Actualité

Where political decisions are made, there are often complex and diverse problems that lack an obvious or simple solution. Science is trying to help with independent and evidence-based recommendations ¬¬– this also goes for drug policy. Particularly in the fight against the international drug problem, false information and resentment often dominate the political agenda. Science seeks to resist.

This year, the conference organised by the non-governmental organisation Harm Reduction International in Porto was held under the motto "People before Politics". "People do not lose their human rights because they consume drugs", was the words of Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Chile, opening the conference on 28. April 2019.

GPDPD provided a strong impetus for a human-centred drug policy at this year's CND in Vienna, highlighting alternative development as an effective and established approach to global drug cultivation.

More than 150 participants followed the high-ranking event about the Future of AD at CND 2019.

The CNDApp enables users to track, in real time, what is happening at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), to receive notifications on key events, resolutions and speakers, and to access UN agreed language on specific drug policy issues.

The Brandenburg Forum on Drugs and Development Policies promotes international drug policy dialogue on development and health policy positions and creates a more informal space in which the Comission of Narcotic Drugs can be prepared.

exchange of stratgies regarding alternative development between Colombia and Thaila

first issue of the Journal of Illicit Economies and Development (JIED), which deals with the interaction between illegal markets and development

Coca plants were cultivated on around 171,000 hectares in Colombia in 2017 – with devastating consequences for the environment. Illegal coca cultivation is one of the main causes of deforestation in Colombia. In 2017 alone, the country lost around 220,000 hectares of rainforest (equivalent to around 300,000 football pitches). The impacts on the climate, ecosystems and inhabitants of these regions are considerable. For this reason, the bilateral programme “Protection of forests and the climate” (REDD+) and the project “Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development” (GPDPD) carried out five pilot projects in Colombia between 2016 and 2018 to show that it is possible to use the forest sustainably and legally.

discussing new challenges and responses to rising numbers of stimulant drug users

multiplier effects from training to alternative development in the Thai Doi Tung project

What is Sustainable Alternative Development (AD) and how does it transform the life of people in drug crop cultivating communities? The Mae Fah Luang Foundation with support of the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development explains how the AD approach can diversify livelihood opportunities to help impoverished and marginalised communities to thrive. AD puts people and their needs at the centre and offers a holistic solution to address the root causes of illicit drug crop cultivation while fostering sustainable development in balance with the environment.

The drug agency DEVIDA and experts from Peru's Foreign Ministry visited the Doi Tung Development Project in Thailand for a training on alternative development. The project creates alternative sources of income for small farmers who cultivated opium poppy in the past.

Harm reduction for people who use stimulants

Who's getting rich from cocaine? The farmer does not make profit; but (usually) has no other livelihood opportunities.

The relevance of human rights in tackling illicit drug economies – explained by Julie Hannah, Director of the International Center on Human Rights and Drug Policies of the University of Essex

How drugs-related development policies contribute to SDGs

Towards health-oriented drug policy in Myanmar: A study visit to the Netherlands and Germany

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 1

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 2

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 3

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 5

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDGs 8 and 10

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 12

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDGs 13 and 15

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 16

How drugs-related development policies relate to SDG 17

Harm reduction measures in stimulant use: GPDPD and MAINline provide important new findings

Why does Gender matter in Drig Policy?

Participants discussed innovative ways of implementing the final document of the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) 2016

The Thai government invited a delegation of German addiction experts to a three-day knowledge exchange event.

Alternative development, illicit crops and the environment - see the relation!

In May 2018 GPDPD organized an exchange visit on alternative development in the peace process between Myanmar and Colombia. Both countries are in a process of ending decades of internal armed conflict closely linked to the illegal cultivation of coca and opium poppy.

Draft guidelines on Human Rights in drug policies were discussed with African government representatives, NGOs, international and regional organisations and civil society in Pretoria, South Africa.

Government representatives, scientists, and experts from international organisations and civil society discussed the link between illegal markets and poverty, weak state institutions, lack of access to legal outlets, and violence.

The CND Resolution L9 introduced by Germany and other countries strengthens development approaches in international drug policy. The discussion will continue at an expert meeting in July 2018.

New study: Drug crops can be considered a driving force for the loss of forest cover due to their direct and indirect effects.

A study visit on best Alternative Development (AD) practice between Thailand and Myanmar brought positive results, as a follow-up workshop showed. Participants appreciated the valuable exchange and lessons learned for their future contribution to AD in both countries.

Call for Papers: From 19-21 April 2018: International Colloquium “Addressing the Development Implications of Illicit Economies: A Cross-Sectoral and Cross-Disciplinary Exchange”

CND App - ready for download. It is the first mobile application to navigate through the CND conference programme and provides important information on relevant UN documents.

CND side event, 12th March from 1.10 to 2 pm: “Bringing Human Rights to the Forefront of Drug Policy: Development, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation”.

Side Event: Exchange beyond borders: trilateral cooperation on Alternative Development between Thailand, Colombia and Germany on Tuesday, 13 March, 2.20 - 3.10 p.m. in Conference Room M3

CND side event by the Royal Thai government: “Development Oriented Drug Policies: The Future of Alternative Development” takes place on Monday, 12th March from 2.20 to 3.10 pm in Conference Room M5.

A short introduction: GPDPD is a project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and under the political patronage of the Federal Government's Drug Commissioner.

What is the relevance of AD at country level? What is the significance of the UNGASS outcome document and the international dialogue?

Illicit economies − especially drug economies − pose a serious threat to human development and health. The International Colloquium addresses the development implications of illicit economies in order to promote innovate research in this area.

The BMZ Alternative Development Approach

What can international guidelines on human rights and drug policy contribute to the on-going drug policy debate? Find out in our short videoclip

Thailand and Germany jointly organised a first event in a series of knowledge exchanges on harm reduction and treatment in November 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

20 government representatives from Myanmar took part in study visit on Alternative Development in Thailand.

The prevalence of stimulant drugs use is growing in all parts of the world. As a result, new challenges arise concerning the addiction help system and international drug policy. In this context, a 2nd Expert Group Meeting on Harm Reduction was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2017.

Afghanistan ist der größte Opiatproduzent der Welt; laut UNODC...

On Tuesday, 19 September 2017, “Global Partnership on Drug Policies...

From 11th to 13th of September, the 2nd Expert Group Meeting...

Connecting Forest Protection with Alternative Development...

Mr. Eduardo Diaz Uribe, Director of the Colombian Agency...

Large-scale illicit crop production, massive deforestation and rural poverty...

There is a growing demand on the European market for products derived...

Commitments to Human Rights are supposed to direct policy action...

The 25th Harm Reduction International Conference (HR17) is about to take place...

From May 9 to 10, 2017, German and Czech physicians, psychologists, scientists...

Jointly with the bilateral GIZ programme “Protection of forests...

GPDPD participated on behalf of BMZ at the 60. UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs...

The Innovation Lab has been developed by GPDPD on behalf of BMZ...

Jointly with the Government of the Netherlands, the Federal Drug Commissioner...

GPDPD on behalf of BMZ has organized jointly with UNODC...

The Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD) attended...

Interview: The role of innovation

Interview: The role of International Cooperation

Interview: Expectations on the UNGASS Outcome document

Interview: Alternative Development Approaches