CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU
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CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU
The Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) is an expert group of The CSFD membership comprises 45 CSOs from across Europe
the European Commission, created in 2007 on the basis of the and represents a variety of drug policy fields and various
Commission Green Paper on the role of civil society in drugs stances within those fields.
policy in the EU.
CSFD UPDATE
On the current CSFD Project
The current CSFD Project is in its mid-term, and through come together and organise the CSFD-related events For more info on the overall project, please contact:
the varying activities, we were able to support the Forum planned for 2020 and 2021. (It is agreed to come together KSCHIFFER@CORRELATION-NET.ORG and
in different ways. At the online meeting on 27th January, again in June 2021 and discuss the opportunities for IRAULET@CORRELATION-NET.ORG
the project partners presented the developments and organising face-to-face events. In the meantime, we will
progress in their related work package. also discuss alternative solutions.)
One of the biggest challenges in the project is the
inevitable impact of Covid-19, as the partners could not
WG 1 WG 2 WG 3
EU Drug Policy Relations with International Institutions Civil Society Involvement
with National Drug Policy
Since the EU Drug Strategy was accepted in December In November, Working Group 2 submitted a contribution
2020, the working group’s activities have been focused to the EC/HDG on the EU bilateral dialogue with
After publishing the literature review report on civil
on the preparation of the contribution to the Action Plan Russia planned for 24th November. The paper focused
society’s meaningful involvement in decision-making,
on Drugs, as well as tasks within the CSFD II project. on urgent issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic,
WG3 is now working on the quality standards on civil
Progress has been achieved regarding the planning including Russia’s shrinking civil society space, health-
society involvement. These quality standards aim to
and implementation of the research activities on related issues (access to health services for people
provide guidance for both decision-makers and CSOs on
implementing the EU AP 2017-2020 in the EU Member who use drugs, access to controlled medicines), prison
developing and implementing mechanisms to involve
States. The contribution to the AP 2021-2025 is under overcrowding and related health and human rights
civil society in a meaningful way, including adequate
preparation and will be finalised this week before the issues.
steps and overarching criteria. To be published in March,
Core Group meeting with the Portuguese Presidency.
this report can ensure quality control and benchmarking
In the lead up to the Reconvened Session of the 63rd UN
various CSI mechanisms against international standards.
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Working Group
Iga Kender-Jeziorska, 2 also drafted a position paper to feed into the World
On behalf of Working Group 1 Health Organization’s CND vote’s recommendations
Katrin Schiffer and Peter Sarosi
on the rescheduling of cannabis and cannabis-related
On behalf of the Working Group 3
substances. The Working Group shared the document
with all HDG members ahead of the Session and held
a call on 03rd November. The Group will have its next
strategic call on 08th February.
Marie Nougier,
On behalf of the Working Group 2
WG 4
Minimum Quality Standards
CSFD advocacy actions Spain, Finland, Hungary, and Slovenia. However, other
towards the inclusion of standards in EU and countries may also join the efforts.
national policies and action plans
Above mentioned CSFD Guidelines and
The CSFD project has developed the advocacy Recommendations on MQS and especially its
plan (HERE) to advocate for promotion and conclusions will serve as a good baseline for choosing
implementation of minimum quality standards (MQS) policy priorities which are the most relevant at the EU
in European and national policy documents. CSFD is in and national level. We will most likely not target all
the process of establishing a European advocacy coalition MQS as this would be a too complex project, but select
to advocate for the inclusion of CSFD Guidelines only some of them for advocacy actions. For example,
and Recommendations regarding MQS (HERE) in the in Slovenia, we will choose the topic of education and
next EU Drug Action Plan during the Portuguese EU training of prevention workforce as this is one of the top
Presidency. priorities in our plans as an NGO network.
