El nuevo Parlamento italiano debe actuar para reformar la política de drogas

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Noticias

El nuevo Parlamento italiano debe actuar para reformar la política de drogas

30 abril 2018

Una coalición de organizaciones que representa a personas que usan drogas, profesionales de la salud y defensores de los derechos humanos ha propuesto que se revisen las políticas de drogas punitivas, respondiendo a las demandas de la sociedad civil. Más información, en inglés, está disponible abajo.

By Bernardo Parrella and Hassan Bassi

After the March 4 general elections in Italy, the 18th Legislature is starting its session facing an array of urgent problems – including a National drug policy reform. At least this is the main goal of several groups that in mid-February introduced a seven-item platform detailing a series of actual changes to the current repressive approach. Indeed, even the new President of the House, Roberto Fico, underlined that the Parliament is an ideal setting for civil society proposals and direct democracy action, a place where “popular initiative” bills deserve broader acknowledgement and consideration.

Building on this perspective of democratic participation and open debate, in recent years a coalition of groups and associations representing users, health professionals and advocates contributed in drafting some legislative proposals previously introduced in both branches of the Parliament. These bills are based on feedback from all actors in the field and provide a comprehensive strategy that also aims at strengthening individual and civil rights and lessening the burden on the criminal justice system.

The first and most important issue is the full revision of the current drug law (Dpr n.309/90, also known as Iervolino-Vassalli Act). Approved in 1990 during the ‘war on drugs’ frenzy, this law relays completely on a prohibitionist and punitive approach, further exacerbated in 2006 by the Fini-Giovanardi Act, which eventually was largely canceled by the Constitutional Court in 2014.