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‘A DAY IN AT TE NDAN CE OF UNG A SS 2 016’

BY P EN N Y H I L L

that let you into one or two UN side drug policy, it just did not include
Attending the UNGASS 2016
events. The office with the tickets the significant statements we
on Drugs as a member of civil
didn’t open until the time the first were hoping for. UNGASS 2016
society was an overwhelming
session started and UN security provided civil society with a louder
experience; there were many
wasn’t briefed on the process. This voice in international drug control
processes to learn and hoops to
resulted in many civil society discussions, and that is something
jump through!
attendees missing the sessions they for which we are grateful. The
1 DAY PRI O R had travelled to New York for, small steps we have made this year
(C I V I L S O C I E T Y TA S K FO R C E some speakers missing the panels will have an impact on future
P R E- E V E N T ) they were speaking on! To add to sessions, and has paved the way for
the confusion, the office location a stronger coalition of drug policy
Attendees were invited to a pre- where we had to pick up the passes and harm reduction organisations
event. The UN and government changed every morning, within a towards the campaign for safer,
speakers applauded the inclusion of couple of block radius of UN HQ. health-based, harm-reduction
civil society and stated how im- Sometimes the best strategy was based international drug policies.
portant it was to have civil society to walk around the vicinity of the
engagement. However, most UN UN and look for familiar faces to
and government representatives find out where to pick up that days
left at the end of their address, and passes. The one positive outcome
did not stay to hear the civil society was all the confusion resulted
members that they had stated was in invaluable networking across
so important to hear. international civil society
organisations, and prepares us for
DAY 1 , future UN sessions.
U N I T ED N AT I O N S G EN ER A L
A S SE M B LY SP EC I A L SE S SIO N ,
U N H E ADQ UAR T E R S , Once the confusion had subsided
N E W YO R K , U S A and we entered the UN on that
first day, we found the outcome
There were two ways of document had already been passed
registration and security clearance through the General Assembly
for civil society attendees – attend- with no revisions, and the round
ing on behalf of a registered tables in which civil society
organization, or holding a special
events pass. However, when and governments were invited to
give statements were not going to
attendees with special events passes change the outcome.
arrived at the UN Office for the first P E N N Y H ILL IS TH E O C E A N I A
day, they were told the passes were R E P R E S E NTATI V E O F YO U TH R IS E ,
only valid for 2-3 hours, then we WE RE A LL TH E A G LO B A L YO U T H - L E D H A R M
would have exit the UN, go back FRUS TR ATI O N S R E DU C T I O N O R G A N I S AT I O N .
to the office a few blocks away, get
new passes and go back to UN HQ WO RTH IT ?
and through security again. This Despite all the confusion, at the end
was a confusing process and of the day, the outcome document
resulted in attendees having to enter did include improved references
and exit the UN countless times to and statements towards a more
go and pick up little colorful tickets health and rights-based approach to

72 W H A C K P. I E D I T I O N : S P R I N G 2 0 16

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