This week the programme began the Latin America leg of its tour in Paraguay, where the country’s drug policy situation was analysed. The objective is to promote the necessary support the programme is able to provide in relation to the support of national institutions.
The Director of the Programme, Javier Sagredo,met with representatives of Paraguayan public institutions related to drugs, such asMinister Zully Rolón, who is in charge of the Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) and Lilian Portillo, focal point of the programme in the institution, as well as with the Drug
Observatory and representatives of civil society. During the visit, details were finalised for the preparation of the COPLAD III Annual Meeting. It will take place in Asunción on 22nd and 23d of June and will host more than150 people responsible for public drug policies from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Second stage in Ecuador
On Monday, 9 May, the team began thesecond stage of their tour in Ecuador, where the work was coordinated with the Delegation of the European Union in Quito as well as the embassies of Spain and Italy in this country. Over the two days, work meetings were held with the:
- Chancellery,
- Ministry for Governmental Affairs,
- Ministry for the Interior,
- Ministry for Health,
- Internal Affairs Department,
- Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE), and the
- Police Anti-Narcotics Directorate.
Along with the programme’s technical team, also in attendance were José Luis Martín and Gustavo Castro, European experts from the Intelligence centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime in Spain, and Alessandro Loddo, from the Central Directorate of Anti-Drug Services of the Italian Home Office. This visit provided the opportunity to launch theChemical Precursors Task Force. This initiativewill coordinate the work in this part of the programme headed up by Ecuador, in which80 public policy makers from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe participated.
Commitment to DEVIDA
On 11 May, the team travelled to Peru, where they met with the lead partner for DEVIDA, Ricardo Soberón, Minister Rosa Liliana Gómez, Director of Global Engagement, and Dacio Durán, alternate focal point at DEVIDA.
Meetings were held with:
- Delegation of the European Union in Lima, and projects in the field of security supported by INTPA,
- AECID
- Interior managers at the Spanish and Italian embassies in this country,
- Advisers from DEVIDA, DIRANDRO, DIRNIC, SUNAT, FIU,
- The Strategic Analysis Office on Crime, Public Prosecutor’s Office,
- The Crime Observatory of the Public Prosecutor’s Office,
- The Coordination Office of Specialised Prosecutors Against Illicit Drug Trafficking, and with
- Organisations related to the prevention and treatment of drug use in the Ministries for Health, Education, Justice and Ffinancial and Police Intelligence, and the Ministry for Women and Vulnerable Populations.
Citizen pact
The COPOLAD team is learning in detail about the proposal for “citizen social pacts” that DEVIDA is proposing to reach agreements with the communities in the coca production areas for a concerted and gradual reduction of crops and the implementation of development in these areas, all without abandoning the forced eradication programme in particularly sensitive areas and indigenous territories.
The visit to Peru also provided the opportunity to launch the Task Force dedicated to “Improving results for sustainable development, human rights and gender in drug policies” led by Peru.
