The Organization of American States (OAS) hosted on Friday 10th May a special session of the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) to receive the recommendations agreed to on Thursday by the participants in the 10th Hemispheric Forum with Civil Society and Social Actors on the central theme of the General Assembly of the hemispheric institution, "Toward a Comprehensive Anti-Drug Policy in the Americas."

The Secretary for External Relations of the OAS, Alfonso Quiñonez, on behalf of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, opened the session by stating that "in the OAS, civil society is an invaluable partner to ensuring the success and sustainability of the policies and programs adopted by Member States."

For his part, the Chair of the CISC, Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS and current Chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Arturo Ulises Vallarino asked the General Secretariat of the OAS to ensure that the Forum's recommendations "are sent as soon as possible to the Commission that is working on the Declaration of Antigua, Guatemala."

The recommendations that emerged from the forum were grouped into three areas: challenges to public health and the development of a comprehensive anti-drug policy in the Americas; challenges to public security; and challenges to democracy and access to justice.

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

Civil Society presents recommendations to OAS member states on the theme of the upcoming General Assembly

Signed by more than 100 Evangelical leaders, a letter in favor of the decriminalization of drug users, was handed in this Tuesday, May 7th, to the president of Brazil’s National Congress, Henrique Eduardo Alves. The handing in of the letter occurred at a pivotal moment in the discussion of possible drug reforms at the National Congress.


In the document, the religious signatories asked for Osmar Terra’s bill, 7663/2010, to not be voted for, and proposed the possibility of changing some of the bill’s main points, such as what it says in respect to compulsory internment.

Basing itself on the religious trinity, goodness-righteousness-truth, the group supports the construction of a new drug policy that alters the law 11.343/2006 and establishes more objective criteria between drug users and traffickers.

The leaders also defend that chemical dependent peoples have the constitutional right to health, education and social integration. In order to read the official manifesto handed in this Tuesday, access the following article: Evangelists sign a letter in opposition to PL 7663/2010.

In addition to helping make Tuesday's event possible, Viva Rio participated in Ethan Nadelmann's talk - "Drogas: O Brasil não pode retroceder - Lições dos EUA" / "Drugs: Brasil Cannot Fall Behind - Lessons from the U.S.". The event, which was organized by the the Igarapé Institute, Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy (CBDD), Pense Livre Network and the Global Commission on Drug Policy, spurred an interesting debate on the ways that Brazil can move forward with a more efficient and humane drug law. To read more, see the Brazilian
Commission on Drugs and Democracy article on the event.

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

Evangelical manifesto in favour of decriminalisation at Brazilian National Congress

Brazil's most populous and wealthiest state expanded its attack on crack cocaine abuse on Thursday by unveiling a program that will provide about $650 a month in subsidies for the rehabilitation of drug dependants at private treatment centers.

In announcing the program, Sao Paulo State Governor Geraldo Alckmin said 1 ,350 reals will be earmarked monthly for each crack user aged 18 or more who voluntarily enrolls in a rehabilitation program that is expected to get under way in two months in 11 cities.

The state will give the money to accredited rehabilitation centers when clients present a "Begin Again" card they receive after enrolling in a program. The cards are valid for six months, the time considered necessary for rehabilitation.

 Brazil state launches crack rehabilitation program

For a group of leading experts, who have been meeting in the Portuguese capital this week, drug wastewater analysis is an exciting and "rapidly-developing scientific discipline" that may help shape the way we treat illicit drug use.

Drug wastewater analysis - which is also known as "wastewater sampling for drugs" - involves the analysis of human waste, usually at sewage treatment plants. It has been trialed in at least 19 European countries. And the experts say it can provide reliable data on what drugs are being consumed, where they are being consumed, and even on which days of the week.

The method was originally used in the 1990s to monitor the environmental impact of liquid household waste. But scientists now say the method is giving them a clear picture of the quantities of illicit drug use in any give population, and drug flows.

Experts on drug wastewater analysis say it's time for policymakers to get onboard

The Republic of Georgia is considering the legalization of marijuana, a government minister said Friday.

