The 18th Ministerial Conference (13-14 December at the Altis Grand Hotel in Lisbon) of the Pompidou Group, Europe’s premier platform for drug policy, will focus on promoting sustainable drug and addiction policies in conformity with human rights.
The conference will gather Ministers, Government representatives, drug policy experts, law enforcement officials, health and justice officials and civil society representatives to assess the impact of current trends in drug use and other addictions including online addictions like internet betting and gambling.
Portuguese Health Minister Manuel Pizarro, representing the current presidency, and Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Björn Berge will open the conference, during which Italy, represented by the Under Secretary of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano, will take over the Group’s presidency from Portugal, which has presided over the last four years. Media are welcome to attend a press conference scheduled at 1 pm on 14 December at the venue.
As part of Europe’s only intergovernmental organisation devoted to the promotion of human rights, the Pompidou Group – named after the former French President who initiated its creation – places human rights at the heart of drug and addiction policies. Its many drug policy experts provide practical tools that help decision-makers carry out measures to reduce drugs trafficking and drug use, better treat substance use disorders and resolve negative impacts of addictions in society.
The opening day of the conference will feature sessions taking stock of Pompidou Group accomplishments since 2019 and their impact across the 41 member states, which include three non-European countries: Israel, Mexico and Morocco.
A final declaration to be adopted by attending Ministers will be published, based on results and conclusions from the Group’s work. It will set out the broad policy direction to be followed by the Group in the coming years.
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