International - Transform granted special consultative status at the UN

[Lunar Loops]

This from The Transform website (www.tdpf.org.uk):

Transform granted special consultative status at the UN

News release
No Embargo
Date: Monday 6 August 2007

Transform has become the first UK-based organisation, campaigning for an end to global drugs prohibition to be recognised officially by the UN. At its Substantive Session of July 2007, the Economic and Social Council granted Transform special consultative status at the UN.
Transform can now designate official representatives to the UN headquarters in New York and the UN offices in Geneva and Vienna. In the words of the UN – “the regular presence of your organisation will allow your organisation to implement effectively and fruitfully the provisions for this consultative relationship.”
Danny Kushlick, Transform Director said:

“Transform is delighted to have been invited officially to join the NGO community at the UN. It is testament to the work that Transform has done over the last ten years that we are now considered to have a valid place at the international policy making table. We join the likes of the Institute for Policy Studies in advocating for reform of international drug policy in order to reduce suffering and put in place policies that are effective, just and humane.”

[Alfa]

This is great news. Congrats to Transform.

[BackToBasics]

Brilliant news..it'd be interesting to see what impact their presence will have at the UN.

[Jatelka]

This is wonderful, a little glimmer of light at the end of a very long dark tunnel

[Kodi]

Wow, this is definitely a huge step in the right direction, at least the UN is acknowledging that some kind of reform is needed in the future.

[Lunar Loops]

More good news, IHRA was also granted consultative status. The following news brief is from their website (www.ihra.net/News#IHRAGrantedStatuswithintheUnitedNations). You can also see how you can help at the same link (including two research internship opportunities at IHRA London).

IHRA Granted Status within the United Nations

The International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) has been granted “special consultative status” by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). This follows a recommendation in February 2007 from the UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations. This accreditation allows IHRA to attend and take an active role in the conferences and meetings convened by the UN and its preparatory bodies.

ECOSOC opened its doors to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in 1946, when 41 were granted consultative status. Since then, the number of accredited organisations has been steadily increasing, and there are currently around 3,000 around the world. Similar status has also been granted to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, whose Director, Danny Kushlick, is a member of the IHRA Executive Committee.

This status allows IHRA to have more of a voice within the United Nations systems, and strengthens our position as the leading international organisation promoting harm reduction approaches for all psychoactive drugs. IHRA can now designate official representatives to the UN headquarters in New York (USA) and the UN offices Geneva (Switzerland) and Vienna (Austria).