Our plan is also to implement some actions to promote Matej Košir
the implementation of MQS at the national level. On behalf of the Working Group 4
The aim is to establish national coalitions, at least in
CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU
NEW PROJECTS
SCANNER LET ME FENIQS.EU
SCANNER Project focuses on the NPS phenomenon in LEt’s Talk about drugs - new MEthods of communication Further ENhancing the Implementation of Quality
Europe. Project activities include the monitoring of new with youth is funded by the Erasmus+ programme. Standards in drug demand reduction in the EU is
substancesin the Darknet and Clearnet and the anaylsis This project aims at assessing current methods in drug a project to enhance further the implementation of
of their chemical composition. It also creates a cluster education/prevention in Central-Eastern Europe and Quality Standards (QS) in drug demand reduction
map of the new synthetic opioids occurrence and collects the Balkans. It intends to build new and more effective across Europe. The action will facilitate the application
existing tools used by the NGOs for the NPS research drug education tools, including manuals and videos that of QS by identifying good practice examples and
(especially surveys conducted among their clients). The will be translated into different languages. The project successful implementation strategies, key stakeholders
project will develop a more universal tool, that can be to will also organise drug education training events for (policymakers, service providers, and users), and
collect information and data in this particular field. The young professionals. Consequently, it will disseminate do’s and don’ts for implementation. A critical activity
prpject is coordinated by Sciensano, based in Belgium. all the results of its activities from the five participating will be organising an event in Lisbon, eventually
YODA particpates as partner organisation, together countries. EHRA leads the project, and there are eight resulting in consensus around core implementation
with five other NGOs and the Medical University of organisations total in the consortium. strategies. The project’s main output will be a field-
Vienna. tested implementation toolkit, providing step-by-step
Jan Stola, YODA guidance on QS implementation.
Jan Stola, YODA JAN.STOLA@EURO-YODA.ORG
JAN.STOLA@EURO-YODA.ORG Mariangels Duch, IREFREA
MDUCH@IREFREA.ORG
NEWS
IMPORTANT
UPDATE!
Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Membership Renewal EMCDDA enters a new phase as it
embarks on 2021 activities UN green lights medicinal cannabis but
The current mandate of the Civil Society Forum on fails to challenge the colonial legacy of
Drugs is coming to its end. Therefore, the European
This year, the EMCDDA will embark on a new five-year its prohibition
Commission has launched a call for applications for
Roadmap under its Strategy 2025, kicking off with an
participation in the expert group Civil Society Forum
ambitious range of activities for 2021–23. They enter Although welcoming the removal from Schedule IV, drug policy
on Drugs in the EU 2021-2023 is now published
this new phase amid significant uncertainty when the experts expressed severe concerns over cannabis remaining in
with applications to be submitted at the latest on
long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains Schedule I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
14 April 2021.
largely unknown. In such times, as seen in 2020, the
agency’s strength lies not only in its planning capability READ MORE
CLICK HERE for details for the call which are available but also in its agility and capacity to adapt rapidly to
at the Register of Commission expert groups and other new realities.
similar entities, under section on Calls for applications .
READ MORE
EU presidency: Portugal focuses on
Europe’s recovery and chairs activities
in the field of drugs
This month, Portugal took over the Council of the EU’s Promotion of peer involvement through
rotating presidency with the motto ‘Time to deliver: tailor-made pilot interventions
a fair, green and digital recovery’. Over the next six
months, Portugal will lead work at all Council levels,
building cooperation, agreement and solidarity between Within the Peer2Peer European project (funded by
the EU Member States. The presidency will focus on the Justice Programme of the European Union and
three key priorities: coordinated by APDES), three tailor-made pilot
HepaGo – Supporting people living on intervention on cooperation practices in outreach work
the streets during the pandemic • promoting a European recovery, boosted
were implemented and tested in Lithuania, Poland and
by the green and digital transitions;
Greece. After the training phase, the implementing
• implementing the European Pillar partners - EHRA (Lithuania), Prekursor (Poland) and
This unique program supports people who use drugs
of Social Rights; Praksis (Greece) - prepared the local pilot interventions
and sex workers who live or work on the streets during
the COVID-19 pandemic in Budapest. One of their main • strengthening the strategic autonomy designed from the identified needs and discussed during
goals is to help people get into Hepatitis C treatment. of a Europe open to the world. the training courses.
