June 26 is the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a day when many governments celebrate their contributions to the global “war on drugs.” In the past, some countries have commemorated this day by holding public executions or beatings of drug offenders. Around the world, poorly designed drug laws that seek to punish production, possession, use, and even dependence have fueled violence, instability, and health crises. It’s time for a new approach.

"Please join us for a conversation with a panel of artists whose work illustrates the impact of drug policies through various mediums. This event is part of the unveiling of a series of murals in New York City that further illustrate how prohibitionist drug policies impact marginalized communities in the United States and abroad."

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

Artists for Change: a showcase from creatives for global drug policy reform

Anabolic Steroids: Evidence and engagement conference - 

The use of drugs for performance and image enhancement purposes has been firmly recognised as a public health concern. Of the diverse drugs that fall in this category, anabolic steroids and associated drugs appear to be the most prevalent and have the highest profile amongst the general population. Although in existence for several decades, the use of anabolic steroids for enhancement purposes is a complex and dynamic phenomenon. Consequently, efficient public health responses need to be informed by state-of-the-art evidence regarding prevalence, characteristics and risks, an understanding of changing user populations, and an appreciation of the strengths and limitations of different engagement strategies. With leading international and UK speakers, this conference will investigate what we already know about this drug use, the ways it has been dealt with, and the key challenges we are currently facing.

The conference is being organised by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University and will take place in Liverpool on Wednesday 22nd June 2016, from 9.30am to 4pm.

For our parallel sessions we welcome contributions related to the general theme of the conference or any associated topic. We would be particularly interested in contributions looking at the lessons that we could learn from other kinds of substance use as well as contributions looking at different national approaches and policies on anabolic steroids use.

We strongly encourage interaction amongst participants at the event and are therefore happy to consider different types of contributions, including research papers, shorter presentations and workshop contributions.

More information about the conference and the confirmed conference content can be found in the attached flyer and details of further parallel sessions will be added in due course.

 and your abstract should be emailed to SteroidConference2016@ljmu.ac.uk. Applicants will be notified of the organisers’ decision by 10th April 2016.

Please, click here to access the event page.

Anabolic Steroids: Evidence & engagement conference - Call for abstracts

Findings and recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI).

 Carlos Martín Beristain (GIEI) and Ulises Quero (CMDPDH)

Ayotzinapa and its role in Mexico's human rights crisis

A VolteFace event in association with The Howard League for Penal Reform and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP UK).

" We are proud to announce that, on the 14th of June, we are hosting a discussion which we have been excited about for some time now. ‘Betwixt and Between Prison and Drug Reform’, brings together some of the most vocal and esteemed names from the worlds of prison reform and drug policy reform. This event looks to explore how the two are mutually compatible, operate in a space with similar challenges, and are inextricably linked when it comes to this Government’s wider reform objectives."

Follow the debate on the night over on Twitter #VFReform.

Betwixt and Between: Prison and Drug Reform

The Mexico Summit is a new initiative from the UCL Mexican Society as part of its efforts to offer a better understanding of Mexico’s challenges and initiatives in a global context.

The First Mexico Summit at UCL aims to bring together students, researchers and decision makers to present and discuss about the current Global Drug Policy in a stimulating environment.

In mid April, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a Special Session on the World Drug Problem as part of its efforts to enhance cooperation and advance on a common strategy to counter the drug problem worldwide. The UCL Mexican Summit aims to widen the discussion around the drug problem, from different perspectives, and about the implications of the outcome document from UNGASS.

The format of the conference will include panel discussions around key issues on the drug problem and policies. Panels will be led by experts on the field and will count with the participation of students, researchers and government representatives.

The summit is organised by the UCL Mexican Society as part of it’s efforts to contribute to Mexico’s challenges through the advancement of applied science and technology.

Lessons from the Global Drug Policy: moving on from the 2016 UNGASS

17:00-18:30 / Thursday 9 June / Stratford Campus, Water Lane, UEL, E15 4LZ

Carl Hart is a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University who has been working closely with UEL students for the last year on a civic engagement project. Known for his research into drug abuse and drug addiction, Carl will talk about the importance of active citizenship, social justice and evidence-based drug policy as well as the role of power and his own personal story of identity and transformation. Victoria Macdonald (Channel 4 News) will chair a Q&A to follow Carl’s talk.

