![[IFNGO]-International Federation Of Non-Government Organisations For The Prevention Of Drug And Substance Abuse](http://www.ifngo.org/main/pub/ifngologogreen.gif)
The International Federation of Non-Government Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO) comprises Non-Government Organizations all over the world engaged in anti-drug and substance abuse activities.
It was first mooted at a conference for Non-Government Organizations (NGO) workers in alcohol and drug abuse prevention in Jakarta in 1979. The issue was raised again at a similar meeting the following year in Manila, and the Federation was finally launched in 1981 under the Kuala Lumpur Declaration in Malaysia during the Third International Conference of Non-Government-Organizations on Dadah Use Prevention which was Officially Declared Open by Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia concurrently Patron of PEMADAM Malaysia (National Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Malaysia). The Conference was Officially closed by Y.A.B. Dato’ Musa Hitam, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia concurrently Chairman, Cabinet Committee on Dadah Control, Malaysia.
The Conference unanimously elected Y.A.B. Dato’ Rais Yatim, Menteri Besar, Negeri Sembilan concurrently President of PEMADAM Malaysia as the Charter President of IFNGO.
In the years following the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, annual conferences were held. They aimed at developing collaborative efforts and interactions between Non-Government-Organizations to prevent and control alcohol and drug abuse.
In between conferences, the IFNGO Secretariat, which is hosted by PEMADAM Malaysia and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia facilitated the exchange of information as well as prepared and coordinated projects in close liaison with the United Nations agencies. They included the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the United Nations specialized agencies such as the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), now UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Health Organization, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
IFNGO is privileged to have the following affiliation with United Nations Agencies:
a). Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council - ECOSOC.
b). Working relations with the World Health Organization (W.H.O.).
c). Admitted to the International Labour Organization (I.L.O.) Special list of Non-Government Organizations.
d). N.G.O. in Operational Relations with UNESCO.
IFNGO also enjoys the support of the Centre for Drug Research (CDR), the Science University of Malaysia (USM) Penang, Malaysia which is designated as an IFNGO Training and Research Centre.
Regionally, IFNGO ASEAN NGOs are in Formal Relations with the ASEAN Secretariat based in Jakarta, Indonesia – Association of South East Asian Nations.
In the International NGO front, IFNGO is a member of the United Nations NGO Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse, New York and Vienna. IFNGO is also affiliated to C.O.N.G.O. – Conference of Non-Government Organizations in Consultative Status with the U.N. ECOSOC.
IFNGO is a Founder Member of ASPAC-NGO based in Bangkok, Thailand – Asia & Pacific NGO Committee for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse.
IFNGO has entered into Crossed-Membership arrangements with the following Regional and International NGOs thus effectively enlarged and broadened its networking all around the globe:-
AFTC – Asian Federation of Therapeutic Communities.
APFO – Asia Pacific Family Organization.
ASPAC-NGO – Asia Pacific NGOs for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse.
DPNA – Drug Prevention Network of the Americas.
RAINBOW - International Association Against Drugs.
Today, IFNGO is an important force, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, and looks toward continued growth in membership and to project activities which are of mutual benefit to participating countries.
IFNGO has 4 types of membership with the following breakdown:
| No. | Membership Type | No. of Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Founding Members | 7 |
| 2 | Ordinary Members | 28 |
| 3 | Regional & International Members | 13 |
| 4 | Associate Members | 39 |
Currently, IFNGO has 87 registered members in 40 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong S.A.R. China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macau S.A.R. China, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam.
In 1991, when Y.B. Dato Megat Junid bin Megat Ayob, Deputy Minister of Home Afffairs, Malaysia concurrently President of PEMADAM Malaysia and President of IFNGO, IFNGO incorporated the IFNGO FOUNDATION as a company limited by guarantee and without a share capital. IFNGO FOUNDATION is registered with the Registrar of Companies, Malaysia. Y.A.B. Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia graciously agreed to be the Patron of IFNGO FOUNDATION
IFNGO FOUNDATION in compliance with the Malaysian Income Tax Authorities also set up the IFNGO Malaysian Trust Fund.
