Cudras
Introduction of CUDRAS
Center for Universal Drug Researches, Approaches and Studies (CUDRAS) was established in 2013. Relying upon its professional researches and their assiduous endeavor, CUDRAS as an NGO is making its way through finding the best and most appropriate ways of positively influencing drug trends regarding cultivation, production and consumption by undertaking fundamental and practical researches and participating in various domestic, regional and international organizations and conferences. Aiming at introducing efficacious approaches, the center is helping decision-makers to take the most coherent policies on various aspects of countering illicit drugs and organized crimes.
To bridge the gap between experts and academic communities within and outside Iran, CUDRAS is also ready to hold conferences and expert panels.
CUDRAS Mission
- Qualitative and quantitative development of practical researches
- Intra / inter sector cooperation encouragement
- Empowering researches through holding national and international workshops
- Development of domestic and international relationships
- Full support of drug-related researches
CUDRAS Strategies
- Expanding the level of scientific relations with domestic, regional and international communities
- Developing practical researches and making use of them
- Opening up better opportunities for research conduction
- Proper organization of information (formation of research and paper database system)
- Paving the way for a better access to the experience of researchers, authors and translators
- Providing opportunities to take advantage of practical researches
CUDRAS Position at International Level
- Member of Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC)
- Member of World Federation against Drug (WFAD)
- Member of NEWYORK NGO Committee on Drugs (NYNGOC)
- Member of The International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP)
CUDRAS Activities at a Domestic and International Level
- Participating in CND (the Commission on Narcotic Drugs) sessions held by the UN
- Holding the 1st International Conference: Future Prospects for Afghanistan & Illicit Drugs in May, 2014; Tehran- Iran
- Holding a “Special Session on the Status of Anti-drug Strategy in Iranian Diplomacy and Foreign Policy” on November 28, 2015; Tehran- Iran
- Holding an “ International Forum: towards UNGASS 2016” on March 2, 2016; Tehran- Iran
- Participating in “Harat Security Dialogue”- October, 2014; Herat-Afghanistan
- Laying the ground for scientific interactions with academic centers and universities at a regional and international level
- Participating in ISSDP Annual Conferences:
- Getting accepted the paper entitled “From Hard to Soft Approach: a Parallel Transition in the Global Drug Policy and International Justice system” at the 10th ISSDP Conference, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW, Sydney, Australia; May 2016
- Presenting paper entitled “A Study on the Prevalence of Medication/Polymedication Abuse in Iran” at the 11th ISSDP Conference, Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; May 2017
- Launching a website containing research findings and sending out newsletters
- Preparing and publishing periodicals, quarterlies, essays at a domestic level and authoring a series of significant countries’ drug-related Atlas
International Conference: Afghanistan and Illicit drugs
CUDRAS took steps toward holding a conference on future prospects for Afghanistan & illicit drugs in 2014 in an attempt to build self-discourse capacity and with other centers and scholars. The subject was chosen to highlight the issue and aimed at comprehending the regional and international priorities. The conference was further enriched by the presence of well-known scholars and thinkers. The viewpoints and explanatory comments passed by scholars from countries such as Italy, Sweden, Russia, Portugal and Afghanistan and some Iranian officials such as foreign ministry experts, MPs and the anti-drug committee of expediency discernment council, Afghanistan ambassador to Iran and some delegates from foreign embassies in Tehran led into a better understanding of the current situation and employing proper techniques.
Participation in Herat Security Dialogue III-October 2014
A delegation of CUDRAS was invited to the 3rd Herat Security Dialogue by Afghan Institute for strategic studies (AISS) in October 2014. In addition to active participation in discussions about drugs, organized crime and terrorism, one CUDRAS researcher gave a speech at the conference.
Special Session on the Status of Anti-Drug Strategy in Iranian Diplomacy and Foreign Policy- November 2015
CUDRAS held its first expert session on the status of anti-drug strategy in Iranian diplomacy and foreign policy on November 28, 2015. The session was attended by some well-known researchers and academicians of foreign policy, drug issues and diplomacy. The seriousness of regional and international threats caused by narcotic drugs and the consequences of political instabilities and insecurities in the southwest of Asia has weighted the role of drug control in Iran’s foreign relations. Hence, the session was a good opportunity to study and analyze the importance of anti-drug strategy in Iranian diplomacy and foreign policy. Undertaking a review of drugs control policies in the last three decades and highlighting the experiences and institutional capabilities gained in this period, it was concluded that the gradual maturity of Iranian drug control policies has made Iran capable to exchange these experiences through diplomatic channels.
Towards UNGASS 2016
CUDRAS hosted an international forum entitled “Towards UNGASS 2016” in Tehran on March 2, 2016. It was attended by many distinguished foreign and Iranian scholars and high-level officials such as Per Johansson, WFAD Secretary of the Board, Leik Boonwat, former UNODC representative in Tehran, Alejandro Pescador, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Mexico who represented Ulises Canchola, the former Mexican Ambassador to Iran and delivered the statement made by him in the Forum, Ali Hashemi, Head of Drug Control Committee of the Expediency Discernment Council, Parviz Afshar, the spokesman of Iranian Drug Control Headquarter. The speeches and presentations revolved around three main themes including crime and drugs, the conventions and drug control regime, and drugs and health.
Introducing CUDRAS website
Making researches, analyses and trend assessments more accessible, CUDRAS has launched a bilingual website since 2013. It includes a wide variety of subjects such as trends, policies and programs, conventions and resolutions, international associations and structures based on geographical categorization. CUDRAS warmly welcomes articles and papers on relevant issues which will be published after being decided on by editorial board.
Some of CUDRAS Publications:
- A Study of Security Approaches of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Regional Level with an Emphasis on Drug and Organized Crime (both in Persian and English)
- Turkmenistan: a Study of Neutrality Strategy and Drug Policies (both in Persian and English)
- Hidden Drugs: Ketamine and Digital Drugs (in Persian)
- Russian Federation: Drug-related Atlas (in Persian)
- The Republic of Turkey and Organized Crime Atlas (both in Persian and English)
- UNGASS 2016: a Momentous Event Unfold at Global Level on the Drug Problem (both in Persian and English)
- Economy of Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime: Demolition of Political and Economic Institutions (in Persian)
- The Republic of Iraq and Organized Crime Atlas (in Persian)
- Narcotic/Stimulant Drug Control Policies in the Federal Republic of Germany (in Persian)
- World Drug Report 2017, Volume 1, Conclusions and Policy Implications, Translated into Persian
- Incipient Plan of State Drug Distribution in Iran: a Thorough Review (in Persian)
- Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017, Cultivation and Production, Translated into Persian (in Press)