Tag: Belgrade

Where are young people in the Agenda 2030?

Posted on by Milutin

Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organised the conference about the sustainable development goals on 21 February 2017. DPNSEE, Prevent and Re Generacija were among 200 participants of this widely promoted event. The aim of the conference was to introduce the 17 proposed UN sustainable development goals to the civil society organisations working with young people and international trends in their implementation. Most of the conference was spent on promotions of different international and national organisations. Nebojša Đurasović was one of the few people who got an opportunity to speak and he commented very openly the presentation and work of the Ministry of Health. The conference was also an opportunity to meet representatives from different institutions and other CSO organisations.

Sectorial meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior

Posted on by Milutin

The Office for Combating Drugs and the Office for cooperation with the Civil Society of the Republic of Serbia organised the first sectorial meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Department for prevention of narcomania and combating drug trafficking of the Directorate of Police on 2 February 2017. More than 40 representatives of various CSOs participated, including DPNSEE, Prevent and Re Generacija. The meeting was intended for sharing information and establishing contacts. The police representatives were more oriented to focusing the discussion on prevention and taking restrictive, repressive position and most of the CSO representatives also came from the prevention sphere. All our representatives took floor and indicated the need for new approach to drug issue.

Dana Beal visited DPNSEE

Posted on by Milutin

On the 22nd February Dana Beal, an American social and political activist, best known for his efforts to legalize marijuana and to promote the benefits of Ibogaine as an addiction treatment, visited office of DPNSEE. The main topics discussed was use of Ibogain in treatment off the addiction but also Parkinson disease. Through the discussion Dana presented the ibogain as the only substance-abuse treatment that regenerates neuron damaged by drugs and several other benefits of it, underlining that there is no potential for abuse of it.

We discussed the issue of difficulties for introducing this treatment in Serbia, since the Ibogaine is being on the list of Illicit and controlled substances in Republic of Serbia as psychotropic substance that can cause severe damage of the health of the people. The discussion led to explanation that the certain private clinic in Serbia that treat addictions are using the Ibogaine method as a treatment. We closely looked at the law and what concluded that there is inconsistencies in the interpretations of the law that gives space for the treatment.

Public debate on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on psychoactive controlled substances

Posted on by Milutin

In Belgrade, on 26 December 2016, almost secretly, public debate on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on psychoactive controlled substances was organised by Working Group of the Ministry of Health. This law has long been announced, as part of the obligations that Serbia has in the process of accession to the European Union, specifically covered by Chapter 24 of the negotiations.

The Ministry of Health, in consultations with various relevant institutions, hopes that the amendments will result in better organization and quality of work of all ministries involved: health, education, internal affairs, labour, defence, youth and sport, culture, justice, agriculture, public administration and local self-government, finance (customs), as well as numerous organizations, institutes competent for public health and other interested organizations.

The discussion was not organized in the right manner, whatsoever. On the one hand the event involved a number of members of the working group for drafting the document. It was attended by several members of various patient organizations and organizations fighting for legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. Their aggressive discussions largely focused the discussion to the issue of cannabis. Several other participants, including DPNSEE representatives, insisted on a holistic approach, but we remained the minority. Also, DPNSEE asked that the drafts of accompanying documents should also be made available to the public (medical and other protocols, etc.).

Presentations and discussions on the proposed draft law will be further organised and in:
• Novi Sad, 10 January 2017, from 10:00 to 14:00 pm in the great hall of the Assembly of AP Vojvodina, the official entrance, Banovinski passage, Novi Sad;
• Kragujevac, 18 January 2017, from 10:00 to 13:00 pm in Assembly Hall of the City of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Trg Slobode 3

All interested citizens and professional are invited to participate in the public debate, by submitting suggestions and comments electronically to the following e-mail address: javna.rasprava.pks@zdravlje.gov.rs or in writing to the Ministry of Health, Department of Medicine and Medical assets psychoactive controlled substances and precursors, Belgrade, Nemanjina 22-26, stating: “For a public hearing on the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on psychoactive controlled substances.”

DPNSEE and member organisations Prevent and Re Generacija, in consultations with various partners, will deeply analyse the draft law, comment is and propose improvements.

20161226-javna-rasprava-1

1st regular annual General Assembly in Belgrade

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New enthusiasm for the future 

The Drug Policy Network South East Europe held its 1st regular annual General Assembly in Belgrade, Serbia on 29 and 30 November 2016. It was the opportunity for the extended number of member organisations to meet, analyse the work on establishing the Network and decide about the future work.

Thanks to the generous support from the Office for combating drugs of the Republic of Serbia, the
Assembly was held in the Palace Serbia, the governmental representative building. Representatives of 16
out of 18 member organisations participated, including 10 newly recognised members.

The Assembly adopted the report about the work in 2016 and financial report presenting participation in
the UNGASS process and stabilisation and positioning of the Network as the main activities. The plans for
2017 were also adopted, based on the strategic priorities proposed by the Board and ideas for possible
projects. Interim results of the research on the harm reduction and treatment services were presented and
the plan for completing it in 2017 were supported.

Changes in the Board were introduced to ensure that this governing body is active in implementing the
action plan. Tijana Žegura (Juventas, Montenegro) is elected new Chairperson and Vlatko Dekov (HOPS,
FYRO Macedonia) new Vice-Chair. While Denis Dedajić (Margina, Bosnia Herzegovina) and Saša Mijović (4 Life, Montenegro) remain members of the Board as Secretary and Member, newly elected Board members are Erlind Plaku (Aksion Plus, Albania) which will serve as Deputy Secretary, Marios Atzemis (Positive Voice, Greece) Treasurer and Nebojša Đurasović (Prevent, Serbia) as Deputy Treasurer.

The Assembly thanked outgoing Chairman Thanasis Apostolou and Board members Tanja Mandić, Bogdan
Glodeanu and Dragoș Roșca for their contribution to the Network.

Changes to the Statutes which were adopted ensure availability for wider scope of actions to the Network,
better define internal processes and ensure that a representative of the community of persons who use
drugs is in the Board. The first version of the Code of Conduct is also agreed to be the basis for governance.

The Assembly welcomed one new member organisation – Prometheus from Athens, Greece. The Network
now has 19 member organisations from 9 countries of South East Europe. Plans for enlargement in 2017
were confirmed so it is expected that new members will come soon!

A new and exciting period started and we hope that it be a fruitful one!

 

Paris Pact Expert Working Group (EWG) on Integrating Drug Dependence Treatment in the Public Health System

Posted on by Milutin
Paris Pact Expert Working Group on Integrating Drug Dependence Treatment and Care in the Public Health System. Belgrade, 10.10.2016
Paris Pact Expert Working Group on Integrating Drug Dependence Treatment and Care in the Public Health System.
Belgrade, 10.10.2016

Paris Pact Expert Working Group on Integrating Drug Dependence and Care in the Public Health

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia hosted the Paris Pact Expert Working Group (EWG) on Integrating Drug Dependence Treatment in the Public Health System. The meeting was held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on 10 and 11 October 2016.

The meeting of this working group is part of the activities of the Paris Pact Initiative and the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Participants had the opportunity to discuss current trends and scientifically based approach to the treatment of drug addicts, as well as the implications of UNGASS-a – special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the global drugs problem. UNODC also introduced international standards of treatment of drug addiction, common document prepared by UNODC and the World Health Organization.

The event brought together 64 participants representing 22 member countries of the Paris Pact Initiative (Central Asia, Iran and the Balkan) and 3 international organisations. It included the series of interactive sessions where participants discussed, among other things, about the general situation regarding the use of drugs as well as on national systems for the treatment of addiction in the public health system.

The meeting started with the presentation of international standards of treatment of disorders of the drug use by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization, presented by the Dr. Elizabeth Sáenz, UNODC, with the objective to exchange and discuss frameworks for the integration of treating drug addiction in the health care system.

What followed were presentations by the member countries of the Paris Pact on national systems of treatment for substance use and the system of prevention; shortcomings and challenges and the Round Table with the objectives to identify gaps and challenges in the process of building a comprehensive and integrated system for the treatment of drugs in accordance with the international standards.

Special emphasis was given to group discussion on the existing mechanisms for quality assurance in the countries of Western and Central Asia and the Balkans, with group work discussion on common regional issues and explore opportunities for regional cooperation.

DPNSEE staff members, as well as representatives of the two Network’s member organisations (Prevent and Re Generacija) and few other civil society organisations from Serbia, were part of the Balkan Working group. The group made conclusions and gave recommendations on several topics such as Policy, Research, Prevention and Treatment regarding the challenges, needs gaps and opportunities. It was concluded that for the matter of the policy there are National strategies in the region but there is no specified budget for their implementation. Regarding prevention it was concluded that there is no enough evidence based treatment programs, and not enough prevention programs integrated in the curriculum of schooling systems, that could adequately address the needs. For the matter of the research, there is not enough funding and resources, and it is seen as a missing ring. Throughout whole discussion it was highly recognized that the leave of the Global Fund and lack of readiness of the Government to support and make services sustainable as a biggest problem. Lack of programs for rehabilitation and re-socialization is recognized along with lack of harm reduction programs, but mostly by the NGOs that were invited to participate in the discussion.

Second day continued with presentation from the members of the Paris Pact, and presentations that were oriented on emphasis of a multi-sectorial approach in the treatment and care of drug addicts.

The members of the DPNSEE stuff and representatives of DPNSEE member organizations had a lot of contacts with country representatives at the Workshop. They were approached by the delegates from Uzbekistan and The Russian Federation, expressing interest in work of the civil society organisations in the region of South East Europe and wish to connect and cooperate more in the future.

The expert meeting closed with review of the expert recommendations, a summary of conclusions and discussion in order to assess progress and consider putting priority conclusions with concrete and measurable proposals for the enforceable improvement.

 

Press conference to presentation and promotion of the activities of the project “Strengthening NGO capacity and promoting public health and human right oriented drug policy in South East Europe“

Posted on by Milutin
The Members of DPNSEE will have a press conference in EU info center in Belgrade, on Thursday 1st September, regarding presentation and promotion of the activities of the project “Strengthening NGO capacity and promoting public health and human right oriented drug policy in South East Europe”.
The speakers on the conference will be Mr Thanasis Apostolou president of DPNSEE, Mr Nebojša Djurasović director on Prevent organisation, member of the DPNSEE and executive director of the DPNSEE  Mr Milutin Milošević.
More detailed agenda on the conference you can find in the link below