Drugs and Socioeconomic Development Panel

Too often the importance of corruption and drug-related crimes are identified as impediments to socioeconomic development. While it is clear that illegal drugs’ trade, production and manufacture adversely affect the conditions needed for socioeconomic development, it is essential to pay particular attention to the poverty and inequality that characterize Latin American societies. Is it possible to deal with the complex relationship between the drugs phenomena and socioeconomic development processes, without considering these structural conditions? What strategies have been taken into consideration in Latin America, to address the illicit growing phenomena? How do different stakeholders value the effects of these strategies?

Drugs and Public Health Panel

Several regional agreements recommend the adoption of a comprehensive public health approach, based on scientific evidence and on the respect of human rights to address drug related problems. However, it is still very noticeable the existing gap between the innovative discourses and the effective implementation of policies. Many Latin American health care systems are still far from ensuring the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of services for drug users. Which proposals tend to improve and diversify these services in the region? Which international experiences can guide the new approaches? What is the involvement of communities, particularly of drug users, with the implemented policies and programs?

Drug Policies in Local Settings Panel

In recent years, there has been an increased local participation, showing innovative linkages between the public and the private, and alternative managing ways. However, the response to the drug related problems tend to follow the guidelines of the central authorities that not always recognize the particular dynamics of local scenarios. Working in the territories, community participation and strengthening social networks are central to define more adapted interventions to the needs and operation of the local contexts. What challenges do drug policies present in local settings? Which are the complementarities and tensions between governmental and civil society initiatives? How can good practices be adapted to new settings?

Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Drug Problems Roundtable

Different forums discuss the consequences, conflicts, and contradictions surrounding drug control policies. An increasing number of voices have been raised demanding a paradigm shift, and it seems that in Latin America, this claim is particularly strong. Across the region the urge to review existing legal frameworks, and propose alternative regulations has expanded. What are the limits and possibilities of innovation of the current regulations? Are the regional mechanisms of cooperation and integration capable of leading the review processes? To what extent can the policies adopted in one country make impact on the rest of the region?

 Drugs, Violence and Security Panel

Costs and benefits of the so-called war on drugs are distributed in different ways between developed and emerging countries, between central and peripheral regions. Consequences are different depending on pre-existing social disparities, reaffirmed and deepened by the war on drugs. In this unequal distribution, Latin America receives a particular burden of violence and insecurity. Which are the factors that have placed the drugs issue at the centre of the governance agenda in Latin America? How do discourses on security/insecurity impact in conflict management? Which strategies could reduce the current rates of violence?

Drugs and Social Inclusion Panel

It increasingly seems that drugs are a metaphor that summarizes the complexity of social vulnerability. The inequality expressed, not only in the limited access to goods and services, but also in relation to gender, age, ethnicity, and many other conditions, introduces us to new social and discursive ways of inclusion and exclusion, and of integration- vulnerability- marginality. This symbolic and collective matrix implies new sources of subjective and social suffering. Which new practices could reduce the number and impact of exclusion forms? What spaces exist, or could be created to favor inclusion processes? How can “micro” successful experiences be replicated in broader contexts?

Drugs and Human Rights Roundtable

In countries around the world, people who use illicit drugs often face situations of discrimination, rejection and violence that lead to violations of their rights. Many of these incidents are hidden or justified on the grounds of “dangerousness” or “unfitness” of drug users, and blaming them for the abuses to which they are subjected. Which approaches help ensure or infringe rights? Are drug policies and interventions having a gender perspective? What forms of organization are the drug users taking themselves to face the abuse?