«Support. Don't Punish»: global day of action on June 26 against drug repression

This Monday, June 26, 2017, as it does every year, the «International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking» will be observed, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). «Support. Don’t Punish» is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote better drug policies. It emphasizes public health and human rights as priorities, while working to change drug policies and laws.

Drugs wreak havoc, but so does the war on drugs. The organization focuses on prevention among users and fights against repression and prejudice.

The points set forth and argued in the official website The principles of «Support. Don’t Punish.» are as follows:

Events organized throughout France to combat repression and promote prevention

Paris:

On Saturday, June 24, 2017, a community gathering will take place all day at Place de la République. At the Solidays festival, which will take place June 23–25, 2017, at the Longchamp Hippodrome (16th arrondissement, Paris), a photography workshop and an awareness booth for the “Stop Don’t Punish” campaign will be held. On Monday, June 26, 2017, in the community hall of the 10th arrondissement town hall, located at 72 rue du Faubourg Saint Martin, a conference and discussion will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: The program includes «Drug Policy» and «Rethinking Drug Policy»: «How to Regulate Cannabis» and «How Are Drug and Medication Policies Formulated? A Comparative Perspective: U.S. vs. Europe.».

Lyon (Rhône):

The event will take place from June 23 to 25, 2017, at the association’s headquarters, then in the streets of downtown and at a squat. June 23: Open house at the association’s headquarters with a photo booth
On June 24, an awareness-raising event will be held all day, followed by a photo session. In the evening, there will be an awareness-raising booth showcasing our community initiatives, as well as photo sessions at a squat.

Besançon (Doubs):

The event will take place at 5 Rue Mairet on Monday, June 26, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., in partnership with the Bar de l’U. There will be a booth with posters, music provided by the group: DJ EPK-TAZ (lounge), as well as photo opportunities and games featuring «Stop Don’t Punish» goodies.

Bordeaux (Gironde):

The event will take place at Place Pey Berland from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. An awareness booth will be set up during the «International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking» on June 26, 2017.

Nancy (Lorraine) :

In eastern France, Aides and C&L-Norml France are joining forces to support the organization’s international campaign for a different drug policy on Saturday, June 24, 2017. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Place Maginot: A sound system and a prevention booth will be set up. A meet-and-greet and book-signing session with Hubert Avoine, a former «undercover» police officer with the Narcotics Brigade, will also be held.  Then at 6:00 p.m. at Place Stanislas, a gathering of citizens in support of drug policy reform will take place, followed by a distribution of badges, stickers, and T-shirts from the “Support” campaign. Don’t Punish. And finally, to At 8:30 p.m., a series of lectures will be held at 13 bis rue des Ponts. On the agenda: «Public Health and Safety: Toward a Reform of Drug Policy?» «Criminalization of Drug Use: An Obstacle to Public Health?» and «Drug Trafficking and Law Enforcement: Behind the Scenes»

Facebook Event: here

Lille (Nord):

The event will take place on Monday, June 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Place Richebé. A A community village and outreach teams will be on site.

Toulouse (Midi-Pyrénées):

The event will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Square Charles de Gaulle, beginning with a discussion on harm reduction related to drug use, followed by a flash mob to create a mobito raise awareness and reach as many people as possible, all while having fun. Several organizations are promoting this event, including AIDES, Korzéame, Médecins du Monde (Midi-Pyrénées), Act Up Sud Ouest, and Chanvre & Libertés NORML-France.

Facebook Event: here

Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine):

The event will also take place on Saturday, June 24, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Place Charles de Gaulle. The event will be sponsored by L’Orange Bleue, a collective dedicated to prevention and harm reduction founded in 2000 to support music and festival gatherings in Brittany. On the program: a flash mob, the Disleck’zik sound system, drug prevention and advocacy against drug enforcement, and a panel discussion from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Facebook Event: here

Montpellier (Hérault):

The event will take place at 66 Avenue Charles Flahaut all day on Monday, June 26. From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Welcome reception for partners, institutional representatives, professionals, local residents, and service users... featuring the »Traces en Squat» photo exhibition, followed by a buffet and a roundtable discussion from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on drug policies, their impact on communities, and the rise of anti-prohibitionist social movements. Presentations by professionals will be featured, including representatives from Axess and the »Réduire les risques« (Harm Reduction) boutique, as well as Kenzi Riboulet-Zimouli, a research fellow at the FAAAT Think & Do Tank in Barcelona. »Spanish Catalonia: The Grassroots Emergence of Bio-Psycho-Social Public Policies for Addiction Treatment«

Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques):

On Thursday, June 23, an awareness booth for the campaign will be set up on Place Clemenceau from noon to 11 p.m., featuring a patrol in the city center, a photography workshop, and graphic displays, followed by a debate and a group photo in front of locations where the substance is prohibited (courthouse, jail, etc.).

Mehdi Bautier