READ MORE In Lithuania, the pilot aimed to promote community
WATCH OUR VIDEO AND FIND OUT HOW!
health by empowering the young population in festivals
CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU
and recreational settings to manage their drug use and an organisation. This aim was achieved by training This aim was achieved by training frontline workers
related risks properly and well-informed. This aim sessions, involving peers in activities, planning and and public servants and intervention in the field, which
was achieved by training activities focusing specifically evaluating the Prekursor’s Harm Reduction Program, was implemented by outreach workers (mixed group
on festival setting methodologies of work, individual activities in the PWUD community (namely, flyers of trained professionals and peers), and it included
mentorship, counselling activities and dialogue meetings. distribution and conversations) and action towards providing safe injecting material, snacks and water. The
The pilot was implemented in close partnership with CSOs (such as interviews and discussions). next step, built from the pilot interventions’ results, is
Young Wave (a grassroots organisation led by peers who the draft of Policy Recommendations for Cooperation
participated in the festivals, parties while providing harm In Greece, the pilot aimed to support frontline workers Best Practices in Outreach Work and the organisation of
reduction services). and public servants directly through training to enhance a Policy Dialogue Meeting at the European Parliament.
their services and, as a result, support indirectly the
In Poland, the pilot aimed to support peer work and PWUD. Another goal of the pilot was the communication READ MORE
sensitise other experts to become equal partners within and linkage among different services and stakeholders.
WEBINARS & EVENTS PUBLICATIONS
Presentation of the European project Contributions from the Civil Society
‘INTERGENTES’ 2021-2023 Forum on Drugs to the EU-Russia
(Project INTER-PEOPLE: promoting bilateral dialogue on drugs
recovery and employment)
This paper by the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs
The Association Proyecto Hombre has the pleasure to (CSFD) aims to contribute to the bilateral dialogue
present the European project ‘INTERGENTES’ 2021- WHO - Call for submission of good between the EU and Russia planned for 24th November
2023 (Project INTER-PEOPLE: promoting recovery and 2020, highlighting key issues of concern to feed into the
practices on response to TB, HIV and discussion. This contribution follows previous papers
employment) granted by the European Social Fund. We
would like to invite you to an online meeting to share this viral Hepatitis during the COVID-19 produced at the occasion of pas bilateral dialogues held
innovative project on 23rd February at 12:00 PM (CET). pandemic in 2018.1 and 2019.2. The paper focuses on critical
It will start with an introduction by Phaedon Kaloterakis issues that the CSFD considers urgent, especially in the
(President of the European Federation of Therapeutic Submissions are due to be submitted from 01st October to 28th
context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Communities) and Oriol Esculies (International February 2021. Each written submission should consist of one
Commissioner of the Association Proyecto Hombre), primary example of good practice. The article’s total length shall READ THE ENTIRE CONTRIBUTION
followed by the presentation of the project by Begoña be up to 2500 (maximum) words and need to follow the
Gómez (project manager). Finally, there will be time for ONLINE SUBMISSION preparation checklist.
questions and discussion. For any questions please contact: EUROVL@WHO.INT
READ MORE READ MORE
Assessment Report &
EMCDDA kicks off a new wave of Literature Review -
meaningful civil society involvement in
webinars for 2021 the area of drug policy in Europe
The EMCDDA will be kicking off its 2021 programme Peter Sarosi, Rights Reporter Foundation
of webinars on 03rd February, starting with the topic Anke van Dam, AFEW International
Valeria Fulga, AFEW International
‘RESPONDING TO DRUGS AND HOMELESSNESS:
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN EUROPE’.
Hepatitis C - 3rd EU HCV Elimination The link between long-term homelessness, problem drug
use and alcohol dependence is well documented. As the
Policy Summit – Securing Wider EU COVID-19 pandemic continues, there are concerns that
Commitment to the Elimination of HCV
Co-funded by the European Union
the homeless population’s health and social well-being
Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs
will worsen. Addressing the diverse and complex needs
Wednesday 24th March 2021 14:00 to 18:15 CET of this group requires targeted, sustained and joined-up
interventions. Assessment report & Literature Review
The 3rd EU HCV Policy Summit will provide an – meaningful civil society involvement
exceptional opportunity for participants to: A panel of frontline workers from Belgium, Portugal and
in the area of drug policy in Europe
• Review the progress made in the last five years Finland will share their experiences of implementing
to understand how far Europe is from achieving solutions to address homelessness issues among
the goal of eliminating HCV by 2030 vulnerable populations, including people who use This report reflects the wealth of information on
drugs. By presenting key innovations in this field, they definitions and forms of civil society, on levels of
• Exchange views on the role and state
will explore some of the primary facilitators and barriers involvement, best practices and lessons learnt.
