68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) – Vienna 2025

Premise
The 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has just concluded in Vienna, at a historically significant moment for the evolution of global drug policies.
Since the official launch of the Rome Consensus 2.0 at the United Nations in 2020, we have consolidated our presence at the CND, participating in and co-organizing over 20 events/debates, in collaboration with Member States, intergovernmental agencies, and CSOs. The increasing visibility of our network in 2025 reflects a paradigm shift: the international acknowledgment of the failure of repressive policies and the growing demand (from Member States and sector professionals) for evidence-based, compassionate, and humanitarian responses.
Delegation
The Rome Consensus 2.0 network included representatives from: IFRC, Villa Maraini Foundation – Italian Red Cross, Knowmad Institut, TASC, PTACC US and UK, C4 Recovery Foundation, Elternkreis Wien, and DPNSEE.
Mission Objectives
1. Strengthen the positioning of the Rome Consensus 2.0 as an international reference platform for a humanitarian approach to drug policies.
2. Consolidate strategic relationships with government representatives, intergovernmental agencies, and civil society organizations.
3. Promote the role and best practices of RC2 co-founders in harm reduction, deflection, alternative to detention policies and human rights.
4. Expand the network and cooperation opportunities with stakeholders and increase endorsements of the RC2.0 Manifesto.

Networking and Positioning Activities
The participation of the Rome Consensus 2.0 international delegation was marked by significant achievements in terms of visibility, credibility, and strategic positioning within the international community of the CND 2025.
One of the key elements of this mission was the setup and management of the Rome Consensus 2.0 Exhibition Booth, which became a reference point for dialogue, networking, and the exchange of best practices.
Over 400 delegates from around the world visited the booth, receiving our publications, informational materials, flyers and participating in video-interviews and discussions. A crucial contribution was provided by volunteers from the Austrian Red Cross, who supported the promotion of our initiatives through outreach activities.
Advocacy Activities and Institutional Meetings
The delegation held several high-profile bilateral meetings with ambassadors, ministers, parliamentarians, and directors of anti-drug agencies, including representatives from: Argentina, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany, Kenya, Mexico.

Key meetings:
• Colombia: Meeting with the Minister of Justice, Angela Maria Buitrago, and Director Alexander R. Alvarez. Strong advocates of the view that incarceration is counterproductive for people with substance use issues and of the strategic importance of harm reduction, they expressed willingness to support the training event that Villa Maraini and the RCRC Partnership on Substance Abuse will offer to the Colombian Red Cross in Bogotá (following the official request submitted in January 2025) and to collaborate with us to spread humanitarian drug policies through field activities.
• Kenya: Another high-profile meeting was held with the Kenyan delegation, composed of a dozen parliamentarians and ministry members, led by MP Dido Rasso and NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the National Anti-Drug Agency. Fully aware of the crucial role Villa Maraini and the Italian Red Cross have played over the past 10 years in Kenya, supporting the establishment of a recovery center for drug addicts and training dozens of professionals to address the opioid issue in the country. CRI-Villa Maraini are considered key partners by the Government for the development of harm reduction programs; in this regard, the Kenyan representatives reiterated their willingness to invest more resources from the central government to relaunch the Lamu Red Cross program and turn it into a reference center on drug dependence for East Africa. They also expressed interest in launching a joint international event in Kenya to promote best practices on Harm Reduction, including Lamu and Mombasa.
• Plenary: Massimo Barra addressed the plenary on behalf of IFRC to reaffirm the need for humanitarian policies in response to the growing and unresolved issues caused by drugs worldwide
Side Events Promoted by the Rome Consensus 2.0
This year, the Rome Consensus 2.0 network set a new record by promoting 6 side events, confirming its ongoing commitment to a public health and human rights-based approach. Each event addressed a key aspect of the global drug crisis: from access to care to alternatives to incarceration. Together, the evets built a coherent and comprehensive vision aligned with the principles of the Rome Consensus 2.0.

Conclusions
At this historical juncture where the world acknowledges the failure of the war on drugs, the CND represents an opportunity to advance a new model based on public health and human rights.
Harm reduction strategies and the content offered by the Rome Consensus manifesto have positively influenced the political and strategic debate both within civil society and governmental circles.
Over the past 10 years, events and discussions focusing on humanitarian policies to address drug dependence issues have multiplied.
The advocacy efforts and constant presence of our delegations at these events, the expansion of the Rome Consensus that now include civil society, academia, and international organizations, have enabled us to achieve progressive positioning, recognition, and credibility within the international community.
Our international events and local interventions through cooperation offer concrete answers to urgent questions that we will continue to address:
• How to ensure equitable access to essential medicines for the most vulnerable?
• How to integrate harm reduction in conservative political and cultural contexts?
• How to respond to the synthetic drug crisis while avoiding punitive approaches?
• How to support low-income countries in implementing alternatives to incarceration and expanding access to care?