Author: Milutin

Executive Director, Drug Policy Network Youth East Europe

The Convent Book of Recommendations published

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The National Convention on the European Union today published the Summary of the Book of Recommendations for 2024. This regular annual publication presents the most comprehensive overview of the state of Serbia’s negotiation process in the year that marks a full decade since the official start of negotiations between Serbia and the European Union. The book was created with the contribution of hundreds of members of the National Convention, the largest network of civil society organizations in Serbia.

The book of recommendations for 2024 reflects the reality of the current state of Serbia’s European path, primarily the fact that Serbia has not formally advanced in the negotiation process since the end of 2021.

A total of 426 recommendations were defined, of which 344 were intended for the Government, 42 for the European Union, and 40 for the civil society of Serbia. For each part of the negotiation framework, the continuity and level of implementation of the recommendations compared to the previous year is monitored, while new recommendations were also formulated, taking into account taking into account the situation and context during 2024.

Thus, out of a total of 344 recommendations to the Government, compared to the previous year, only eight were fully implemented. 67 recommendations were partially fulfilled, while 221 recommendations remained unfulfilled. The number of new recommendations is 48.

Out of a total of 42 recommendations for the European Union, two are new. Of the remaining 40, five were fully fulfilled, 11 partially, and 24 recommendations remained unfulfilled.

A total of 40 recommendations are foreseen for civil society, one of which is new. Among them, one was fully fulfilled, 11 partially, while 26 recommendations remain unfulfilled.

The book contains three recommendations that DPNSEE proposed based on our activities so far and the previous and current conditions for accession to the European Union. The recommendations are related to strategic planning, prevention and amendments to the Criminal Law.

A summary of the Book of Recommendations (in Serbian) is available following this link>>>.

 

BOOST’s Peer-to-Peer Capacity-Building Webinar Series

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As part of the BOOST Project, a series of webinars will be held in November for harm reduction organisations that are currently providing or planning to offer services in the fields of HIV and viral hepatitis.

The webinars aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of community-based and community-led organisations, helping them apply good practice models, tools, and methods to scale up integrated screening, testing, treatment and care for communicable diseases across Europe. Below are the sessions, dates and registration links.

Community-led approaches to HIV/VH/STIs screening, testing, treatment and care for people who use drugs

November 6th, 2024 | 16:00h CET

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsd-iqrTwjE9z9iIbtFYOyuWbBspWo6qF-

Optimising data collection: a guide to COBATEST standardised data collection tools

November 13th, 2024 | 16:00h CET

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvc-6srT0qE9B6Qb0cjTND6fW9C8s-nROi

Current best practices on community-based HIV/VH/STIs services

November 20th, 2024 | 16:00h CET

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd–sqTkjHNPfQAKCa40Eediiygpyhi-h

Improving linkage to care in harm reduction settings

November 27th, 2024 | 16:00h CET

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-uhrjIqE9QiGDx6GveFV66wzWfmiQ3m

 

Intensifying EUDA cooperation and collaboration with civil society organisations

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A very interesting and fruitful meeting was hosted by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) today in Lisbon, Portugal. The objective of the consultation meeting is to explore ways to strengthen cooperation, share best practices and promote mutual understanding between EUDA and civil society organisations in order to ‘attain maximum efficiency in monitoring, assessing and responding to the drugs phenomenon’ (Article 5(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1322).

The European Union Regulation (2023/1322) establishing the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) calls on the EUDA to intensify cooperation and collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), including organisations of people who use drugs and communities affected by the consumption and sale of drugs or drug-related crime. This should involve consultations, information exchange and knowledge sharing. Recognising the value of these potential developments, the EUDA convened the consultation meeting in the margins of the Lisbon 2024 Addiction Conference.

More than 60 participants came not only from EUDA and civil society organisations from different corners of Europe and covering different thematic areas of drug policy but also from governmental institutions, academia and others. They provided invaluable input for the formulation of a roadmap outlining the regular and systematic cooperation with civil society organisations.

These issues addressed in the sessions dealt with the path of cooperation, the added value and the range of possible cooperation mechanisms. A panel discussion shed light on the concept of affected communities by the consumption and sale of drugs or drug related crime. The final panel discussion examined future perspectives.

DPNSEE Executive Director Milutin Milošević, who was one of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs representatives at the meeting, proposed two point for cooperation between EUDA and civil society:

  • Working together of supporting candidate countries in their EU accession process, particularly in adjusting the aquis in the area of drugs which are almost exclusively directed to law anforcement, with just a small reference on health and no single letter about human rights of people who use drugs;
  • Facilitating better cooperation between national institutions and civil society, which are not involved in strategic planning (that is usually missing in the candidate countries) and reporting.

Our Yuliya awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year”

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At the ceremony held on 10 October 2024, Forbes Bulgaria, honored the best Bulgarian entrepreneurs for the fourth year in a row. The awards were part of the Forbes DNA of Success Forum & Awards 2024: a half-day event that contains a forum and a competition part.

In the Social Entrepreneur category, the jury unanimously awarded an award to Yulia Georgieva. Julia is the founder of the Center for Humane Policies (DPNSEE member organisation), which at the Pink House provides a refuge for drug addicts. The activity of the organization is unparalleled and provides support to people who have nowhere else to get it.

During the forum, the audience had the opportunity to hear inspiring personal stories of entrepreneurs who achieved success after receiving valuable help from people with more experience than them. This is the so-called “Pass on and ask for nothing in return” philosophy.

Congratulations Yuliya – we are proud of you!

 

A civil society report on EU Drugs Strategy

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Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) in cooperation with the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) and building on previous work of the CSFD, published Implementation of the European Union Drugs Strategy 2021-2025. A civil society report.

To evaluate the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plans, the CSFD first surveyed civil society experts in 2018 (at the outset of the 2017-2020 Action Plan period) (Kender-Jeziorska & Sarosi, 2018), and subsequently in 2021 (after the end of the 2017-2020 Action Plan implementation period) (Jeziorska, 2022).

Present analysis focuses on the currently ending EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan, addressing their demand and harm reduction aspects, and aiming to provide insights into civil society’s perceptions of the availability, accessibility and quality of fourteen key services in 2023/2024, as well as to identify any changes that occurred between 2018 and 2023/2024. Like the previous assessments, this project also examines the accessibility of specific services for several key populations.

The report is available following this link>>>.

 

Croatia presented a pilot project for the introduction of take home naloxone

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Photos credit Tportal (© Hrvatski Telekom 2024)

The Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) held a presentation and education about take home naloxone that will be available from the end of September as a preventive medicine in the event of a drug overdose.

Krunoslav Capak, the director of HZJZ, in his address to the health workers, civil servants and coordinators of that program, pointed out that ‘drug use is a major health problem’ and that ‘in recent years we have seen an increase in deaths’ due to opiate overdose. In five years, Croatia had 468 cases directly related to drug use.

The head of the Department for Quality and Standards in the field of drug addiction and behavioral addictions, Josipa Lovorka Andreić, said that, according to HZJZ research, more than half of addicts have overdosed at least once, which only increases the possibility that their next overdose will be their last.

As a solution to this problem, the take home naloxone (Nyxoid) was presented. It is intended for use as emergency therapy in case of opioid overdose or suspected overdose.

The program will take place in two phases – the first will start this year within the prison system and penitentiaries, and the second next year through associations for the protection of mental health and therapeutic communities, as well as addiction prevention of county public health institutes.

The procurement of the drug begins immediately after the education. It will hopefully be available in two to three weeks. It will be issued by a doctor, and the situation will be monitored on a monthly basis by project coordinators and representatives of HZJZ.

This makes Croatia the 17th European country where naloxone will be used.

Three activists of our member organisation HELP from Split have participated in the education of coordinators for implementation of the pilot project on naloxone home doses.

 

5-5-5 – We Won’t Be Left Behind!

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During the AIDS 2024 Conference (Munich, July 21st-July 25th), the European Harm Reduction Network (Correlation), the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and AIDS Action Europe (AAE), hosted the 5-5-5 Networking Zone at the conference’s Global Village.

The aim of the 5-5-5 zone was to address gaps and solutions in achieving the UNAIDS 2030 95% targets and propose strategies to reach the remaining 5%. It focused on horizontal and integrated approaches and how to address the multiple needs that people from the most affected and inadequately served populations face.

The three organisations arranged a diverse series of talks, networking opportunities, mutual learning sessions, and presentations. A blend of intimately personal life stories and the sharing of research results resulted in an engaging environment over the 5 days of the Global Village.

Each day focused on a different theme: HIV & Mobility, Sex-Positive Approaches, Well-Being and Quality of Life, Drugs and Harm Reduction and Blind Spots in the HIV response.

C-EHRN hosted the day program dedicated to Drugs and Harm Reduction, which included a Round Table on the Advocacy Strategy of the BOOST Project. This event was moderated by Katrin Schiffer (C-EHRN), Ganna Dovbakh (EHRA), Tuukka Tammi (THL), Aleksei Lakhov (EuroNPUD) and DPNSEE Executive Director Milutin Milošević.

Milutin presented advocacy priorities in South East Europe and activities we take in the region, and emphasizes cooperation between four European networks working on drug policy.

Investing in decriminalisation advocacy

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DPNSEE President Nebojša Đurasović and Executive Director Milutin Milošević participated in the meeting of the National Commission for Fighting HIV/AIDS and Tubercolosis in Serbia (also performing the role of the national Country Coordination Mechanism for the Global Fund support). The meeting was held from 16 to 18 July in Banja Koviljača.

On our proposal, the Commission decided to invest part of the savings from the 2023 implementation of the Global Fund supported project “Support to the activities of citizens’ associations in the field of prevention and control of HIV infection” in the campaign for decriminalisation of drug use and possession for personal use.

DPNSEE have already presented the initiative for the decriminalisation of the use and possession of drugs for personal use on two occasions at Commission meetings. In addition, the Drug Policy Network South East Europe officially submitted the initiative to the Ministry of Justice and presented it at the meeting of the Working Group for Amending the Criminal Code and the Working Group on Amending the Law for the Criminal Procedure Code with the Working Groups on Chapters 23 and 24 of the National Convention on the European Union held on 21 December 2023. The initiative was supported at this meeting. Modalities for accepting the initiative and the draft that will be submitted to the National Assembly for adoption (as well as other initiatives to amend these two important laws) will be discussed at thematic discussions; the topic of one of the first discussions planned will be our decriminalisation initiative.