David Sergeyenko, minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, pointed out "ban-related mechanisms," such as Georgia's laws against marijuana, "often entail a ricochet effect, which means strengthening and development of other directions," a reference to distinguishing marijuana from other drugs. He added the issue requires a "well-considered strategy" and said the legalization of marijuana could be a part of it.

Republic of Georgia considers legalizing marijuana, minister says

Um manifesto favorável à descriminalização de usuários de drogas, assinado por mais de 100 líderes evangélicos, foi entregue ao presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, Henrique Eduardo Alves. A entrega da carta ocorreu em um momento-chave da discussão sobre mudanças na lei de drogas pelo Congresso Nacional.

No documento, os signatários pedem a não votação do projeto de lei 7663/2010, do deputado Osmar Terra, e a rediscussão de alguns de seus artigos, como o que diz respeito à internação compulsória.

Com base no tripé bondade-justiça-verdade, o grupo apoia a construção de uma nova política de drogas que altere a lei 11.343/2006 e estabeleça critérios mais objetivos para definir usuário e traficante. Os manifestantes também defendem que seja assegurado ao dependente químico o direito constitucional à saúde, educação e reintegração social.

Registe-se para recever as Alertas mensais do IDPC e obter informação sobre questões relacionadas com as políticas de drogas.

Evangélicos se manifestam contrários a PL 7663/2010

The Interagency Task Team on Young People and HIV (IATT/YP) has launched a new web platform is now live and accessible at 

Thanks to all of you for reviewing the test site and providing useful feedback.

The IATT/YP has built this site to serve multiple functions:

To provide easy access to strategic reports, global guidance, and tools relevant to HIV programming for young people.

To disseminate data on young people and HIV from surveys, key regional and country reports and published research;

To facilitate information sharing between the IATT/YP working groups.

To provide a space for exchange of views among a global network of actors on published resources and information disseminated through webinars.

To provide information on upcoming events relevant to young people and HIV.

1) Progress Dashboard: This dashboard currently shows key epidemiological, behavioural and service indicators for young people aged 10 -24 years. The data is based on national survey indicators currently in UNICEF?s ChildInfo database.****

2) Country and Regional Pages: This section of the site presents an overview of the epidemic in young people in each region and will house country specific reports on youth-specific HIV programming and progress collected through the IATT. *We are calling for inputs for this section. If you want any country or regional specific resources to be included in this section of the site, please send them to the Secretariat.*

3) Research pages: This section features summaries of published research articles, programme evaluations and unpublished research on young people and HIV. Through our work with the Communication Initiative we have built filters that track youth and HIV-focused research in the following themes: young women and girls, injecting drug users, young men who have sex with men, sex work, antiretroviral treatment, testing and counselling, harm reduction, condoms, circumcision, social and behavioural change, gender based violence, sexual education and life skills, incentives for change, and laws and policies.****

4) Community of Practice: This will be used principally to host moderated discussions on topics covered through webinars. It will also house working documents such as the Field Lessons report on ALHIV where we invite implementers to document their own lessons and contribute these to the report. The first discussion on the Community of Practice, started last Tuesday, is on adolescents and HIV in Emergencies as a follow up to the webinar UNICEF hosted on April 11, 2013. Sarah Karmin, UNICEF Specialist, HIV in Emergencies will moderate this discussion. We invite you to participate in this kick-off discussion. In order to register, you can click on the icon in the lower left corner of the site or via this link http://knowledge-gateway.org/youngpeople_hiv. Please encourage your colleagues to register and participate in the discussion as well. Moving forward, we hope that member agencies will use this community of practice as a platform to generate discussions on issues relevant to adolescents and HIV programing*. Suggestions and proposals for subsequent discussions are welcome*. ****

5) Private IATT/YP member e-workspace: This feature is an e-space for the IATT members to share and archive work plans, annual meeting reports, minutes from working group and steering group meetings and draft documents. IATT/YP members who have trouble accessing this site should contact the IATT/YP secretariat.

