MARISA FELICISSIMO

My experience with drug policy reform: I am involved with the drug policy reform movement and organizations, intensively for the last 2 years. Before that, since 2002, I have been involved with the promotion of harm reduction and more humane addiction treatment services while working at government institutions in Brazil. Living in Belgium since 2008, I am still working for the Brazilian NGO Psicotropicus promoting national and international drug policy reform, the rights of people who use drugs and harm reduction. My main role is to maintain constant dialogue and exchange of ideas with different organizations and activists in Latin America, Europe and the US (mainly through the internet and the attendance of conferences and meetings), and to spread information through our networks.

My view on Encod: Encod existence is essential to diversify views and actions in the drug policy reform movement, and to give stronger voice to smaller organizations within Europe. Its network with the European Commission is indispensable to change local policies and to help influencing changes globally.

In the coming two years I want to contribute to Encod in the following way: My main interest in drug policy reform is to raise awareness of civil society and policy makers to the harms of prohibition. Through the work with Encod and network with other organizations and politicians I believe I can help changing opinions and ultimately policies. In the following years I plan to use internet, media and events (conferences, meetings, debates) to collect and spread reliable information about drugs, effective and alternative treatment options, and innovative drug policies. I also have interest to discuss and think about strategies to include people who use drugs and civil society in general in the drug policy reform debate.

I would be a good SC member because: My background of working with people that do not share the ideals of harm reduction and drug users rights gave me strength on recognizing the common ground we share. In this way, today I fell that I am able to contribute to bridge the gap of those apparent irreconcilable differences between the anti-drugs movement and the drug policy reform movement, through open discussion. My short time experience with political activism and the third sector has to be considered, but I’m willing to do my best to learn with other Encod members.

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