| IDPC February Alert
Welcome to the IDPC February 2010 Alert. The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of NGOs and professional networks that work together to promote objective and open debate on drug policy. This Alert contains news, updates on the latest publications and upcoming events relevant to international drug policy.
News New Zealand's Law Commission – Controlling and regulating drugs
The most significant review of New Zealand's drug law has begun. An independent law advisory body, the Law Commission, has released its issues paper "Controlling and Regulating Drugs" for public consultation, until 30 April 2010. Their paper traces the history of drug policy and regulation in New Zealand, and reviews the current approach to drug control and regulation. It makes some preliminary proposals on how New Zealand's drug laws can be updated to put in place a modern and evidence-based statute. Read the full report. Methadone now available in Afghanistan
On 23 February 2010, the first patients in Kabul, Afghanistan received methadone within the Médecins du Monde Harm Reduction Programme. More than two years after the National Consensus Conference on OST was held with the participation of the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, a comprehensive range of harm reduction services has now been made available in Afghanistan.
UN's International Narcotics Control Board's Annual Report oversteps mandate and interferes with countries' sovereignty
The INCB's annual report expresses concern over the "growing movement to decriminalise the possession of controlled drugs" and calls for this movement to be "resolutely countered". According to the Transnational Institute and the Washington Office on Latin America, these criticisms clearly overstep the INCB's mandate and constitute unwarranted intrusions into these countries' sovereign decision-making. Read extracts of the INCB Annual Report. Global Fund Community Systems Strengthening Consultation
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance and the International Council of AIDS Services Organizations (ICASO) are conducting an online consultation for civil society and other interested parties to input into the draft community systems strengthening framework (CSS for short). Please feed into this consultation through the online survey by no later than 5th March 2010. It is crucial to get the views from harm reduction and drug user organisations. Click here for more information.
Human Rights Watch: UN should review role in Cambodian drug detention centres
Human Rights Watch issued a report, "Skin on the Cable", with reports of widespread beatings, whippings, and electric shock to detainees, including children and individuals with mental disabilities, in seven Cambodian drug detention centres. Read the full report. First Romanian debate on drug classification and drug-related crimes
The President of the Romanian Deputy Chamber has invited civil society representatives to participate in the first debate on changing the Romanian drug laws. The Deputy Chamber is proposing discussions on differentiating penalties for illicit possession of drugs for personal use, conducting a periodic review of drug classification lists, and reviewing legislation on drug policy coordination. "Cannabis policy: Moving beyond stalemate"
This new book, published by the Beckley Foundation and Oxford University Press, was researched and written by a group of the world's leading drug policy analysts. It provides an overview of the latest scientific evidence surrounding cannabis and calls for an evidence-based approach to policy that seeks to minimise the harms associated with use of that drug. Staying Alive Foundation – Call for proposals
The Staying Alive Foundation is pleased to announce its first 2010 call for proposals. The Foundation is looking for youth-led organisations that can raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and have received little or no previous funding. The Foundation grants are a maximum of US$12,000. The deadline to apply is 12 March, and grants will be announced on 1 June 2010. Click here to apply. UNAIDS NGO Delegation would like to hear from you
Each year, the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS governing body (the Programme Coordinating Board) submits a report to the Board. This is an important opportunity to present the unique perspectives of civil society on developments and issues around the AIDS pandemic. Broad input from civil society informs the NGO report, particularly on key issues to the agenda, but also on persistent or emerging issues "on the ground". The NGO Delegation would like to get your input as it writes this report. Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous questionnaire. Click here to access the online questionnaire.
Canadian Federal Government goes to the Supreme Court to shut down Vancouver's safe-injection site
Last month's decision by the British Columbia appeals court to allow North America's only safe-injection site to stay open will be taken to the Canadian Supreme Court. This facility provides a space for drug users to safely inject themselves and was granted an exemption from federal drug laws by the previous liberal government. It is now causing important tensions between the local government and the Conservative Federal Government. Call for nominations: 2010 Red Ribbon Awards
The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2010 Red Ribbon Award is 28 February 2010. We strongly encourage you to nominate your colleagues of excellence for the award, as this would present an excellent opportunity to give prominence to drug policy issues at the International HIV/AIDS Conference.
New possibilities – Energize DPA's Biennal Reform Conference
From 12 to 14 November 2009, over 1,000 participants came together at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Alburquerque, New Mexico. It was the Conference's strongest, most diverse gathering of people, issues, co-hosts and partner organisations. The Conference focused on the rapidly changing political climate and forward-thinking issues such as marijuana regulation, supervised injection sites in the US, and shifting drug use from a criminal justice to a health issue.