Advocacy is supposed to include:

  • Collection and analysis of the decriminalisation models and the results they have achieved in countries that have decided to take this step
  • A study visit of 5 representatives of civil society institutions and organizations to Portugal or Switzerland
  • An expert meeting where the arguments for and against and the modalities of decriminalisation that would suit our conditions would be analyzed. People who use drugs, drug addicts, and those in recovery, as well as civil society organizations will participate in this meeting. Representatives of countries that have already decriminalized drug possession and use, primarily Slovenia and Croatia, will present their experiences. A proposal to amend Article 149 and remove Article 250 from the Criminal Code, which specifically stigmatizes and discriminates against people living with HIV, would also be presented at the meeting, as well as the initiation of amendments to the Law on Public Order and Peace, which criminalizes sex work.
  • Agreeing on the final proposal to amend the Criminal Code
  • Organization of thematic workshops on the topic of discrimination and decriminalization of people who use drugs, people living with HIV and sex workers

World Drug Report 2024

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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the World Drug Report on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

A global reference on drug markets, trends and policy developments, the World Drug Report offers a wealth of data and analysis and in 2024 comprises several elements tailored to different audiences. The web-based Drug market patterns and trends module contains the latest analysis of global, regional and subregional estimates of and trends in drug demand and supply in a user-friendly, interactive format supported by graphs, infographics and maps. The Key findings and conclusions booklet provides an overview of selected findings from the analysis presented in the Drug market patterns and trends module and the thematic Contemporary issues on drugs booklet, while the Special points of interest fascicle offers a framework for the main takeaways and policy implications that can be drawn from those findings.

        

As well as providing an in-depth analysis of key developments and emerging trends in selected drug markets, the Contemporary issues on drugs booklet looks at several other developments of policy relevance. The booklet opens with a look at the 2022 Taliban ban on the cultivation and production of and trafficking in drugs in Afghanistan and its implications both within the country and in transit and destination markets elsewhere. This is followed by a chapter examining the convergence of drug trafficking and other activities and how they affect natural ecosystems and communities in the Golden Triangle in South-East Asia. The chapter also assesses the extent to which drug production and trafficking are linked with other illicit economies that challenge the rule of law and fuel conflict. Another chapter analyses how the dynamics of demand for and supply of synthetic drugs vary when the gender and age of market participants are considered. The booklet continues with an update on regulatory approaches to and the impact of legalization on the non-medical cannabis market in different countries, and a review of the enabling environment that provides broad access to the unsupervised, “quasi-therapeutic” and non-medical use of psychedelic substances. Finally, the booklet offers a multi-dimensional framework on the right to health in the context of drug use; these dimensions include availability, accessibility, acceptability, quality, non-discrimination, non-stigmatization and participation.

The World Drug Report 2024 is aimed not only at fostering greater international cooperation to counter the impact of the world drug problem on health, governance and security, but also at assisting Member States in anticipating and addressing threats posed by drug markets and mitigating their consequences.

Key highlights of the report include:

  • Rise in drug abuse: In the decade to 2022, the number of people using illicit drugs increased to 292 million.
  • Most abused drugs: Cannabis followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy.
  • Most affected regions:Criminal activity and trafficking are common in remote regions with multiple borders and limited governance such as:
    • Triple Frontier area (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) and Golden Triangle (Laos Myanmar and Thailand).
  • Cannabis legalisation: Cannabis was legalised across Canada, Uruguay, and 27 jurisdictions in the US.
    • THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is believed to be the main ingredient behind the psychoactive effect of the drug.
  • Environmental fallout: Illegal drug-related activities contribute to deforestation, toxic waste dumping, and chemical contamination.

To access the World Drug Report, following this link>>>.

 

The evidence is clear: invest in prevention

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DPNSEE Executive Director Milutin Milošević participated in the Conference organised by the Office for Combating Drugs in Serbia, on the ocassion of the World Drug Day. The Conference was dedicated to prevention, but other issues related to drugs were also tackled.

Milutin presented work of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, the expert advisory group of the European Commission. DPNSEE is member of the Forum and chairs the Working Group 4 Emerging issues on drug policies.

He presented the activities realised in the three-year mandate of the Forum, emphasizing those where DPNSEE were fully involved or took the lead:

  • Position Paper on Alternatives to Coercive Sanctions
  • Contribution from the Civil Society Forum on Drugs to enhance the gender perspective into EU DRUG policy
  • Position paper | People who use drugs and mental health
  • EU – Western Balkans Dialogue
  • Position Paper on Decriminalisation

Milutin also presented CSFD communication with the ECMDDA (in a few days to be the European Union Drug Agency) on their new mandat that will include more opportunities for cooperation with and support to the civil society.

Irena Molnar, from our member organisation Re Generation, presented their work on collecting Serbia’s input to the European Drug Report.