Gender

The Pompidou Group has been a pioneer in the integration of a gender equality dimension in drug policies in Europe. Since 2014 it organised multiple events on the topic and produced a number of publications. In addition, together with the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and several drug experts from different countries, Pompidou Group has set up in 2019 the European Drugs and Gender Group (EDG). The Group was set up for the preparation of the LX Addictions conference and has worked since then to implement the inclusion of a gender perspective in the drug policy field. The EDG is promoting the gender perspective through the organisation of several events, exchanges and reflections among experts in the fields of drugs and gender.

Implementing a gender approach in drug policies - Handbook for practitioners and decision makers

The publication “Implementing a gender approach in drug policies: prevention, treatment and criminal justice, handbook for practitioners and decision makers” is the result of a 2020-2021 online consultation involving 13 countries taking place during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The handbook aims at providing policy makers and practitioners in the drug field with evidence-based and operational recommendations to develop and implement policies and interventions that better integrate specific gender needs (gender-sensitive approach) and support more gender equity (gender-transformative approach) for people concerned with the provision of drug-related prevention and care (risk and harm reduction, treatment, reintegration), including in the criminal justice system.

Examples of policies with a gender perspective are given from Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and local level: Reykjavik.

Examples of Prevention, Criminal Justice and Treatment cover projects from France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Greece, Serbia, Spain.

Other actions in this field

Article "Improving gender sensitivity in addictology: impetus from the Council of Europe" (2024)

Publication "Needs of women with substance use disorders in Lebanon" (2019)

Conference on mainstreaming a gender perspective in drug policy (Mexico, 2018)

Seminar on Women and Drugs: from policy to good practice (Italy, 2017)

Synthesis report “Violence, Women and Rape Drugs” (2017)

The gender dimension of non-medical use of prescription drugs in Europe and the Mediterranean region (2015)

Review of literature “Violence experienced or perpetrated, and psychoactive substance use among women in Europe and in the Mediterranean region” (2015)

Women, drugs and violence: consultation of professionals (2015)

Seminar on Women, Drugs and Violence in Europe and the Mediterranean Region (Italy, 2015)

Interview “A pill for every ill?” (2015)

Interview "Gender Mainstreaming in Council of Europe activities" (2015)

Gender-sensitive approach in Mediterranean co-operation

The gender dimension has been incorporated into the work programme of the Mediterranean Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction (MedNET), through projects aimed at improving access to health, prevention and treatment for women suffering from substance use disorders. The activities implemented in the Mediterranean region are as follows:

Algeria: awareness-raising seminar on women and drugs (2017), and creation of a national committee on women (2018);
Egypt: creation of a specific care and treatment service for women, followed by the development of a care and treatment model for pregnant women with substance use disorders (2016-2018);
Lebanon: inclusion of women’s needs in the country’s first national substance use strategy (2016), together with a project designed to identify the needs of women with substance use disorders (2018); specific programmes developed for women who use drugs with the aim of improving and increasing their access to treatment and care services (2020), facilitated by a study visit by Lebanese health professionals to France (2020).

Contribution to the Gender Equality Strategy

The Pompidou Group has been contributing to the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy and its activities in this area are listed in the annual reports of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General on the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy.