August 2009

Argentina decriminalises possession for personal use

Argentina's Supreme Court decriminalised the small-scale use of marijuana on Tuesday 25th August 2009, opening the way for a shift in the country's drug-fighting policies to focus on traffickers instead of users.

The high court ruled it unconstitutional to prosecute cases involving the private use of marijuana.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Colombia and Mexico have already decriminalised the possession of small amounts of drugs. Brazil and Ecuador are looking at an initiative to legalize some drug use.

Argentina's Supreme Court decriminalised the small-scale use of marijuana, opening the way for a shift in the country's drug-fighting policies to focus on traffickers instead of users. Elsewhere in Latin America, Colombia and Mexico have already decriminalised the possession of small amounts of drugs. Brazil and Ecuador are looking at an initiative to legalize some drug use.
Added on 27 August 2009

Letter from UNODC and UNAIDS Secretariat

On the 21st August 2009, UNODC and UNAIDS circulated the following letter to clarify their common understanding of harm reduction initiatives.

Dear colleagues,
With this email, we would like to make you aware of some recent developments in the field of harm reduction, and request you to disseminate this information to your partners in your country, particularly to the members of the Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM), the National AIDS Commissions and civil society.

On the 21st August 2009, UNODC and UNAIDS circulated a letter to clarify their common understanding of harm reduction initiatives.
Added on 26 August 2009

ICAAP 2009: Looking back - 8th ICAAP: Asian drug users claim the right to speak for themselves

Two years after the initial launch during the ICAAP in Colombo, the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD), the only regional network of drug users in Asia, is forging ahead and being formalized as an active organization driven by its membership.

Two years after the initial launch during the ICAAP in Colombo, the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD), the only regional network of drug users in Asia, is forging ahead and being formalized as an active organization driven by its membership.
Added on 26 August 2009

Towards the Next UNGASS - ICAAP9 Session

On 11 August, a satellite session titled UNGASS & Community: Civil Society Involvement in UNGASS on HIV was organized by the 7 Sisters, World AIDS Campaign, UNAIDS and GESTOS at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP9).

On 11 August, a satellite session titled UNGASS & Community: Civil Society Involvement in UNGASS on HIV was organized by the 7 Sisters, World AIDS Campaign, UNAIDS and GESTOS at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP9).
Added on 24 August 2009

Launch of Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy

The Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy was launched last week in Rio de Janeiro. This initiative by IDPC member ,VivaRio, is a national follow-up to the recent Latin American Commission and is bringing together a wide range of public figures and experts to discuss new approaches to Brazil’s drug problem. Brazil’s drug market is characterised by high levels of street violence, that has traditionally been tackled through tough enforcement, but shows no sign of diminishing.

The Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy was launched last week in Rio de Janeiro. This initiative by IDPC member ,VivaRio, is a national follow-up to the recent Latin American Commission.
Added on 24 August 2009

Reforming Treatment Environments - How to make compulsory drug treatment HIV friendly

At the 9th ICAAP held in Bali, Indonesia this August, Response Beyond Borders (The Asian Consortium on Drug Use, HIV/AIDS and Poverty) held a satellite event on Monday 10th August called 'Reforming Treatment Environments - How to make compulsory drug treatment HIV friendly'.

A satellite session organised by Response Beyond Borders at ICAAP9 attempted to address the issue of compulsory treatment centres in the Asia region.
Added on 22 August 2009

Indonesia AIDS Commission calls for humane approach to drug control

At the recent ICAAP meeting held in Bali in August, Mr Inang Winarso (a harm reduction expert from the Indonesian AIDS Commission) called for more leadership on a humane approach to drug policy.  Please see below excerps from his speech during ICAAP:

The cause of our failures are:

At the recent ICAAP meeting held in Bali in August, Mr Inang Winarso (a harm reduction expert from the Indonesian AIDS Commission) called for more leadership on a humane approach to drug policy.
Added on 22 August 2009

WOLA Letter Expresses Concerns on Palanquero Base

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) recently sent a letter to Administration officials expressing concern about the pending agreement between the United States and the government of Colombia over the U.S.

WOLA recently sent a letter to Administration officials expressing concern about the pending agreement between the US and Colombia over the U.S. military’s expanded use of military facilities in that country.
Added on 22 August 2009

Mexico Decriminalises Drug Possession

Mexico enacted a controversial law on Thursday 20th August, decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

The possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs has been decriminalised in Mexico under a controversial new law.
Added on 22 August 2009

US House of Representatives vote to remove ban on needle exchange

In a historic move, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on July 24 to remove a 21 year old ban that has restricted the use of federal funds being used to support needle exchange programs. However the Senate retained the complete ban in its version of the budget. The possible removal of ban also has implications for U.S. support of needle exchange programs in other countries. The vote was a surprise to some who had despaired after President Obama failed to remove language retaining the ban in the 2010 budget he submitted to Congress.

In a historic move, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on July 24 to remove a 21 year old ban that has restricted the use of federal funds being used to support needle exchange programs. A promising first step although the ban remains in place until the bill goes to "conference" in Septmeber.
Added on 22 August 2009