On 17 July 2025, the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC), in collaboration with key regional and international partners, hosted a dynamic side event during the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. Held at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and streamed online, the event brought together over 60 participants from civil society, UN agencies, academia, and governments to explore the role of inclusive and health-centred drug policies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Titled “Strengthening Civil Society Voices in Drug Policy for Sustainable Development”, the event showcased the essential contributions of civil society in shaping balanced and evidence-informed drug policies. It emphasized how these policies are critical not only to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) but also to broader goals such as poverty reduction, gender equality, peace and justice, and partnerships.
Opening remarks were delivered by representatives of the UNODC Civil Society Unit, John Jay College, and the New York NGO Committee on Drugs, all underscoring the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement and the need to safeguard civic space in global policy processes.
A keynote presentation by Dr. Alexander Caudarella and Karen Cumberland from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) illustrated the unique role of civil society in bridging national drug policy with community realities, and in fostering cross-sectoral solutions that are resilient, inclusive, and data-driven.
A diverse civil society panel, featuring speakers from Health Poverty Action, Kosmicare, AGLOJOVEN, UYDEL, and Movendi International, explored intersections between drug policy and climate justice, youth empowerment, racial equity, indigenous rights, and human development. Member State representatives from Slovenia, Nigeria, and Kenya also contributed reflections, reinforcing the value of dialogue across sectors and regions.
Key takeaways included:
- Drug policy must be aligned with the SDGs and human rights standards (including children’s rights) to avoid undermining global development.
- Civil society is uniquely positioned to monitor, innovate, and deliver services, especially in low-resource settings.
- Prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery are not competing pillars—they must be integrated for balanced and effective responses.
- Legal reform efforts (e.g., decriminalization or regulation) must be inclusive and community-led, prioritizing those most impacted by past and current policies.
- Youth, indigenous peoples, and affected communities must be meaningfully included in policy design and implementation.
The event concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration through the ImPACT Coalition and upcoming UN processes, including the CND thematic discussions and the 2030 SDG review. Speakers emphasized the need for civil society to remain at the centre of global drug policy reform and sustainable development efforts.
We thank all co-organizers for their continued support including African Civil Society Forum on Drugs, Americas Coalition on Drug Policy, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), New York NGO Committee on Drugs (NYNGOC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Kenya, UNODC Civil Society Unit.
A recording of the side event will be made available on the VNGOC YouTube channel.
For follow-up or to join the ImPACT Coalition, please contact: info@vngoc.org
