Side event at the Action Days prior to the Summit of the Future

ImPACT Coalition – The Future of Drug Policy – Health and Well-being for All

Organized by the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs together with the African Civil Society Forum on Drugs, the American Coalition on Drug Policy, the New York NGO Committee on Drugs, the UNODC Civil Society Unit and the Governments of Kenya, Nigeria, Slovenia, and Uganda

20 September 2024, 10AM to 12noon EST in person in New York (Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10174) and online

For online participation, please register using the link below to receive your personalized link to join the virtual session: https://bit.ly/4gaDOi1

For in-person attendance, send an email to info@vngoc.org or unodc-ngounit@un.org by 18 September 2024, providing your full name as shown on your ID for venue registration purposes. Only registered participants will be allowed to enter the building.

Objective: to discuss best practice-examples of collaborations between civil society, government agencies, international organizations and academia to address drug related issues, working towards the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), as well as to present best practices to help accelerate global action towards the 2^nd World Social Summit for Social Development in 2025 and beyond.

Background:

The World Drug Report 2024 found that one in every 17 people worldwide had used a drug in 2021, 23 per cent more than a decade earlier. The world drug situation continues to negatively impact millions of people and progress in tackling the challenges identified in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration and achieving SDG 3 remains slow in many regions. Strong partnerships are needed to achieve our joint goals, and civil society can play a vital role in supporting Member States and providing evidence-based services to affected populations.

The Drug Policy ImPACT Coalition was formed during the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi to serve as platform to bring together drug policy voices and build on extensive consultations done regionally and globally in 2023 and early 2024, leading up to the 2024 mid-term review of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, resulting in a Global Civil Society Report published by the Vienna and New York NGO Committees on Drugs.

Format:

the hybrid event will feature a panel discussion with representatives from civil society, international organizations and Member States from different regions and thematic areas. The panelists will share key priorities, recommendations, and best practices for accelerating the achievement of global goals and commitments, especially highlighting successful cooperation between civil society, academia, government agencies and international organizations. The event will also be an opportunity to discuss among participants how to accelerate the objectives of the ImPACT Coalition based on the outcomes of the Nairobi Conference.