And the Global Commission on Drug Policy presented a Model Drug Law for West Africa that offers a concrete, legally-robust, solution to drug policy governance in the region. Positive Strategies shared their experience in providing HIV services in a context of criminalisation. Catalyst shed light on the exclusion of Latin American youth from drug policy discussions that directly affect their life outcomes. The Land of Peace Foundation highlighted the struggles of rural coca-leaf growers in the Colombian Cauca to see their traditional livelihood, and access to land, supported and formalised. And not only through the experience of the Support. The urgency of this purpose was apparent at the Forum. But bearing witness to the bravery and resolve of the communities that lead our efforts on the ground was also a humbling privilege. Squeezing years of collective experience, impact and growth, of capacity- and solidarity-building, of sweat, tears and joy, into just a few slides, was most definitely a challenge. Over the last seven years, we have seen more than 1,000 diverse and creative activities, delivered by hundreds of committed local partners, in 110 countries! It sounds relatively straight-forward until one dives into what this campaign has achieved. Don’t Punish to Forum participants in less than 20 minutes ( ‘the Pitch’, in the Forum’s lingo). This movement’s capacity to effect change is awe-inspiring and unstoppable
Don’t Punish team at the Forum, and potentially a watershed moment in the way governance discussions address drug policy reform. As we continue to digest an intense 48 hours of stimulating exchanges and learning, I wanted to share just a few of the highlights that have made this experience so enriching for the Support.