Interagency Task Team on HIV and Young People web platform launched

LEAHN launched a Statement of Support at the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on the 23rd of April 2013 in Vienna. Over 4,000 signatures in favour of harm reduction were collected from police all over the world and then presented to the Commission audience comprising of representatives from Member States, UNODC and a variety of NGOs. The International Police Advisory Group (IPAG) speaking for LEAHN called for police to become part of the global collaborative effort for HIV prevention.

The IPAG has committed to connecting police with harm reduction organisations to improve healthcare access and prevent HIV spread in vulnerable populations such as injecting drug users and sex workers. The Chair of the IPAG, retired Superintendent Frank Hansen from Australia was clear in his message, stating, “Drug use will always be part of society. Police must accept that and use a harm reduction approach to ensure the best interests of the entire community are addressed”. He also noted the growing momentum of police support for harm reduction. This development was further highlighted by Chief Superintendent Jones Blantari, Ghana Police, who explained the decision of police in Ghana to not enforce laws against sex workers despite the practice being illegal. This demonstrates the capacity for police to make changes in law enforcement practices even in difficult policy areas. There has been no sex work related arrest for three years in Ghana as a result.

LEAHN launches statement of support for harm reduction at UN CCPCJ

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) elected Mr. Raymond Yans as its new President at its 107th session that is taking place in Vienna from 6 to 17 May 2013.

A national of Belgium and member of INCB since 2007, Mr. Yans most recently served as the INCB President (2012) and has also served as First Vice-President (2011), Rapporteur and Member of the INCB Standing Committee on Estimates and Committee on Finance and Administration.

The International Narcotics Control Board re-elects Mr. Yans as president 

The Colorado legislature made history on 8th of May, becoming the first in the country to pass laws regulating recreational marijuana sales and use.

"This is a true game-changer for our state," Sen. Mark Scheffel, R-Parker, said in raising concerns about the impact of marijuana legalization on kids. "And so I think it is important that we do our best to implement the right regulatory environment and fund it."

If Gov. John Hickenlooper signs the four major bills on marijuana that the legislature passed this year — and he has indicated he will — this is what the future will hold:

• Marijuana will be sold in specially licensed stores that can also sell pot-related items such as pipes.

• Colorado residents will be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana — the maximum it is legal for non-medical-marijuana patients to possess — at the stores.

• Voters will have the option of imposing heavy taxes on pot sales.

• Incorporated marijuana collectives will be banned. So, too, will marijuana coffee shops, marijuana smoking in bars and government-run marijuana stores.

• Colorado drivers for the first time will be subject to a stoned-driving limit.

Colorado legislature gives final approval to historic marijuana bills  

Today ERANID, the European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs, a project funded by the European Union, has been launched. ERANID can be considered as a first fundamental step towards long-term co-operation in the field of scientific research on illicit drugs. The development of shared priorities for research on illicit drugs and the funding of joint research projects in this field are the main objectives of this project.

With the development of a Strategic Research Agenda, based on existing evidence and a common understanding of priorities, ERANID will increase the knowledge of both drug demand and supply issues and their complex relationship. The project operates mainly in the field of socio-economic sciences and humanities and aims to strengthen and widen the network of research programmes and participants. Closer co-operation amongst researchers of different European and other countries may lead to further development in research techniques and the effective evaluation of policy strategies and innovative programmes. Disseminating the results of the acquired knowledge will support policy decisions and actions.

European Research Network on Illicit Drugs (ERANID) launched

The New Zealand Drug Foundation today made its submission to the Health Select Committee on the Psychoactive Substances Bill saying it was a good bill but there are improvements to be made.

The bill, which clarifies the law around substances like synthetic cannabis and party pills, is a world first attempt to regulate the market around legal highs, Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell said. "Given concern around the harm these substances are causing in our communities, the bill needs to explicitly state the legislation is about harm-reduction and health," Mr Bell said.

The Drug Foundation also recommended that all penalties related to the possession of substances be removed. This includes carrying a product or suspicion of carrying a product. "Penalties serve no useful purpose in the bill and risk expanding criminal sanctions against young people in particular."

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