The 17th International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA 2013), Africa’s largest AIDS Conference, will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa, from 7 – 11 December 2013. The theme of ICASA 2013 is: Now More Than Ever: Targeting Zero. This theme was arrived at after an extended deliberation among the representatives of the respective stakeholders at the first International Steering Committee meeting. It is derived from the UNAIDS vision of striving for “Zero new HIV and TB infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related and TB deaths”

The ICASA conference remains one of the most important events in the calendar of the year, contributing towards overcoming the HIV and TB epidemics that grip our region. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region with over 22 Million people living with HIV and AIDS and the highest Tuberculosis rates world-wide. Through scientific advancements in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HIV significant progress has been made to reduce the mortality and morbidity of AIDS. Prevention efforts have been accelerated by the progress in biomedical interventions to reduce HIV transmission.

road map on sessions related to people who use drugs:

Satellite sessions on drug policy and harm reduction

High-level panel on HIV, drug policy and public health in Africa

By IDPC, Médecins du Monde, the International AIDS Society and UNODC.

Speakers include Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, Faustine Ndugulile, Member of Parliament, Tanzania, Idrissa Ba, West Africa Commission on Drugs, and Loide Lungameni, UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Bridging the Gaps, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNDP, UNODC and the Bridge Project all agree on one thing: key populations should not be forgotten in the AIDS response in Africa!

This is the session where communities representing sex workers, people who inject drugs, MSM and transgender people will share their perspectives on HIV programming for key populations in Africa.

For us and with us: Involving key populations in the Global Fund new funding model

: Park Inn by Radisson, 29 Heerengracht, Foreshore, Cape Town

This roundtable event will be an opportunity to share experiences on how to meaningfully engage with key populations in the Global Fund's New Funding Model.

“Support. Don't Punish”: The need for better responses to drug use in Africa

Meeting Room 6, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

The session will showcase different experiences from the continent to promote the argument that drug use in Africa needs to be seen as a health and human rights issue, rather than a criminal one.

Speakers include: Hon. Faustine Ndugulile – Member of Parliament, Tanzania, Jamie Bridge – Senior Policy Manager, IDPC,Olawale Maiyegun – Director of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Ancella Voets – Harm Reduction Coordinator, Médecins du Monde, Dr Frank Masao – Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania,Very Kunambi – Vice-Chair, Tanzanian Network of People who Use Drugs, Dr Annie Lepretre – Hospital Simone Veil / Hospital Bichat, France, and Prof. Pierre Marie Girard – Hospital St Antoine, France.

The UNGASS on Drugs in 2016: How African civil society engage in the global drug policy reform movement

This Q&A session will be an opportunity to discuss how NGOs working on HIV issues in Africa can engage in the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs that is to take place in 2016.

Click here to read more about the conference.

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

17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2013)

The Chilean Medical Association (COLMED), and the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education Research & Service (ICEERS), with the support of the Open Society Institute and the collaboration of Cultiva Medicina, are organizing the First International Conference on Drug Policy, this November 29th in Santiago of Chile.

For the first time in this country, specialists in the field of drug use in the country and abroad, representatives of the healthcare community, psychiatry and neurology associations, national government agents and Uruguay administration advisors, among others, will meet to discuss about this subject to impact over drug policies issues in a crucial time before the next chilean presidential election.

They will argue about the drug global effects, (social, health, ethical, economic, racial, etc.) on a wide policy context, based more on scientists facts than moral beliefs.

The objective of this event is open the issue in the context of a policy with a broad view, based on public health and human rights, rather than police prosecution and criminal look.

This activity is an effort that contributes to put Latinamerica as a leader in generate new looks about the subject of drugs, to influence over the stakeholders of the countries.

The invited speakers are Dr. Enrique Paris , President of COLMED; Francisca Florenzano, SENDA Director; Dr. Daniel Martínez , Director of Psychiatry Society of Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery ( SONEPSYN ) of Chile ; Dr. Raquel Peyraube , ICEERS Clinical Director and Advisor to the Uruguayan Government Drug Policy; Aram Barra , Program Officer for Latin America Transform Drug Policy Foundation in Mexico ; Dr. Sergio Sanchez Bustos, Drug Policy Advisor Chilean Medical Association ; Dr. José Carlos Bouso , IMIM Clinical Investigator and Director of Scientific Projects ICEERS , Spain ; Mariano Fusero , Advocate and Secretary of the National Committee for Equality, Argentina ; Eduardo Vergara , Director Asuntos del Sur and Ingrid Tartakowsky , Research and Executive ICEERS both of Chile.

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

1st International Conference on Drug Policy

In 1993 the New Zealand Drug Foundation held our first Cannabis and Health conference. Over the past 20 years a lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same.

