Workshop on the opportunities and capacities of drug user associations to actively participate in the design of policies that directly concern them.
This workshop will focus on two levels of policy making: the regional (Basque Country) and the European. The regional experience will be related to the drafting of a new regional action plan on drugs that is currently in process in the Basque Country.
The European experience will deal with the evaluation of the former EU Action Plan (2005-2008) and the planning of the new Action Plan (2009-2012).
For those without the time or the courage, here is the summarised version of the European Action Plan 2009-2012 and the evaluation of the Action Plan 2005 - 2008.
The project in the Basque Country will be carried out with the collaboration of two ENCOD members: Ganjazz and La Regadera. National coordination in Spain is in the hands of Virginia Montañes and Joep Oomen will co-ordinate the European project.
Concerning the European project: one part of the research will consist of a questionnaire for organisations of drug users.
Another part will be a series of interviews to drug user activists who will participate in the International Drug User Day event hosted by the Danish Drug Users Union in Copenhagen (31 October to 2 November).
The final part will be the organisation of a workshop with 21 representatives of drug users associations that will be held from 21 to 23 November in Vitoria, Spain. After that meeting, we will publish a report with suggestions and recommendations.
To the workshop in Vitoria, we will invite the representatives of 21 organisations: 12 from the Basque Country, 3 from Spain and 6 from the rest of Europe. Of these six, 3 will represent (mainly) cannabis user organisations and 3 (mainly) other drug user organisations.
PROGRAMME WORKSHOP “DRUGS AND DIPLOMACY”.
Friday 21 November.
11.00 h. – 15.00 h Group of representatives of the CAPV (Autonomous Community of the Basque Country)
Participation of consumers and their associations in drug policies in general and in drug action plans in particular.
Capacities and difficulties of organisations of drug users at the moment of intervening in political debate
17.00 – 20.00 h Group of representatives of the CAPV
Observations and comments on the Plan de Drogodependencias of the Autonomous Government of the Basque Country (GAV), with the participation of representatives of the GAV
17.0 - 20.00 h Group of representatives from the rest of Spain and the European Union
Participation of consumers and their associations in drug policies in general and in drug action plans in particular.
Capacities and difficulties of organisations of drug users at the moment of intervening in political debate
Saturday 22 November.
10.00 h – 15.00 Plenary session
Round up of questionnaires and other inputs
Debate on strategies and recommendations. Contributions of drug users and their representatives in:
Policies and plans related to the social phenomenon of drugs
Risk and harm reduction
The gender aspect
17.0 . – 20.00 h
Guidelines for the elaboration of a document on recommendations.
Sunday 23 November.
10.00 h – 15.00 Plenary session
ENCOD Meeting
Observations and comments on the new EU Action Plan
Preparation of a request to the European Commission in the framework of the “Drug Prevention and Information Programme”
17.00 h – 20.00 Remaining matters
If you have any questions at this moment please feel free to ask.
More information: info@encod.org
Agenda
