Mathew Kutty
MUMBAI, JULY 18, 2008: The recently held Vienna NGOs Committee Forum employed an intense preparatory process engaging civil society by holding 13 consultations in which 500 National NGOs and 65 International NGOs from 116 countries participated. This process helped bring NGO contribution to the ongoing formulation of the World Drug Policy. The outcome of "Beyond 2008" has been a Declaration and three Resolutions adopted by consensus by all the participants of the Vienna Forum held from July 7 to 9, 2008. These will be presented to the Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Drug Demand Reduction when it meets in September 2008 to prepare for the High Level Segment of the 52nd session of CND. The Declaration and Resolutions have been formally submitted to the Chair of the 52nd session of CND, the President of INCB and the Executive Director of UNODC. The Forum has achieved a remarkable result, drawing on the rich diversity of philosophy and experience available within the NGO community to produce a shared set of recommendations. This is, however, only the start. Each NGO has committed to take forward at local, national and international levels these resolutions and through "Beyond 2008" to give voice to individuals, families and communities impacted by drug use and drug policies for the purpose of
promoting the development and implementation of more effective policies, programs and practices. Rev. Dr. Barnabe D’Souza sdb from Shelter Don Bosco, Mumbai, India played a key role in the Forum representing the South Asia Region. He along with Dr. Khazi Alam of the Dhaka Ashiana Mission, Bangladesh, made a joint presentation on the recommendations of the South Asian Region consultation and posited some very tangible future goals to the Beyond 2008 Forum. It was interesting to see the commonalities that all the regions of the world had in their presentations. These were followed by very engaging discussions to formulate the Declaration and Resolutions that were presented to the CND, INCB and Executive Director of the UNODC