Help clear the clouded conversations around cannabis. Because it’s easy to get lost in the maze of issues around the world’s most widely used illicit drug, we’re putting on this symposium to address the real health, policy and research issues around cannabis.

The 2013 International Drug Policy Symposium Through the Maze: Cannabis and Health will bring together some of the best minds about cannabis and health from around the world for three days in Auckland, New Zealand 27-29 November.

Cannabis and Crime — how does the justice system deal with cannabis?

Medicinal cannabis — are the medical benefits real?

Synthetic cannabis — is it cannabis at all?

Global perspectives — what is happening around the world

We’re also really keen to hear what you want to know about cannabis and health, so participants are encouraged to get involved and provide us with ideas which the speakers will address.

For more reasons why you should attend, check out www.nzdrug.org/cannabiswhy

An impressive array of New Zealand and international experts has been corralled to answer your questions about cannabis.

Nadia is a genius on the effects of cannabis on the breain and currently is an associate professor in the school of Psychology at the University of Wollongong.

Professor Hall is a fountain of knowledge on the health effects of cannabis. He spoke at our first cannabis and health conference in 1993. Currently he is at the University of Queensland specialising in addiction, mental health and public health.

Richie is the director of the Dunedin Longitudinal study that operates out of Otago University. He’s one of New Zealand’s go to experts on the long term effects of cannabis.

To find out who else is speaking visit nzdrug.org/cannabisspeakers

This is a not to be missed event with only 200 seats available. Don’t wait another 20 years for our next one, register now: www.drugfoundation.org.nz

 Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand


2013 International Drug Policy Symposium. Through the maze: Cannabis and Health

People who have experienced trauma are over-represented within the problem drug-using population. Scottish Drugs Forum’s 2012 conference on self-medication explored the complex relationship between substance use and trauma-coping. But how can treatment services respond to this phenomenon?

Frontline Response to Trauma: a key to recovery

 will see the official national launch of a major report on trauma and recovery among injecting drug users, a partnership between SDF and Professor Richard Hammersley.

One of the key conclusions of this Big Lottery-funded research is:

‘Drug services need to be more trauma-minded, focusing less on drugs and more on underlying traumas and life difficulties.’

Frontline Response to Trauma: a key to recovery 

takes up this challenge and looks at how capacity can be built within frontline drug services to:

Identify clients who have experienced trauma and whose drug
use is, at least in part, a form of trauma-coping

Explore and make explicit the links between drug use and trauma
with clients

Develop appropriate and effective frontline responses to these
clients’ needs

Work in partnership with specialist mental health services when
appropriate

Management and staff of frontline drug services

Those involved in planning, designing and commissioning
services

Alcohol and Drug Partnership Boards and staff

Staff and management of services working with problem drug users in criminal justice, family, housing, homelessness and other settings.?

 for more details on the conference and the venue.

Frontline Response to Trauma: A key to recovery

The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs (APSAD) is the Asia Pacific's leading multidisciplinary organisation for professionals involved in the alcohol and other drug field. The destination for this year's conference is Brisbane and will take place 24– 27 November.

This conference will feature an exciting program which includes international and national speakers, focusing on new treatment, prevention and policy in the areas of drugs and alcohol research. The conference will include local issues and content relevant to our region, but will also offer a range of presentations and workshops that have international relevance. Featuring original work from the field, the conference program will continue to encourage alternative presentation styles such as film, yarning circles and artwork whilst maintaining conventional modes of presentation such as oral and poster presentations, participatory workshops, debates/discussions and late breakers. This year we will also be targeting clinicians and front line workers, with translational research as well as continuing to include the latest content from criminal justice system interventions, workforce development, research, and health policy, to mention just a few topic areas.

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

Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs scientific conference 2013

This seminar will explore harm reduction from both a policy and practical perspective.

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

Online certificate course in harm reduction at York University

ICAAP 11 aims to create a “Game Change” impact on the HIV/AIDS response in Asia and the Pacific region by providing a forum where innovative and evidence-based research programmes and policies to combat HIV/AIDS are exhibited to generate and reinforce public attention on the issues. The ultimate goal of ICAAP 11 is to advance effective and sustainable response to HIV/AIDS in the region.

For further information on ICAAP 11 please 

The ICAAP events that IDPC is organising, or co-organising, are:

Let’s talk about drugs—role of the media in combating stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs

Time: 1000-1100 ; Venue: IDU Networking Zone

Drug policy advocacy in Thailand—launch of the new civil society strategy

Co-organised with Foundation for AIDS Rights (Thailand), Thai Drug Users Network, 12D (Thai civil society coalition on harm reduction) & PSI Thailand Foundation – Discussion

Time 1000-1100 ; Venue: IDU Networking Zone

Support Don’t Punish: Rights-based and evidence-informed policies on drug use and HIV risks

 Thursday, 21st November 2013, 14:00-15:30,

The session will discuss drug control policies that drive stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs in terms of access to HIV prevention services. It will highlight efforts to reform punitive laws and practices relating to drug use, as well as initiatives to enhance the involvement of people who use drugs and civil society organisations in policy processes – in line with a ‘Support Don’t Punish’ ethos.

This IDPC session includes the launch of two IDPC reports, 

Drug control and harm reduction in Thailand

Global drug policy developments relevant to access of people who use drugs to HIV-related services: Challenges and opportunities. Ann Fordham, Executive Director, International Drug Policy Consortium

Regional trends in HIV and drug use policies, and the importance of ASEAN, Fifa Rahman, Policy Manager, Malaysian AIDS Council

Empowering people who use drugs: the significance of capacity building initiatives and meaningful participation, Mr. Bijay Pandey, Chairperson of Executive Board, Asian Network of People who Use Drugs

Drug policy developments, harm reduction and civil society advocacy in Thailand Ms. Supatra Nacapew, Director, Foundation for AIDS Rights, Thailand

Dr. Monica Beg, Chief, HIV/AIDS Section, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

International Drug Policy Consortium Members Meeting

IDPC members: this is a tentative time and venue. Please, advise Gloria Lai (glai@idpc.net) if this time does not suit you. We would really appreciate the chance to meet with you.

Time: 1630 - 1730 ; Venue: IDU Networking Zone

UN General Assembly Special Session 2016: Regional priorities for civil society

Co-organised by Harm Reduction International – Time: 1000 – 1100 ; Venue: IDU Networking Zone

Please advise Gloria Lai (glai@idpc.net) as soon as possible if you would like to join but this time is not suitable.

More about Support. Don't Punish at the IDU Networking Zone activities at ICAAP 2013

In IDU – Networking Zone will be arrange as a relaxing area which will provide all-day Tea, Coffee, water and snack serving. We will decorate with cozy, comfy and down-to-earth atmosphere. We open this zone as a “Dialogue Space” , which everyone can discuss, exchange ideas, input experiences of works in different regions to each other. We will decorate with big cushions, low coffee table some of sofa and will have counter for anyone who can do the “Self-service” for the favorite drink.

For the panel, will need 3-4 chairs for the speakers, and moderators, microphone, and amplifier will be set up and decorate with green trees in order to create the friendly atmosphere for everyone. There will be a poster and sign to show our campaign “Support. Don‟t Punish”

Will have a corner for visitors to take their photos with the campaign banners and able to check-in and upload to FACEBOOK/Twitter/Instragram or other Social networks to get the prizes from us.

Among the activities, it is the dissemination of the campaign “Support. Don‟t Punish”.

Check out all activities happening at ICAAP this year:

For more information about the Networking Zone on injecting drug use, see:

And read the document below to see a roadmap of sessions and activities on people who use drugs (last updated on 14th November):

11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP)

The book by Doug Fine "Too high to fail: Cannabis and the new green economic revolution" will be launched news Wednesday 13th November in the Keyworth Centre. This event will also include a talk from Dr Gary Potter on alternative models of regulated cannabis markets around the world, and a talk from one of the leaders of the Belgian Cannabis Social Club movement.

Based on bestselling author Doug Fine’s latest book, ‘Too High to Fail: Cannabis and the New Green Economic Revolution’, in this slide show and talk, we follow one locally permitted organic cannabis flower, from farm to liver cancer patient. Doug, globe-trotting and hysterically funny veteran of award winning journalism from the glaciers of Alaska to the jungles of Burma and Guatemala, spent 2011 in California’s Emerald Triangle cannabis fields, reporting on a growing movement toward legitimacy and sustainability.

As covered in his groundbreaking book, every plant in Mendocino County, California wears a permitting bracelet from the Sheriff’s Department. Local crime went down as a result of this “Zip-tie” Program, and the permitting revenue saved seven police jobs, in addition to hurting criminal cartels.

From there, in this visually stunning live event Doug extrapolates the value to the economy of ending America’s longest war, the 40-year, trillion-dollar Drug War.

Registration is not necessary, but it would be useful to have an indication of likely numbers. So please email Dr Gary Potter (potterg@lsbu.ac.uk) if you are hoping to attend.

Too high to fail: Find out about the cannabis revolution in the USA

Despite all political and security barriers, the MENAHRA 2nd Regional conference is going forward, offering the latest information on Harm Reduction in the Middle East and North Africa.

Only some days left to share your achievements and results with different CSOs and international stakeholders. What are you waiting for?

Submit your abstract now before September 5!

