Latin America and the Caribbean advance their public policies on drugs

Within the framework of the of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs of the United Nations, Sixty-second session,  a side event was held that was organised by the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs (DGPNSD) and the European Union and focused on the role of inter-institutional coordination in drug policies . At the event, three countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC): Uruguay, Jamaica and El Salvador presented their experience and progress in internal coordination to drive forward the improvements promoted by COPOLAD,  a programme financed by the European Union and run by FIIAPP.

These CELAC countries emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration to advance their drug policies. The control of drug precursors, alternative development and evidence-based policies constituted the main pillars of the advances presented at this event.

These experiences have shown how coordination between different institutions is helping countries to make significant progress in drug policies, which are in keeping with respect for Human Rights, the gender focus and the promotion of health and safety. Moreover, trends, difficulties and challenges in this regard were analysed, throwing into relief the importance of international cooperation to address them from the perspective of common and shared responsibility

The event brought together Ambassador Didier Lenoir, the head of the Delegation of the European Union to International Organisations in Vienna and Azucena Martí Palacios, Government Delegate for the National Plan on Drugs of the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare,  among others.