Four international experts engage in a discussion on how the narrative of drugs as something “criminal” has resulted in poor drug policies and negative spillover into the realm of human rights, criminal justice systems, public health, development, and security. And what these experts and their organizations are doing to stop that. Speakers: -- Ecuador’s Rodrigo Vélez, Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Control of Narcotic and Psychotropics Substances (CONSEP), who works on the challenges of trafficking among vulnerable communities -- including women-- and amnesty for ex-traffickers in Ecuador. -- Ghana’s Maria Goretti-Ane Loglo, African consultant for International Drug Policy Consortium and private legal practitioner, an expert on national, regional and international drug control and an advocate for a human rights and health approach to drug policy. -- The United Kingdom’s Niamh Eastwood, Executive director of Release, the UK’s sole organization dedicated to providing free legal and drugs advice — famous clients included John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles — and developing programs to support youths and marginalized groups in the UK since 1967. -- Drug Policy Alliance's Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno, Executive Director, has committed herself to social justice and drug policy since her formative years in Peru. Drug Policy Alliance, a U.S. based non-profit organization has played a pivotal role in the legalization and regulation of cannabis throughout the country since the organization was established in 2000. -- Kasia Malinowska, Director of the Global Drug Policy Program at the Open Society Foundations will lead the conversation.
New York City, NY; NYC