10 September 2009

In wake of widespread election review onset of winter could delay second round of voting until spring

Contingency plans needed to address constitutional vacuum in presidency
LONDON – The Taliban now has a permanent presence in 80% of Afghanistan, up from 72% in November 2008, according to a new map released today by the International Council on Security and Development (ICOS). According to ICOS, another 17% of

1 July 2009

Move to End Poppy Crop Eradication Hailed as Monumental Step by ICOS

Finally Some Important and Positive News, but “Not Enough” to Win Back Hearts and Minds of Afghan Farmers, ICOS Says

ICOS’ Poppy for Medicine Proposal is Crucial Part of Solution to Afghanistan’s Opium Crisis
LONDON – The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) today hailed the monumental move by the US to stop the

26 June 2009

Innovative EAD initiative encourages Pragmatic and Effective Health and Science-Based Policies on Drugs
BRUSSELS – The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) today announced its commitment to the European Action on Drugs (EAD), a new and innovative European Commission initiative on drug policy that seeks to implement pragmatic and effective science-based policies on drugs, in an effort to bring Europe closer to a more humanitarian and

26 March 2009

The Red Cross National Societies of twenty European countries launch the second phase of the Rome Consensus towards the implementation of a Humanitarian Drug Policy in Europe

The European Commission supports the Rome Consensus Europe Conference (26-27 March 2009)
MADRID – The Spanish Red Cross is hosting the Rome Consensus Europe Conference in Madrid from the 26-27th March 2009. The Conference, titled “Rising to the Challenge of

18 March 2009

UNODC-WHO Joint Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care puts public health at the forefront of drug policy
VIENNA – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today received the International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) Award for Innovative Drug Policy, in recognition of the UNODC-WHO Joint Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care.

“The Joint Programme represents

12 June 2008

Paris Conference participants’ aid pledges must target the Afghan people’s needs

“Harness market forces to address Afghan aid and opium crises through Poppy for Medicine projects,” says ICOS
PARIS – Donors at the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan must focus their attention on tackling Afghanistan’s burgeoning illegal opium economy instead of making generous but ineffective aid pledges that fail to address this major crisis, said ICOS

27 May 2008

Interpol’s former Secretary General and ICOS’s President urge Prime Minister Harper to keep Insite open

Raymond Kendall and Norine MacDonald stress safe injection site’s significant positive impact on public order
OTTAWA – Raymond Kendall, Honorary Secretary General of Interpol, and ICOS’s President, Norine MacDonald QC, on Tuesday urged Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to keep Vancouver’s Insite safe injection centre open, citing in particular its significant positive