The VNGOC together with NYNGOC and the UNODC Civil Society Unit is organizing an online side event in the margins of the 2023 ECOSOC Partnership Forum on 

The central role of civil society in drug policies, COVID-19 and achieving the 2030 Agenda

The side event will highlight the important role of civil society in delivering drug-related services and ensuring the implementation of international joint drug policy commitments, even in difficult circumstances. Looking at best practice examples from across the world, this event will draw attention to the need for strong partnerships between civil society, member states and international organizations.

looking for 3-4 civil society speakers from different regions 

wishing to present at the event, focusing on 

concrete examples of actions towards the 2030 targets and effective, evidence-based drug policies.

before Tuesday, 17th January, 11.55 p.m. Vienna Time (CET) to apply to speak

. Make sure that your abstract is relevant to the topic, and focuses on concrete examples of actions towards the 2030 targets and effective, evidence based drug policies.

More information on the 2023 ECOSOC Partnership Forum is available here: 

https://sdgs.un.org/events/ecosoc-partnership-forum-2023

The central role of civil society in drug policies, COVID-19 and achieving the 2030 Agenda 

Bringing together stakeholders to discuss and collaborate, with a range of international and national speakers and organizations.

Key topics: harm reduction and drug policy, racial injustice, sex workers rights, domestic abuse, criminal justice, LGBT+ inclusion, housing and homelessness, young peoples services, dealing with economic precarity in the charity sector.

Registration grants you full access to the weekend workshops, speakers and events including a welcome reception of tea/coffee and light refreshments as well as a serving Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

A Silver Saturday night banquet ticket will include a 3 course set meal, a welcome drink of beer, wine or soft drink, a half bottle of wine per person at the table, tea/coffee and chocolates followed by the Saturday night key note speaker and entertainment.

Keep an eye on our event page for keynote speaker announcements, workshops and other event details: Social Justice Conference.

Please see below for some of the amazing sponsors and supporters for the event. If you are interested in sponsoring this event or having an information/exhibit table where you can share the work you do please email: pkrykant@cranstoun.org.uk

The Social Justice Conference

The 66th session will take place from 13-17 March 2023.

For general information on the CND, check out the dedicated section of our website on 

The application period to submit side event proposals for the 66th Session of the CND is open from 9 to 20 January 2023.

For more information on how to proceed, please check the official 

, which include a link to the application form.

As in prior sessions, the Vienna NGO Committee is arranging a series of informal civil society dialogues with: the 

Organisations can submit one specific question per dialogue. To do so, please 

In the margins of the 66th Session, the Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC) will hold elections for the following positions in its Board:

Nominations are now open for this process. Members of the Board of the VNGOC are elected to serve for a period of two years. 

Only individuals from VNGOC member organizations in good standing (i.e. paid the 2022 and 2023 membership fees by 14th February 2023

 unless exempt) may nominate candidates and be eligible to vote.



 should be completed by no later than 14th February 2023, 11.45 p.m. CET.

66th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

The harm reduction community will soon be ready to connect again – join us in Melbourne for HR23: Strength in Solidarity.

The Harm Reduction International Conference, convened by Harm Reduction International in a different city every two years, attracts over 1,000 international delegates and has been held in almost every region of the world.

Harm Reduction International is thrilled to be holding HR23 in Melbourne, Australia, on 16-19 April 2023.

Registration for HR23 is open now. In August, we will open abstracts. We encourage you to start thinking about innovative and exciting aspects of your work that you would like to present at the conference and to submit an abstract when the time comes.

Over four days of presentations, workshops, films, networking events and more, the conference will continue its history of providing a dynamic forum to share the latest research and discussions on best practice in drug use, harm reduction and human rights, bringing together over 1,000 people from around the world working at the heart of harm reduction and drug policy.

Returning to Australia for the first time in 19 years, the conference will be a unique opportunity showcase Melbourne’s incredible harm reduction programmes and the people who have made them possible, and also to push for further progress not just for the country, but for the region as a whole.

The conference theme, Strength in Solidarity, will underpin all HR23 activities and highlight the importance of our strength – as people, as a community, as a global movement – in sticking together.

An early and strong adopter of harm reduction, Australia has an extensive network of needle and syringe programmes, access to pharmacotherapy options and naloxone, as well as two supervised injecting centres and, in many ways, stands as an example of good harm reduction practice. But despite this long history of harm reduction-focused policy and practice, reform in some spheres – for example heroin prescription programmes, decriminalisation of personal use of drugs and prison-based needle and syringe programmes – is still a challenge.

Of course, we couldn't possibly host a conference in 2023 without an online element to enable people who can't or don't want to travel to attend. Full details to follow soon!



27th Harm Reduction International Conference

A growing number of cities, particularly in Europe and North America, are supporting, experimenting with or planning the development of a drug consumption room: a pragmatic response to the health and social damage associated with the use of legal and illegal psychotropic substances. However, the urgent need to implement and strengthen innovative and courageous policies is becoming more and more apparent every day, especially with COVID-19, which has made the most vulnerable more vulnerable.

The City of Strasbourg, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, the Ithaque association and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), with the support of the Inter-ministerial Mission for the Fight against Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (MILDECA), the Regional Health Agency of the Grand Est (ARS), the European Forum for Urban Safety (Efus) and Correlation Network, are pleased to invite you to the third symposium on drug consumption rooms, which will be held on 4-5 May at the Council of Europe.

This conference continues the strong momentum started in 2019 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, renewed in 2021 at the Council of Europe, bringing together nearly 600 people from 50 cities and 33 different countries. Its aim is to promote the model of drug consumption rooms and to harmonize French and European policies on risk and harm reduction. It offers the opportunity to share a diversity of experiences, to deal with different legal frameworks and their evolutions, to put innovations into perspective and to encourage collaborative networks as close as possible to the territories that require it.

The event will be attended by institutional actors and associations in the field, managers of structures, and local, national and European political leaders, who will be able to take the floor.

The pre-programme and the registration link will be available later.

Drug consumption rooms around the world: Working together to provide a local response

Edition of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) from

On 17th October 2022 in Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, the right to host the 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa was conferred to Zimbabwe under the effective leadership of His Excellency, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe at the state house. This is the second time Zimbabwe is hosting ICASA. As previous hosts of ICASA 2015 held in Harare, Zimbabwe convened over 5400 delegates. Zimbabwe’s selection was a result of a rigorous evaluation process of two pre-selected countries out of five country bids.

With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Honorable Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, General (Rtd) Dr. C.D.G. N. Chiwenga, representing the Government of Zimbabwe and the Society for AIDS in Africa, represented by Hon. Senator. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, SAA President and ICASA 2023 President, the Society for AIDs in Africa has the pleasure to officially declare Zimbabwe as the next host country of 22nd edition of ICASA, ICASA 2023!

The Society for AIDS in Africa is conscious of the momentous task ahead in preparing towards a successful ICASA 2023. We are confident that the Government of Zimbabwe with the good people of this country through ICASA 2023, will further motivate all African countries, and the International community to devote more attention and commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other emerging viral infections and diseases in Africa towards the end of AIDS by 2030.

We are hereby appealing to all, to follow closely the unfolding preparations of ICASA 2023 and to lend your support to Zimbabwe, so that ICASA 2023 reflects lessons learnt that will further the new direction of the SDG strategies to move Africa towards strengthening our health systems, and the elimination of HIV, TB and Malaria.

Events

The central role of civil society in drug policies, COVID-19 and achieving the 2030 Agenda

The Social Justice Conference

66th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

27th Harm Reduction International Conference

Drug consumption rooms around the world: Working together to provide a local response

22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA)