Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug Policy

The Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug Policy represents a collaborative commitment among 114 National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. It focuses on promoting and implementing a humanitarian approach to drug policy, emphasizing public health and social well-being over punitive measures. This article provides an overview of the Rome Consensus, its foundational principles, global outreach, and significant events that have shaped its development and implementation.

Introduction

Originating as a global call to action, the Rome Consensus encourages a shift towards a more compassionate and health-oriented approach to drug policy. It underscores the necessity of replacing punitive frameworks with policies rooted in humanitarian values, aiming to reduce harm and improve public health outcomes.

Foundational Principles

The Rome Consensus is built upon several core principles:

• Prioritizing humanitarian values in drug policy formulation and implementation.
• Advocating for policies based on scientific evidence, free from ideology, stigmatization, and discrimination.
• Encouraging national governments to adopt a public health approach in addressing drug-related issues, focusing on prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.
• Leveraging the strength and global network of the Red Cross - Red Crescent Movement to promote these humanitarian principles and support affected individuals and communities.

Global Outreach and Implementation

The Rome Consensus has garnered support from National Societies worldwide, evidencing a collective commitment to humanitarian drug policy reform. Key regions and countries that have endorsed the Rome Consensus include:

Signatory National Societies

The list of signatories encompasses a diverse group of National Societies, demonstrating the widespread support for humanitarian drug policy principles. These societies are actively involved in various initiatives, ranging from advocacy and education to direct service provision aimed at mitigating the harms associated with drug use.

Chairs of the Rome Consensus

The Rome Consensus is co-chaired by The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) and the Italian Red Cross, reflecting a collaborative effort between international security experts and a leading humanitarian organization.

Key Events and Activities

The Rome Consensus has been instrumental in organizing and participating in several key events, aimed at advancing its objectives and facilitating knowledge exchange among stakeholders.

Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Harm Reduction

This seminar focused on scaling up best practices in drug prevention, treatment, and harm reduction within the Red Cross - Red Crescent network in Europe. Supported by the European Commission and ICOS, it brought together practitioners to discuss actionable strategies for implementation.

Solferino 2009

Marking the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross - Red Crescent Movement, the Rome Consensus hosted workshops and roundtables addressing youth drug use and the humanitarian response to stigma and discrimination linked to drug use.

Regional Meetings

The Rome Consensus has convened regional meetings in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Caribbean and Central America, Asia and the Pacific, and other regions. These meetings aim to tailor the humanitarian drug policy framework to regional specifics, addressing local challenges and opportunities for intervention.

See Also

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

External Links

• The Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug Policy official website
• Directory of Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies
• Vienna NGO Committee On Narcotic Drugs

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