From 12 to 19 April 2015, Qatar will serve as home for the 13th UN Crime Congress, bringing together governments, policy-makers, and experts to make tackling transnational organized crime an international priority. As stated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “effective criminal justice systems and respect for the rule of law are crucial for achieving sustainable development.”

Fake medicines are a dangerous crime- and one that affects people’s well-being, a key element of importance for healthy, able-bodied, and productive populations. Each year, over 700,000 people die from consuming fake medicines for malaria and TB, and reports show that they increase resistance to genuine treatment & undermine entire public health initiatives. As the international community develops its post-2015 agenda, combating the crime of fake medicines must become a priority in the efforts towards global sustainable development.

The Fight the Fakes campaign is very excited to participate in UNODC’s efforts to combat crime, and provide its resources to help raise awareness for the dangerous threat of fake medicines.

Fight the Fakes materials are now being distributed in Doha, and you can join us in the online conversation using #CrimeCongress.

To learn more about the conference, see here.

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