conclusion: real security comes from combining compassion with competence. By uniting human-centered policies with strong governance, societies can better protect their most vulnerable and build lasting resilience against global crime.