Aivl's top 10 principles of meaningful engagement in drug policy

10 Principles of Meaningful Engagement in Drug Policy 1. The importance of engaging with a broad range of communities affected by drug policies – not just a narrow elite including a recognition of the diversity of people who use illicit drugs, and acknowledge and respond to changing drug use patterns within the Australian community as appropriate.

2. The need to acknowledge the expertise of DUOs and PWUD - this expertise should be given equal respect, recognition and priority within the policy process as other forms of expertise or experience.

3. That DUOs and PWUD must be properly supported to participate in a meaningful way in drug policy – this includes proper resourcing and funding, training, support and mentoring for drug user representatives engaged in the process, sufficient timelines to support meaningful engagement and guidelines on patterns of engagement.

4. The need for open communication among all stakeholders including genuine willingness to compromise and transparency in the policy process.

5. The need for a commitment to genuine engagement rather than tokenistic representation of DUOs and PWUD in drug policy.

6. To recognise that DUOs are under-resourced for the policy and advocacy roles there are expected to undertake and therefore need to be provided with adequate time to respond properly to new and revised policies that affect the lives of those they represent.

7. To understand and accept that DUOs often have to represent complex issues and have a responsibility to act as powerful advocates on behalf of their constituents without being characterised as ‘difficult’, unwilling to compromise or unrealistic about political imperatives - unwillingness to accept the above should never be used as a reason to exclude DUOs from policy processes.

8. That DUO representatives should commit to acting in a respectful, open and professional manner when representing their community in policy forums. It also needs to be recognised however, that drug user representatives often expose themselves to personal risk by publicly identifying as a drug user seeking to engage in policy activity. In this context, being a ‘drug user representative’ is an extremely challenging role and there should be recognition given to the significant work involved for DUOs to develop and provide ongoing support to effective and responsible drug user representatives.

9. That processes of meaningful engagement between DUOs and policy agencies should commence from the beginning of the policy process rather than part way through it.

10. That human rights should underpin all drug policy and the meaningful engagement of PWUD in the drug policy process.

_____________________________________________________ AIVL – Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League Telephone: (02) 6279 1600 • Fax: (02) 6279 161 • www.aivl.org.au