[Courtesy of International Drug Policy Consortium]
The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of NGOs and professional networks that specialise in issues related to illegal drug production and use. The Consortium aims to promote objective and open debate on the effectiveness, direction and content of drug policies at national and international level, and supports evidence-based policies that are effective in reducing drug-related harm. It disseminates the reports of its member organisations about particular drug-related matters, and offers expert consultancy services to policymakers and officials around the world.
COMMUNICATIONS
The IDPC website has been updated, and a specific section created for materials related to the United Nations 10-year review of the global drug control system. This section, accessed through a link on the homepage at www.idpc.info, contains a selection of official documents, IDPC reports and updates, and related publications relevant to the review that will culminate in a high-level political meeting in Vienna in March 2009.
With effect from April 2008, IDPC is now administered and co-ordinated from the offices of Release, the London-based drugs and legal rights NGO. The Beckley Foundation remains a full member of the IDPC, and will continue to contribute reports and analysis, but the co-ordination of financial matters, administration and communications will from now on fall to Release. In this regard, you may receive future communications from either Geni Horwood (
[email protected]), the IDPC Co-ordinator, or Christopher Hallam (
[email protected]), the IDPC Research Assistant, who are both based at Release.
At the same time, we are in the process of expanding our network of consultants who work with governments around the world to promote the development of humane and effective drug policies, and specifically the agreed IDPC views and positions. As at June 1st, we have the following consultants working with us:
EUROPE â Mike Trace, Grazia Zuffa.
ASIA â Gabor Somogyi.
LATIN AMERICA â Coletta Youngers.
CARIBBEAN â Marcus Day.
We are hoping to add further consultants to this list in the coming months, and will keep you informed. If you wish to make contact with any of these individuals, you can get their contact details from Geni on the above email address.
PUBLICATIONS
IDPC ADVOCACY GUIDE, VERSION 4
This version has only minor changes from the previous version, distributed in April, and will be the final version of the advocacy guide. From now on, a series of IDPC updates on the UN Drug Policy Review will be produced, the first being scheduled for the end of July.
ENGLISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyGuide_June08_EN.pdf
SPANISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyGuide_June08_ES.pdf
IDPC ADVOCACY NOTES
To help our consultants, members and partners to focus their advocacy engagement with national governments and international agencies, we will be producing short summaries of IDPC positions in the form of advocacy notes. The first three of these are now available on the IDPC website:
The UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS - New York, June 2008.
ENGLISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyNote_UNMeetingAIDS_EN.pdf
SPANISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyNote_UNMeetingAIDS_ES.pdf
The Supply Reduction Working Group of the United Nations Drug Policy Review.
http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyNote_SupplyReduc_EN.pdf
The Demand Reduction Working Group of the United Nations Drug Policy Review.
ENGLISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyNote_DRWG_EN.pdf
SPANISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_AdvocacyNote_DRWG_ES.pdf
THE LATIN AMERICAN "BLUE RIBBON" COMMISSION
The Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy was launched by ex-presidents Cesar Gaviria (Colombia), Ernesto Zedillo (Mexico) and Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil). Composed of eighteen eminent members from different countries in the region, its objective is to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of current drug policy and to contribute towards more efficient, safe and humane policies. It also aims to make Latin America's voice heard in the global debate concerning this transnational issue. The Commission intends to start wide-ranging debates about the issue, and in the course of its work will hear from experts, analyze alternatives and formulate suggestions. A final proposal will be presented in early 2009. For additional information, see: www.drogasydemocracia.org.
ENGLISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/LABlueRibbonCommission_EN.pdf
SPANISH http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/LABlueRibbonCommission_ES.pdf