MENAHRA is also pleased to announce that scholarship is available for the ones who participated or achieved projects on Harm Reduction, Benefit from this chance and apply for a partial or complete Scholarship before September 30, 2013.

MENAHRA 2nd Regional Conference

For decades, drug law enforcement has been focused on the ultimate goal of reducing the size of the illicit drug market: eradicating drug production, distribution and retail supply. It has become increasingly clear in recent years that these strategies have been unable to significantly or permanently reduce the supply of, or demand for, the main drugs of choice in consumer markets. Given this reality, drug law enforcement strategies need to be adjusted to fit the new challenge – to manage drug markets in a way that minimizes the range of harmful impacts on communities – crime, corruption, money laundering, and threats to health and development goals. The Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement Project being carried out by IISS, IDPC and Chatham House aims, through a publication series, network development and seminars, to collate and refine theoretical material and practical examples of these new approaches, and to promote debate amongst policy makers, law enforcement leaders and experts on the implications for future strategies.

This IISS-WOLA-IDPC event will launch this project in Washington DC with the participation of Virginia Comolli, Research Associate for Transnational Threats, IISS; David Bewley-Taylor, Associate, International Drug Policy Consortium and Professor, Swansea University, U.K; Vanda Felbab-Brown, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Rudolph Bell, Managing Director, IISS-US.

Wednesday November 6, 2013 1:30 - 2:30 pm

 at IISS-US, 2121 K Street NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 2003.

 is a Professor of International Relations and Public Policy and Director of the Global Drug Policy Observatory within the College of Arts and Humanities at Swansea University. He gained his PhD from the University of Wales in 1996, was appointed as a lecturer at Swansea University in 2000 and has been a visiting lecturer at a number of Universities in the US, including the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He is an IDPC Associate, where he directs the Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement Project, an Associate Fellow at the Transnational Institute and was the founding secretary of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy. His most recent book is 

International Drug Control: Consensus Fractured

 is the Research Associate for Transnational Threats at IISS in London. In her current capacity she has responsibility for extremism, transnational organized crime, and security threats in West Africa and the Sahel. Previous experience includes a secondment to the British Ministry of Justice and work for a private security company and a strategic intelligence firm. Virginia is the co-author with Nigel Inkster of “Drugs, Insecurity and Failed States: the Problems of Prohibition” (London: Routledge, 2012) and author of a forthcoming book on Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria (Hurst Publishers/Oxford University Press, 2014).

 is a senior fellow with the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institute. She is an expert on international and internal conflicts and nontraditional security threats, including insurgency, organized crime, urban violence, and illicit economies. Her fieldwork and research have covered, among others, Afghanistan, South Asia, Burma, Indonesia, the Andean region, Mexico, Morocco, Somalia, and eastern Africa. She is the author of 

Aspiration and Ambivalence: Strategies and Realities of Counterinsurgency and State-Building in Afghanistan

 (The Brookings Institution Press, 2012) and 

Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs

Moderator: Rudolph Bell, Managing Director, IISS-US

The event will take place on The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 2121 K Street NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20037

To read more about the MDLE project and its publications click here.

Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement

As the UK National Treatment Agency rides off into the sunset, over the hill comes Public Health England and with it a whole new landscape in which drug and alcohol services need to operate. So Drugscope have organised a conference with speakers that reflect the new dynamic as well as those reporting on developments in drug use which may well impact on services.

The changing scene from the perspective of local authorities, police and crime commissioners and public health

The challenge to services of alcohol and new drugs

Drugscope Conference

This conference aims to look across sectors at health behaviours and policies and raise awareness on the backdrop of rapid urbanisation across the globe.

City Health 2013 provides the opportunity to demonstrate the leading role that cities play in addressing health issues associated with a large, complex, diverse, shifting population on a daily basis.

It has a special focus on health behaviours and factors affecting health - including alcohol, sex, drugs, smoking, nightlife, entertainment venues, mental health, violence, tourism, food and diet, housing and migration, along with consideration of the future challenges for creating healthy cities and a healthy public.

The programme focuses on ‘whole systems’ approaches, reflecting the integration of health and social care, with an emphasis on the science and evidence supporting policy, prevention, treatment and the delivery of services. It will showcase examples of effective policy and good practice in addressing the consequences of health behaviours. Of particular importance will be examples of multi-agency, multi-disciplinary working, including professionals from other sectors, including law enforcement.

City Health 2013 will discuss and disseminate models of intervention, practical experience and research from across the world, acknowledging and recognising the impact of economic and cultural disparity and beliefs.

Registration for City Health 2013 is now open. Please see the information below which will assist you in booking your place at the conference. Your place(s) will be confirmed when full payment is received. Please note that all payments must be made by 1700 GMT, on Friday 25th October 2013. Any payments after this date will be subject to a surcharge of £15.

Past Events