BRUSSELS – The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) today announced its commitment to the European Action on Drugs (EAD), a new and innovative European Commission initiative on drug policy that seeks to implement pragmatic and effective science-based policies on drugs, in an effort to bring Europe closer to a more humanitarian and health-based drugs policy.
“We are committing to work closely with the EAD initiative in order to pave the way towards a humanitarian drug policy based on pragmatism and compassion, and one that generates action free from ideology, force, stigmatisation and discrimination,” said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of ICOS.
“This new European Commission initiative will play a key role in shaping Europe’s approach to drugs and will help Europe shift towards more pragmatic and effective policies,” said Dr Massimo Barra, Vice President of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and Co-Chair of the Rome Consensus, a framework for dialogue and cooperation that commits 119 National Societies of Red Cross and Red Crescent from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
The EAD aims to build on the principle of 'shared responsibility', and encourage everyone – whether groups or individuals, professionals, or just every member of society – to sign a pledge and undertake a commitment that addresses drug-related problems in some way.
Today, Mr Barrot, Commission Vice-President, in the presence of Mr Nikos Aliagas, journalist, and Jerzy Owsiak, journalist and social campaigner, officially launched EAD during a high-profile event with the participation of around 120 stakeholders from the European Union.
Vice-President Barrot, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, said today: "Urging European organisations and citizens to play an active role is one of the priorities stated by the new 'EU Drugs Action Plan (2009-2012)', of which the EAD is one of the key actions. With the EAD, we are reaching out to Europeans in their everyday lives, by providing them with the means of expressing their views and committing to action"
Today, 21 organisations and people have signed up to undertake an EAD commitment:
- Association des Parents d'Elèves de l'Ecole Européenne de Bruxelles I (Belgium)
- Cyprus Anti-drugs Council (Cyprus)
- ETHIAS (Belgium)
- FESAT- European Foundation of Drug Helplines (EU)
- FNAPT- Fédération Nationale de Prévention Toxicomanies (France)
- Fondazione Villa Maraini (Italy)
- Foundation la Caixa (Spain)
- Foundation WOSP - the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation- Jerzy Owsiak (Poland)
- FPAT – Portuguese Federation of Social Institution connected to the Prevention of Drug Addiction (Portugal)
- ICOS – International Council on Security and Development (EU)
- Le Phare, familles face à la drogue (France)
- London Drug Policy Forum (United Kingdom)
- Municipal Council on Drug Addiction, Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria)
- Peitenger Jugendhaus-ASBL (Luxembourg)
- PREV CENTRUM (Czech Republic)
- PREVNET (EU)
- Qrendi Scout Group (Malta)
- TIIMI Magazine (Finland)
- YSPDB-Youth Society for Peace and Development of the Balkans (Bulgaria)
- "WOCAD" Women's Organisations Committee on Alcohol and Drug issues" (Sweden)
- EMCDDA – European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction
From today, European individuals and organisations have the opportunity to make use of the EAD, adding a European dimension and visibility to their work by exploring how their daily activities, social responsibilities and environment could increase awareness and commitment to drugs and the risks related to drug abuse. Specific and creative actions at any level throughout Europe that positively influence drug-related behaviour, or generate greater awareness of drugs and the dangers of abusing them are welcomed by the European Commission at
www.ec.europa.eu.
About the Rome Consensus
The Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug policy is a framework for dialogue and cooperation that commits 119 National Societies of Red Cross and Red Crescent from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe to promote and implement humanitarian approaches to drug policy. The Rome Consensus aims at raising the profile of drug policy to the forefront of social concerns, hinging formulation and implementation of drug control on public health concerns.
Rome Consensus website
Contact:
Mr Tyler Trippet
Office: (+1) 64 63 22 42 99
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