In the sidelines of the 2019 United Nations High-Level Ministerial Segment taking stock of the world drug problem, the Australian Civil Society Committee on UN Drug Policy was established. Throughout the past five years the Committee has strengthened, bringing together civil society and academic perspectives and increasing community, First Nations, and youth voices in UN sessions on drug-related matters.
The Committee brings together expert academic and civil society advice to the Australian Government and within international drug-related fora advocating on a range of key thematic areas: health-led approaches for drug policies (including prevention, treatment, and harm reduction approaches), human rights, stigma and discrimination, alternatives to arrest and incarceration, and access to essential medicines.
This paper will present a case study of the work of the Committee leading into the 2024 Mid-Term Review of all international drug policy commitments, and key milestones and successes including an increasing number of joint government and civil society side events at the UN; more timely provision of draft resolutions to the committee for feedback; the first joint civil society and government strategic planning day; and obtaining government funding to support the work of the committee. We also provide an overview of lessons learned for other countries, including on how to build trust and strong partnerships between government and civil society groups with differing priorities, perspectives, and thematic expertise, while also strategically setting the way forward towards the 2029 UN high-level review of progress in implementing all international drug policies.