New cooperation program on drugs with Latin America and Caribbean

More 30 drug agencies from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe witnessed the launch of the COPOLAD III programme past Tuesday. The initiative, financed by the EU, is designed to strengthen drug policies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This third phase of the programme - which will mobilise €15 million by 2025 - is led by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) from Spain and the Italo-Latin American International Organization (IILA), with the collaboration of several partners such as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH .

New drug policies focused on human rights

As detailed in the new EU strategy on drugs, the programme will emphasise improvements in policies in human rights, gender equity, public health and other aspects of sustainable development. These are crucial, pressing aspects for addressing the complex challenges that the pandemic will create for public drug policies in the region. Building on the progress made in the previous stages, COPOLAD III will continue to promote technical cooperation and political dialogue between Latin America, the Caribbean and the EU to support the region in the implementation of more effective drug policies and with results that substantially improve the lives of people, particularly the most vulnerable.

For the first time, COPOLAD will combine the now traditional bi-regional and multi-country collaboration spaces with direct technical assistance interventions to meet national needs and promote transformative and innovative actions, mobilising European and regional public expertise in bilateral, triangular and South-South cooperation schemes.

Inception Report-Executive Summary