Side Event: “Balancing Human Rights Considerations in Public Health and Safety”
the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
10 March 2026, 16:30-17:30 CET
Vienna International Centre, Room M7
Zoom Webinar Code: 698 3154 1515 or link
The side event highlights the importance of advancing drug and addiction policies grounded in human rights, evidence and holistic approaches—principles central to the mission of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions, as reaffirmed in its 19th Ministerial Declaration in Strasbourg in November 2025.
Serving as a platform for open and practical dialogue with the Group’s member States, partner organisations and participants, the meeting will assess progress in mainstreaming human rights within drug policies, including exchange of practices, instruments and tools. It will also explore current and emerging drug-related challenges affecting public health and security.
The event will also provide an opportunity to review progress achieved by the Group since the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in advancing its work on new standards relating to human rights in drug policies, as well as other soft-law instruments addressing the intersection between drug-related crime and human rights.
This forum aims to facilitate mutual understanding and the identification of shared priorities for the year ahead, supporting the development of effective, balanced and humane drug and addiction policies.
Participants are warmly encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences and to contribute to this exchange.
16:00-16:30 Welcome coffee and networking
16:30-17:30
Opening remarks by the Organiser
- Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
- Franz PIETSCH, Chair of the Pompidou Group under the Austrian Presidency
Discussion
Moderator: Justice TETTEY, Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Speakers:
- Caroline WALSER, Directorate General for the Prison Service and Preventive Measures, Austria
- Athanasios THEOCHARIS, National Coordinator for Addiction Treatment, Greece / Permanent Correspondent to the Pompidou Group
- Lucien COLLIANDER, Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland / Permanent Correspondent to the Pompidou Group
- Mark VAN OMMEREN, Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, World Health Organisation (WHO)
Exchange with participants
Closing
Rafael BENITEZ
Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Franz PIETSCH
Chair of the Pompidou Group under the Austrian Presidency
Justice TETTEY
Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Caroline WALSER
Directorate General for the Prison Service and Preventive Measures, Austria
Athanasios THEOCHARIS
National Coordinator for Addiction Treatment, Greece / Permanent Correspondent to the Pompidou Group
Lucien COLLIANDER
Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland / Permanent Correspondent to the Pompidou Group
Mark VAN OMMEREN
Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, World Health Organization (WHO)
The event is organised by the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group) and supported by: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, the UNODC Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
For more information, please contact: [email protected]