ICAD, I.P. attends COPOLAD programme seminar.

"Towards the humanisation of penal and prison policy in the face of minor drug offences: a path towards proportionality and penal alternatives" was the theme of the seminar organised by the COPOLAD programme, which took place in Barcelona on 24 and 25 June. Fifteen delegations from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union took part.

Developing basic standards that promote an approach based on human rights, proportionality and fairer management of minor drug-related offences were the objectives of this event, which enabled approaches to be shared and good practices to be identified in order to coordinate efforts to implement reforms that will have a positive impact on the lives of people facing drug-related cases.

ICAD, I.P. was represented by Américo Gegaloto, president of the Setúbal Commission for the Deterrence of Drug Addiction; Margarida Rego, coordinator of the Deterrence Intervention Office and Ana Sofia Santos, coordinator of the International Relations and Cooperation Office.

"Deterrence - A Humanist Approach" was the title of the presentation given by Américo Gegaloto, based on the experience of the Portuguese model, particularly with regard to Deterrence Intervention and the Decriminalisation Law, as a humanist approach in line with respect for human rights, as an alternative to criminal justice.

Since 2011, Portugal has participated in COPOLAD (Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the EU on drug policies), funded by the European Commission, whose aim is to promote technical cooperation and political dialogue between Latin America, the Caribbean and the EU in order to support the region in implementing more effective drug policies based on the defence of human rights, gender equality, public health, citizen security and other dimensions of sustainable development.