As each year, the Pompidou Group participates in the high-level session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the UN's primary policy-making body on drug-related matters. On 14 March, João Castel-Branco Goulão, Chair of the Pompidou Group, delivered a statement in the plenary session on behalf of the Group’s Portuguese Presidency. He focused on the priorities of the Presidency for the current year:

• Leading a collective reflection among the 42 Pompidou Group member states on the strategic line and main topics of the next three-year work cycle (2023-2025);
• Finalising the current work programme ahead of the Group’s 18th Ministerial Conference (Lisbon, 14-15 December 2022);
• Setting the Group on the path of using the full potential of its revised mandate adopted in June 2021.

 Read the statement of the Portuguese Presidency

In 2022, the Pompidou Group contributes to a record number of side events on various topics within its area of expertise: drug policies and human rights, drug policy cooperation between governments and civil society, fight against trafficking in drug precursors, police contribution to drug-related emergencies, children whose parents use drugs. The events target national delegations to the CND, policy makers, academics, practitioners, and others interested in the drug policy area. The eight online side events are:

• Police and Drug Treatment Together: The Global Emergence of Deflection as a Humanitarian Crime Reduction Approach to Drugs (14 March)
• Identifying, tracking and controlling drug precursor products – Governments and enterprises joining forces (14 March)
• Collaboration with civil society and governments in drug policies (15 March)
• Human Rights: The Right to Equitable Health Social and Justice Remedies for People who use Drugs (15 March)
• The Humanitarian approach to drug policy: opportunities and challenges for an effective cooperation between public authorities and health-based organizations (15 March)
• Driving change from a shrinking space: Challenges to effective civil society participation in drug policy making (16 March)
• The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Latest developments and impact on Foreign Nationals (17 March)
• Children and Families Affected by Parental Drug Use: current gaps and promising practices (17 March)