Consultation to give New Zealand a say in global drug policy
New Zealand Drug Foundation
15 February 2008
A greater community voice in United Nations global drug policy is the goal of a historic forum to be held in Wellington
18-19 February.
The Beyond 2008 Regional Consultation for Australasia is one of nine being held around the world to gather input from
non government organisations (NGOs) on what has worked for them in reducing supply and use of illicit drugs, and seek
opinions on how well United Nations drug control targets have been met.
“World leaders met a decade ago and set themselves the ambitious goal of a ‘Drug Free World’ by 2008,” says Drug
Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell.
“While we can admire their intentions, the cold hard facts tell us that the world community has largely failed in its
official drug control efforts and questions are now being asked about whether the current structures are fit for
purpose.
"These consultations are a genuine and welcome attempt by the United Nations to allow communities affected by drug
problems to contribute to future directions in global drug control. New Zealand has a lot to contribute and can be proud
of its achievements in reducing drug harm. This forum is one important way we can share our experience with the global
community.
“Increased investment into drug treatment services, government support for community drug projects, and a world beating
needle exchange service are some of the successes New Zealand community agencies will share with their international
colleagues.”
Results from New Zealand will be combined with those from Australian consultations to form an Australasian report to the
Vienna NGO Committee which will meet in July to review progress in achieving UN drug control targets established in
1998.
More than 40 delegates from a range of New Zealand NGOs will attend the Wellington consultation, including the Drug
Foundation, Needle Exchange Programme, youth health services, treatment services, Maori health organisations, and DHBs.
A number of drug policy experts from overseas, including Italy, Canada and Australia, will be speaking at the
consultation alongside prominent New Zealand drug control figures.
The New Zealand forum will also include a focus on domestic drug control law, with the Law Commission updating
participants on its review of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
"The Misuse of Drugs Act has become a tangled patchwork of amendments, many of which were ad hoc responses to short term
public or political concerns. As a result it's rife with inconsistencies and anomalies," says Ross Bell.
"That's fairly typical of drug legislation in many parts of the world, and it is encouraging that our legislation is
being reviewed at the same time the UN is looking at drug control globally."
He says harm minimisation should be the aim of any new drug legislation, and that message is one he hopes New Zealand
will convey to the July summit in Vienna via the consultation results.
The Beyond 2008 consultations are an initiative of the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs, implemented in
partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In June 1998, the UN General Assembly adopted
Political Declaration committing around 150 states to achieving significant and measurable results in reduction of
illicit supply and demand for drugs by the year 2008.
The General Assembly also called upon NGOs to work closely with governments and others in assessing the drug problem,
identifying viable solutions and implementing appropriate policies and programmes. End.
ENDS