of diagnosis
to successful implementation and respond to queries in Furthermore, the report identifies gaps in information
• Evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on a Q&A session. and knowledge and provides recommendations for
the viral hepatitis elimination services future action.
• Share national-level best practice and discuss
the EU’s position as a leader in helping deliver READ MORE READ THE FULL REPORT
the elimination target
READ MORECIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU
Peer driven or driven peers?
A rapid review of peer involvement of
people who use drugs in HIV and harm
reduction services in low- and
middle-income countries
Representatives of AFEW International and AFEW
Kyrgyzstan, along with the team of other organisations
and researchers, have contributed towards the latest
publication in Harm Reduction Journal, which is one of
the outcomes of a multi-country research project about
the impact of working with peers in harm reduction. Punitive drug laws: 10 years
undermining the Bangkok Rules
READ MORE
For centuries, criminal laws, justice systems, and prisons
have been designed for, and by, men. The 2010 United
Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners
and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders,
The International Narcotics Control
also known as the ‘Bangkok Rules’, break away from
Board on human rights: this history by establishing the first set of international
A critique of the report for 2019 human rights standards that focus on the specific needs
and experiences of women deprived of liberty. Ten years
after adopting the UN Bangkok Rules on the treatment
Despite substantial and welcomed changes in the INCB’s
of women in custody, states across the world have
approach to human rights, reticences remain and point
largely failed to implement them. This briefing paper
to structural conflicts between drug policy and human
provides analyses of the concrete ways in which punitive
rights within the UN system.
drug legislation has impacted the achievement of the
Bangkok Rules and offers several recommendations on
READ MORE
how to translate the commitments set in the Bangkok
Rules into drug policy.
READ MORE
IDPC’s Strategic Plan 2021-2023
In January 2021, the International Drug Policy
Consortium (IDPC) agreed to its Strategic Plan for
2021-2023, following a period of consultation with
our members and partners. The Strategic Plan further
cements IDPC’s position as the global drug policy
reform network, with over fifteen years of experience
and continuously growing in reputation, size, scope,
influence and reach.
READ MORE
The solidarity that cannot be confined
EuroNPUD OST Client Guide
– Support. Don’t Punish 2020 Global
Day of Action The quality of OST services varies across Europe. We are
lucky to live in a region with a strong commitment to
The Support. Don’t Punish campaign documents global human rights and science. However, we face significant
efforts to progress harm reduction and drug policy stigma and discrimination in society, which can at
reform as part of the 2020 Global Day of Action. times impact the design of OST services EuroNPUD’s
campaign – OST – We are in it together! is intended to
READ MORE champion a new normal in OST, building on the positive
experience of extending take-home doses to people on
OST during the first wave of COVID-19.
C-EHRN - 5th November European Harm
Reduction Conference Webinars – DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE
Take-Home Opiate Substitute Therapies Briefing Paper
(OST) Advocacy Brief
On 05th November, C-EHRN held a day-long webinar
of major sessions in lieu of the 5th European Harm
This Advocacy Brief is designed to help people on OST
Reduction Conference. With this email, we would like
defend or advocate for take-home doses of methadone
to share the briefing paper for the following sessions:
and buprenorphine with drug services.
Covid-19 and the impact on harm reduction in Europe
& Launch of the special harm reduction journal edition.
DOWNLOAD THE BRIEF HERE
READ MORECIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON DRUGS IN THE EU Copyright © 2020 Correlation –European Harm Reduction Network All rights reserved. WWW.CIVILSOCIETYFORUMONDRUGS.EU | INFO@CIVILSOCIETYFORUMONDRUGS.EU Co-funded by the European Union Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs FEBRUARY 2021
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