Civic Engagement: identity, power & transformation

Please find attached an invitation for a side event taking place during the HLM entitled “On the fast-track for the HIV response among people who use drugs: leadership to end AIDS” on June 9, 2016 , 8.00-9.30am in Conference Room 6. This event is hosted by the Columbia, Switzerland and Senegal, UNAIDS, UNODC and the Global Commission on Drug Policy.





FODE SECK Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations
TANIA DUSSEY-CAVASSINI Ambassador for Global Health, Switzerland
LUIZ LOURES Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
RICARDO LUQUE Advisor, Ministry of Health, Colombia
MONICA BEG Chief, HIV/AIDS Section, UNODC
MARIA PHELAN Deputy Director, Harm Reduction International




MICHEL KAZATCHKINE Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy

No need to RSVP as this is an open event. However if you require a special events pass please email middlehoffm@unaids.org

HLM side event - On the fast track for the HIV response among people who use drugs

In accordance with resolution A/Res/70/228, the UN General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS (HLM) from 

. The HLM will undertake a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 and 2011 Political Declarations on HIV/AIDS. It will adopt a concise and action-oriented declaration as its outcome, to be agreed upon by Member States, to guide and monitor the HIV/AIDS response beyond 2015, towards achieving the commitment of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The high-level meeting will comprise plenary meetings and up to five thematic panel discussions, which will include opportunities for civil society participation. The opening plenary meeting will feature statements by the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, the Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a person openly living with HIV and an eminent person actively engaged in the response to HIV/AIDS.

The President of the General Assembly will organize an informal interactive civil society hearing in April 2016 (date TBC), with the active participation of people living with HIV and broader civil society, attended by representatives of UN Member and Observer States and observers, NGOs, CSOs and the private sector.

I. Representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) in consultative status with ECOSOC and non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS: 

You are invited to participate in the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June and the informal interactive civil society hearing in April, but must register to attend these events using the form below.


Please visit this page to confirm the ECOSOC accreditation status of your organization:

Instructions:
(1) Type your organization's name into the search field in the top right corner of the site;
(2) Hit the "Go" button or return key on your keyboard to see if your organization is listed as "General," “Special,” or "Roster" for ECOSOC consultative status (all three qualify)

II. Representatives of NGOs, CSOs, academic institutions and the private sector that are NOT in consultative status with ECOSOC and NOT members of the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS: 

You may apply to participate in the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June and the informal interactive civil society hearing in April by completing the form below. From among applications received, the President of the General Assembly will submit a proposed list of representatives of NGOs, CSOs, academic institutions and the private sector to UN Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis and bring the list to the attention of the General Assembly. Approved applicants will be notified by mid-March.


III. In the last section of this form, you will have the option to apply to serve as a speaker at the informal interactive civil society hearing in April and/or the High-level Meeting in June. 

If you wish to apply for a speaking role, please read this guidance note before proceeding:

The deadline is the 12th of February 2016 - Please note that incomplete applications cannot be processed. Please be sure to provide all documents that are required below.


The UN Secretary General will issue a report

 on progress in addressing HIV. The report will be public and will inform government dialogues and negotiations on the Political Declaration. (The Report released on the 1st of April will be the advance unedited version in English, with an official report in six languages coming on 29 April).

Political Declaration Zero draft release.

 The HLM Co-Facilitators, the Swiss and Zambian Ambassadors, will share the zero draft (the “first draft”) of the Political Declaration with Member States mid April. From this time onward civil society can advocate with governments (at UN missions in New York and national capitals) for specific modifications or additions in the Declaration draft.

For more information about the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, click here.


