Innovation and resilience in times of crisis - Publication launch

PUBLICATION LAUNCH

Innovation and resilience in times of crisis - Civil society advocacy for drug policy reform under the COVID-19 pandemic

Thursday, 11 March 2021

10:00 (Kingston / Toronto) | 15:00 (London) | 16:00 (Rabat)

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for communities worldwide and caused dramatic changes in public life. While disrupting governance and policymaking processes, the pandemic has also further reduced civic space for civil society and communities to exercise their democratic rights and conduct advocacy – often exacerbated by the increasingly repressive behaviour of governments in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite significant challenges, COVID-19 restrictions and their impacts on policymaking processes have not deterred civil society actors from continuing their advocacy work in drug policy and related sectors, albeit with notable adjustments. However, a range of issues in relation to accessibility remain unresolved, along with concerns around the limitations of human interactions through virtual platforms.

‘Innovation and resilience in times of crisis’ provides an overview of the dynamics of civil society advocacy under the COVID-19 pandemic, informed by over 30 interviews with representatives from civil society and community organisations, intergovernmental institutions, governments and donors.

On the occasion of the anniversary of WHO’s declaration of the pandemic, join us for a discussion on its impact on civil society advocacy, experiences of adaptation, recommendations and ways forward.

Speakers

• Dania Putri, Consultant and report’s author
• Mat Southwell, European Network of People who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD)
• Vicki Hanson, Interdisciplinary Centre for Cannabis Research (ICCR)
• Nazlee Maghsoudi, New York NGO Committee & Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation (CDPE)

Moderator

• Marie Nougier, International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)