02/06/2023
Drug Observatories, Academia and Civil Society from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union meet to improve drug policy evaluations
Lisbon hosted the first Meeting of Drug Observatories organised by the European Cooperation Programme COPOLAD III, led by the FIIAPP. A space for meeting, dialogue and sharing of the progress made so far in each line of work, with the aim of encouraging the observatories to carry out research and management processes that imply a qualitative advance in their trajectory.
During 5 days, the representatives of the different drug observatories were able to learn about the perspectives of the future European drug agency, by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the regional panorama in Latin America and the Caribbean, by the OAS drug agency (CICAD), or the context for research in the work of COPOLAD, among others.
In addition, the impact of drug policies on the social and rights dimensions defined by the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) will be evaluated. This line involves the conceptual and methodological design of the generic evaluation model with its priority dimensions and indicators, a model that will be adapted to the countries that are going to start the evaluation process.
“The development component of drug policies is a dimension that we have not dealt with and that seems interesting, but we still have many months of joint work to do before we can make this landing concrete,” explains Uki Atkinson, head of the Jamaica observatory.
The working sessions allowed the Latin American and Caribbean observatories to study in depth issues related to gender and a differential approach, problematic drug use, studies and monitoring of incarceration for minor drug offences and citizen security, among other topics. Participants were also able to take part in the extended Reitox meeting, which connects national drug information systems.
“There are not many opportunities for public administrations, civil society and academia to coordinate their work, so this COPOLAD platform is extremely useful for countries,” said Graciela Ahumada, former director of the Drug Observatory of Argentina and current expert of the COPOLAD II and II Observatory line.
In addition, the Latin American and Caribbean experts visited various initiatives of the Portuguese Drug Agency (SICAD), such as a mobile drug consumption room supported by civil society and a forensic laboratory of the scientific police.