2016 United Nations General Assembly  High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS 

Reflections for Change is celebrating its second exhibition on June 8 when the 2015/16 cohort of health studies students at University of East London (UEL) will present an exhibition to their classmates, staff members and the internationally acclaimed author and scientist Professor Carl Hart. As part of a first year skills module, Personal and Professional Development, taught by Dr Jennifer Randall, 120 Health Studies students read 

High Price: Drugs, Neuroscience and Discovering Myself

 by Professor Carl Hart. This personal narrative, interwoven with accessible explanations of the science of drug use and critiques of contemporary drug policy, inspired students to reflect on their lives and how these connect to larger movements and agendas. Off the back of reading this book the students engaged in critical discussions on topics ranging from domestic violence, institutional racism, feminism and drug policy. When they finished the book in December 2015 they wrote to Dr Hart to tell him how much they appreciated the book and how much it had taught them.

From January to March 2016 the students were supported and assisted in reading the academic literature cited in High Price to develop the critical skills necessary to succeed in the university. In January students were invited to join a project in which students worked with the staff to use photovoice to further reflect, and then mirror back those reflections through an extra-curricular curated exhibition. This research project was intended to not only collect data but engage students in ‘learning by doing’ and teaching them research skills in their first year. They have now curated an exhibition that will be open to the public from 13:00 on Wednesday June 8. Professor Hart will be visiting the exhibition and meeting with UEL students.

On Thursday June 9 at 17:00, Professor Hart will be giving a public lecture at the opening event of the UEL Civic Engagement Festival held from June 9-11. .

Reflections for change

Next month, we’re marking the end Voices from the Frontline by launching of a new exhibition that shares the ideas and perspectives of people with multiple needs and those who support them.

Over the last two years, we’ve been exploring how better policy can improve people’s lives. The project is nearly complete, but thanks to continued support from Lankelly Chase, we will be building on this work over coming years.

Designed with the help of participants in the project, the exhibition tells stories both about the challenges people are facing, and the lessons that policymakers can draw from their experiences. As part of this, it examines the importance of listening to frontline and practitioner voices, the journey towards finding and staying in work, and asks how local areas can improve their support for people experiencing multiple needs.

We invite you to join us for tea and cake in Birmingham on 7th June 2016 between 5pm and 7pm, where you can view the exhibits and hear from some of the people involved in the project, as well as guest speakers working in public health and multiple needs in the West Midlands.

Reception: 5pm – 7pm, 7th June 2016
Exhibition open 7th – 30th June 2016
BVSC, The Centre for Voluntary Action, 138 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DR.

If you’d like to come, please register for the event online.

The exhibition has been developed in partnership with Birmingham Changing Futures Together andSoapbox, and takes place at BVSC’s Centre for Voluntary Action. We hope this setting will provide a good opportunity to discuss some of the exciting developments taking place around multiple needs part of the West Midlands’ devolution agenda.

Walking from the Frontline: An exhibition on multiple needs

Drugs and the Law Committee, Zarah Levin-Fragasso, Chair


Please join us as a panel of human rights and drug policy experts, United Nations insiders, and a government official discuss and respond to the newly released report by the Special Committee on Drugs and the Law: "Charting a Wiser Course: Human Rights and the World Drug Problem." The panel will also discuss the outcome of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) and what the future holds for international drug policy, followed by a Q&A with the audience. The panel discussion will begin at 6:30 pm following a reception at 6:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Moderator:
Hanna Liebman Dershowitz - Committee member, Senior Policy Fellow and Director of Legal Adffirs and Policy Development

Panelists:
Bruno Ríos Sánchez, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations
Summer Walker, Drug Policy Project Manager, United Nations University
Rebecca Schleifer, International Human Rights/Drug Policy Scholar and Advocate
Kathy H. Rocklen, Former Committee Member and Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP
Luke Schram - Committee member, Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society
Heather Haase - Committee member (former Chair), NY Representative for International Drug Policy Consortium

Charting a wiser course: Human rights and the world drug problem - report launch and discussion

What impact do psychedelic drugs have on the brain? What does research show about their potential for use? Psychiatrist David Nutt examines the evidence behind some common misconceptions.




David Nutt presents his latest research on how our brains respond to psychedelics.




Can we achieve an evidence based drugs policy? What are the risks that must be considered?

Past Events