In January 2017, a two-day conference was held to discuss methods of tackling issues surrounding methamphetamine - including prison overcrowding, decriminalisation of drug use and harm reduction measures. Patcharalavan Akbar and Gloria Lai report on the proceedings.
As high-purity/high-dose ecstasy pills return to the market and casualties rise, Oli Stevens discusses the roles testing can play. It can act as a harm reduction initiative, can it shape the composition of drug markets themselves?
Nathalie Rose reports on the Arusha Declaration whereby officials from several East African countries have committed to advocate for the promotion of health services towards people who use drugs.
Maria-Goretti Ane discusses the new Action Plan - targeting high and middle-level drug offenders, while offering alternatives to incarceration for people who use drugs – including treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services.
To celebrate the adoption of its new strategy, ASEAN released a promotional video on the region’s vision of ‘drug-free communities’ - despite the failure and negative consequences of an overly repressive approach towards drugs.
75 countries met for the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on the 4th and 5th October 2016, along with 26 international organisations and agencies. The Afghan government presented its plan for reform, which was endorsed by those countries attending, which pledged $15 billion toward maintaining the nation’s economic stability, state-building and development.
On the 21st and 22nd 2016, the INCB carried out its first ever mission to the State of Palestine. The mission was led by INCB member Major General Ahmed Kamel Al-Din Samak, who has sat on the Board since 2012. He was accompanied by Ms Hanifa Rebbani of the secretariat. The objectives were to discuss with the Palestinian government the issues of trafficking, the ‘abuse’ of drugs, precursors and the access to controlled drugs for medical and scientific uses.
As well as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Justice, meetings were held with staff from the Ministry of Health, including the General Directorate of Pharmacy, the Dangerous Drugs Department, the Legal Advisor and the Addiction and Prevention Program. The conclusions will be discussed in the Board’s Annual Report for 2016.
However, a clue may be present in the curriculum of Major General Samak, who has an extensive career in anti-narcotics and police, including INTERPOL. In addition, though this may be represented in the INCB Annual Report for 2016, there is no mention of the impact of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian territories, which have generated decades of conflict and poverty.
Though the State of Palestine is not a party to the UN drug control conventions, UNODC has supplied technical support, reforming the country’s prison system and providing support for prevention and drug treatment.
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Jamie Bridge (IDPC) reflects on a recent briefing organised in coordination with TNI on the pending challenges for the international community to address after UNGASS 2016 and towards 2019.
This civil society letter led by IDPC requests ASEAN to establish opportunities for civil society organisations and affected communities to participate in the official process for the development of the new ASEAN strategy and work-plan on the use and supply of drugs.
