Study of the Organisation of American States (OAS)
The objective of the reports is to find a better way to address the challenges posed by illicit drugs
On May 17, 2013, the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to share the results of the hemispheric review of drug policies. This task was entrusted to him by the Heads of States of the Americas at the Sixth Americas Summit held in April 2012 in Cartagena, Colombia.
At the Cartagena Summit the region’s leaders expressed their frustration with the ineffectiveness and high costs of current drug control policies and tasked the OAS with producing a report designed to stimulate debate on options for improving policies. The study represents the culmination of the OAS-led review and is comprised of two main parts (see also: highlights from the OASs report on the drug problem in the Americas):
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The drug problem in the Americas , an analytical report looking at current trends, practices, and policy challenges; and
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Scenarios for the drug problem in the Americas 2013-2025 , a set of scenarios about what might happen in the future and the results that could be expected in each scenario.
- Background studies
These scenarios are based on current trends, and including relevant political, economic, social, cultural and international dynamics. The scenarios were drafted by a team of experts from security, business, health, education, indigenous cultures, international organisations, the justice system, civil society, and politics, including former and current government officials from across the Americas. The Coordinator of TNI’s Drugs and Democracy Program, Martin Jelsma, participated in the scenarios report.
The objective of the reports is to assist the Americas' leaders to find a better way to address the challenges posed by illicit drugs. Legally regulated drugs markets are considered as a policy option in the proposed scenarios.
See also:
- The Drug Policy Reform Agenda in the Americas (Version 2), International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), By Coletta Youngers, August 2013
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Organisation of American States promotes drug policy reform in new study, International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) press release, May 17, 2013
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OAS Secretary General Presents Report on the Drug Problem in the Americas, OAS press release, May 17, 2013
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Colombian President Santos, OAS Chief Insulza to present new study on drug policy alternatives, Media Advisory, May 13, 2013
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The drug policy reform agenda in the Americas, by Coletta Youngers, IDPC Briefing, May 2013
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A breakthrough in the making? Shifts in the Latin American drug policy debate
- Media coverage
