Speech by Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment
Excellencies, Members of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Members of the Pompidou Group, Representatives of international organisations and civil society, Distinguished guests, dear colleagues,
On behalf of the Council of Europe, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this side event organised by the Pompidou Group – the Council of Europe's International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions – under the theme “Balancing human rights considerations in public health and safety”. The event is organised with the support of the Group's member States and observer organisations.
I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Austrian Presidency and the Mexican Vice-Presidency of the Group, as well as to the supporting member States – Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland – and to our observers: UNODC, the European Union and the WHO.
Since its establishment in 1971 as a regional initiative, the Group has evolved into a global platform for cooperation – addressing not only drug-related issues, but also the broader field of addictions, including emerging challenges such as digital and behavioural addictions that raise new public policy concerns.
As part of the Council of Europe, the Group's work is firmly anchored in the Organisation's core values: human rights, the rule of law and democracy. In this spirit, the Group has played an important role in promoting participation and inclusion, equality and non-discrimination, and accountability and transparency.
Earlier today, I had the privilege of addressing the Commission during the general debate on behalf of the Council of Europe and the Pompidou Group. In that statement, we reaffirmed our commitment to a balanced approach that safeguards public security, protects public health and promotes human rights. I called on CND members and Pompidou Group member States to embrace these priorities, strengthen partnerships and work collectively towards effective, humane and forward-looking drug policies. We share one mission – and this must be our guiding principle.
This afternoon, we will explore how we, as an international community, can further strengthen the integration of human rights into public health and public safety responses – and share practical steps that each of us can take to make this commitment a reality for people in Europe and beyond.
With this, I am pleased to give the floor to the Chair of the Pompidou Group under the Austrian Presidency, Dr Franz Pietsch.
Thank you, and I wish you a productive discussion.