Latest publications
TNI Briefing– Countering illicit and unregulated money flows
In this issue of Crime & Globalisation, Tom Blickman tracks the history of the international anti-money laundering regime. Since its origin in 1989, there has been a growing awareness that this regime was not working as well as intended. After two decades of failed efforts, experts still ponder how to implement one that does work. The paper concludes that current initiatives are no longer relevant, and that a bolder approach is required at the UN level. Read the briefing.
UNODC Report - Afghanistan Opium Survey 2010
In a report issued on 10 February 2010, UNODC projects stable cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan this year, with a possible decrease in production. UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa underlined the need for development assistance, good governance and highlighted the strong correlation between insurgency and cultivation in Afghanistan. Read the report. UNODC Report- Legal and policy concerns related to IDU harm reduction in SAARC
Countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have recently seen a dramatic increase in the prevalence of HIV and injecting drug use. Public authorities have implemented harm reduction measures including condom promotion and needle syringe exchange. However, questions have arisen as to whether these measures are within the bounds of national laws or whether the national laws hinder them. Read the full report. Under the Skin: Draws on affidavits and testimonies from people across Canada with experience using drugs or sharing needles inside a federal prison
Scientific evidence and legal justifications for prison-based needle and syringe programmes have long been established, yet still the Canadian government will not implement them. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network's most recent publication, "Under the Skin", paints a portrait of suffering and systemic discrimination. Read the full report.
Human Rights Watch Report – "Skin on the Cable"
In this report, Human Rights Watch documents detainees being beaten, raped, forced to donate blood, and subjected to painful physical punishments such as "rolling like a barrel" and being chained while standing in the sun. A number of detainees reported receiving rotten or insect-ridden food and suffering symptoms of diseases consistent with nutritional deficiencies. Read the full report.
Upcoming events 53rd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
8 - 12 Mar 2010, Vienna, Austria
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) will meet in Vienna, Austria for its 53rd Session from the 8 -12 March 2010. The CND is the central policy-making body of the United Nations in drug-related matters, and governs a large portion of the work of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). For papers and the agenda for the event click here. IDPC has produced a guide for NGOs that wish to participate in the event.
Harm Reduction 2010: IHRA's 21st International Conference
25 – 29 April 2010, Liverpool, UK
The online registration for the International Harm Reduction Association's 21st conference are still open. As in previous years, this promises to be a 'must-attend' event for the harm reduction field, with a programme covering a huge range of topics. For 2010, the event is returning to the city which hosted the first conference back in 1990 – Liverpool, England. All of the latest information – including news, supporting organisations, scholarships, travel, visas, and an online accommodation booking service – are available on the conference website. Farmers perspectives on the war on drugs - session at Harm Reduction 2010 Conference
29 Apr 2010, Liverpool, UK
In a significant omission, production and supply-side issues have not been a traditional focus of the International Harm Reduction Conference. This session at this year's conference in Liverpool is intended to provide participants with an overview of the diversity and seriousness of the issues facing people in four very different producer nations from the perspectives of those with first hand experience. This session will take place on Thursday 29th April between 9am and 10am. The session is organised by TNI, IHRA and IPS. The Club Health Conference 2010
7 - 9 June 2010, Zurich, Switzerland
The Club Health Conference 2010 is geared towards those working on public health, substance use, sexual health, violence prevention, policing and criminal justice, tourism, nightlife industries, transport, environmental health, general practice and therapy. The call for abstracts will be open until 28 February 2010. For more information, visit the conference website.
Drugs, Alcohol and Criminal Justice: ethics, effectiveness and economics of intervention
24 - 26 June 2010, London, UK
The University of Kent is delighted to announce the Second European Conference of the CONNECTIONS Project, organised by the Conference Consortium and supported by Drink and Drugs News and Napo. The conference will look at a range of interventions and treatments, from harm reduction to drug free 'recovery' in the criminal justice system. The premise is that no one treatment modality can deal effectively with the complex range of presented need. The task of the conference is to discuss and debate how best the different components can be combined most effectively. For more information, visit the conference website. 'Rights Here, Right Now': XVIII International AIDS Conference
18 Jul 2010 - 23 Jul 2010, Vienna, Austria
The XV11 International AIDS Conference will take place in Vienna in July of this year. The abstract deadline is 10th February 2010 and the deadline for satellite session proposals is 31st March 2010. For more information, visit the conference website. 8th National Harm Reduction Conference: Harm Reduction Beyond Borders!
18 Nov 2010 - 21 Nov 2010, Austin, Texas, USA
This November, the 8th National Harm Reduction Conference will bring together approximately 1,000 drug users, ex-drug users, researchers, sex workers, social workers, doctors, politicians and community organizers from around the United States to share perspectives on Harm Reduction. For more information, visit the conference website.
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