For 50 years, the Pompidou Group has enabled policy makers, professionals and researchers to exchange experiences and know-how on tackling drug trafficking, drug use and related harms.
As part of its anniversary programme, the Pompidou Group organised a side event during the 64th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (12-16 April 2021), the United Nations’ main drug policy making body. Co-organised by the Portuguese Presidency and Polish Vice-Presidency, the online event held on 12 April focused on ‘Placing human rights at the heart of drug policies.
In his opening remarks João Goulão, Portuguese Chair of the Pompidou Group, recalled the circumstances that gave birth to the Group 50 years ago, notably the rising problem of transnational drug trafficking which incited French President George Pompidou to establish an international platform for tackling trafficking and drug use. Piotr Jabłoński, Director of the National Bureau for Drug Prevention of Poland, stressed the importance of training drug policy managers for developing and sustaining humane drug policies and introduced the Pompidou Group’s International Drug Policy Academy launched in 2021. The Group’s ongoing work on building a self-assessment tool for states for assessing the human rights compliance of their drug policies was highlighted by Richard Muscat, Chairperson of the National Addiction Advisory Board of Malta.
Finally, Pompidou Group Executive Secretary Denis Huber talked about the ongoing revision process of the Group’s founding statute which paves the way for its future work on shaping drug policies. The main issues addressed by this revision are making the promotion of human rights a statutory mission of the Group, extending its mandate to other forms of addiction beyond the field of illicit drugs and creating synergies with other Council of Europe entities and international organisations.
The Pompidou Group also co-sponsored 5 side events during the 64th CND session:
- Prevention in everyone's pocket: discover the possibilities on-line, organised by Lithuania on 13 April – watch recording of event
- Education: a gateway to social reintegration, organised by Greece on 13 April
- Promoting Attitudes and Actions that Reduce Stigmatisation of Drug Use and Drug Addiction, organised by Malta on 14 April
- Human Rights in Action: Implementing the International Guidelines on Human Rights & Drug Policy, organised by the Office of the High-Commissioner for Human Rights on 14 April
- Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe, organised by the Association Proyecto Hombre on 15 April - watch recording of the event