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.
Penny currently works in a policy role with the Australian Attorney-General’s Department. She recently completed her PhD with the Burnet Institute, investigating opioid overdose, and holds a Master of Science (Public Health), Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (International Development). In her previous post-doctoral role, she led the development of Australia’s health-led early warning system for emerging drugs. She has a background in the community health sector working and volunteering in needle syringe programs, primary health care facilities, drug consumption sites and drug checking services in Australia and internationally. Penny is the Chair of the Australian Civil Society Committee on UN Drug Policy, the Vice President of Harm Reduction Victoria, board member of Harm Reduction Australia, Deputy Secretary of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, and the co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia.