Press and Promotion of the MEM

The principle objectives of the promotional activities (workshops or promotional events) consist of:

• For the MEM results and its objectives to reach all persons involved in anti-drug policies on a national and hemispheric level. 

• Establish the MEM as a diagnostic tool for the design and implementation of anti-drug policies and programs in each country and within an international context.

• Communicate the transparency and multilateral nature of the MEM which is a unique characteristic and an important strength of the national and hemispheric reports.

• Highlight the uniqueness of the MEM and differentiate it from other reports or evaluation processes, showing the benefits which institutions and States may gain from the Mechanism.

• Strengthen the participation of the member states within the MEM process.

Index of Activities:

2007

• Panama: 

On July 4 and 5th, the MEM conducted a promotional visit to Panama, which consisted of three institutional meetings and one training workshop.

The meetings were held with staff from the National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Drug-related Crimes (CONAPRED) and the CONAPRED commissions, comprising consultants from various Ministries, as well as staff from the Council on Public Security and National Defense’s Financial Analysis Unit.

A training workshop was held for the national entities that provide information for the evaluation of progress in drug policy, and took place at the University of Panama’s Conference Center.

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• Haiti: 

James Mack, CICAD's Executive Secretary, Angela Crowdy, MEM Coordinator, and Carlos Tambini, Haiti's MEM contact,  carried out  a  MEM  promotional visit to Haiti  from  13-14 August.  Meetings  were held with a number of government officials, including Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, and heads of  various Ministries and international organizations, among them Mr. Gerald Germain, Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Fritz Belizaire, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Rene Magloire, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Mr. Jean Raynald Clerisme, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edmond Mulet, head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, and Mr. Arthur Gray, OAS Representative in Haiti.

Additionally , a MEM workshop was held for Haiti's national institutions, focusing on the many organizations that provide information to the National Drug Control Commission (CONALD)for Haiti's Fourth Round Evaluation of Progress  Report  in Drug Control, 2005 - 2006 . 

Press:

• Haiti Press Network (French)

• Metropole Haiti (French)

• Caribbean press releases (English)

• Alter presse (French)

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2006

• Costa Rica: 

  

On October 17, 2006 a MEM Promotional visit was made to Costa Rica.  This visit was cohosted by the Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas (ICD).  This visit included meetings with various government ministries and institutions involved in the MEM process.  The objective of these meetings was to promote the MEM and to enhance coordination between the various government agencies and institutions involved in Costa Rica's anti-drug efforts.

http://www.icd.go.cr/sitio/

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• Guatemala:

On October 12-13, 2006 a MEM Promotional Visit to raise awareness among various government agencies was made to Guatemala.  The visit included a training workshop for national agencies involved in the collection of information for the Questionnaire of Indicators.  The workshop was hosted with the collaboration of the Comisión contra las Adicciones y el Tráfico Ilícito de Drogas (SECCATID).  Meetings were also held with various government ministries that are involved in the MEM process.  These meetings were held to enhance inter-institutional cooperation and dialogue in order to strengthen Guatemala's anti-drug policies.

http://www.seccatid.gob.gt/

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• Suriname:

International Anti-Narcotics Conference, 12-13 October 2006

An International Anti-Narcotics Conference was held from October 12 - 13, 2006 at the Hotel Torarica in Paramaribo, Suriname. The main purpose of this Conference was to determine policy on coordinating and intensifying bilateral, regional and global efforts aimed at limiting narcotics' trafficking and dismantling drug-related criminal organizations. The event had participants from: Aruba; Brazil; Colombia; France; Guyana; Netherlands Antilles; Kingdom of the Netherlands; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United States of America; Venezuela; United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)/ Organization of American States (OAS); Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF); European Union (EU); International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). A presentation on the MEM Evaluation process was delivered by the MEM Unit.

Remarks by the President of the Republic of Suriname His Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the International Anti-Narcotics Conference, October 12, 2006.

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On October 13, 2006 a training workshop was held for national institutions of Suriname responsible for collecting information for the Questionnaire of Indicators.  The workshop was sponsored by the National Anti-Drug Council (NAR) and its objective was to increase the awareness of the MEM process among the national institutions of Suriname.  The workshop was attended by members of NAR and by representatives from various sectors involved in drug control in Suriname.  Presentations were made by a member of the MEM Unit, NAR, and by the Governmental Expert from Suriname.

 

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• Paraguay:

Training for Paraguayan national institutions

Asuncion, Paraguay

September 15, 2006

Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas (SENAD) / Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD).

• Venezuela:

Training for Venezuelan national institutions

Caracas, Venezuela

September 19, 2006

Oficina Nacional Antidrogas de Venezuela (ONA) /  (CICAD)

http://www.ona.gob.ve/

 

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• Colombia:

Training Session III for the National Coordinating Entities (NCE) from South American countries(Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela)

Bogota, Colombia 

July 27-28, 2006

Dirección Nacional de Estupefacientes de Colombia (DNE) / CICAD

http://www.dnecolombia.gov.co/

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Training for Colombian National Institutions

Ministry of Foreign Relations - Bogota, Colombia

Monday, July 31, 2006

 

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• El Salvador:

Training Session II for the National Coordinating Entities (NCE) from Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), Mexico, Panama, and Dominican Republic

International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), Academia Nacional de Seguridad Pública de El Salvador

San Salvador, El Salvador

July 18-19, 2006

http://www.gobernacion.gob.sv/egobierno/seccionesprincipales/direcciones/cna/

Boletín de la Academia Nacional de Seguridad Pública

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• Jamaica:

Training Session I for the National Coordinating Entities (NCE) from Caribbean countries (Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago), Canada, and the United States of America.

Rose Hall Hotel, Montego Bay, Jamaica

July 11-12, 2006

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• Model OAS General Assembly

The 23rd Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS) for university students from OAS member states was held 5-9 March 2006 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The MOAS consisted of simulations of meetings of the Permanent Council and the General Assembly.  Students represented member states during these simulations and the MEM Unit participated as a consultant reviewing resolutions related to the MEM.

http://www.moas.oas.org/Englishl/index.html

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