FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Message from the Vienna Declaration Team

For almost a year now we have been inviting individuals and organizations from around the world to join the call for evidence-based illicit drug policy by endorsing the Vienna Declaration. To date, over 20,000 individuals and more than 400 groups have endorsed the Declaration. We would like to thank the Lookout Emergency Aid Society for your endorsements.

Building towards AIDS 2012 in Washington, D.C.
The international AIDS conference in 2012 (AIDS 2012) will be held in Washington, D.C., the birthplace of the 'War on Drugs'. AIDS 2012 is an opportunity to send a strong message to both national governments and the international community that drug policy must be based on science and evidence, not ideology.

In the lead up to the conference, we will be increasing efforts to use the Vienna Declaration to reach out to and educate a range of individuals and organizations about the need for drug policy reform. We are asking our organizational supporters to be part of this effort.

Partner with us to help make an impact
Please contact us if you are willing to help with this effort by:

  1. emailing your organization's members and your networks informing them about the Declaration and your endorsement, and encouraging them to also support it;
  2. convening a public discussion or event related to illicit drug policy that profiles the Declaration;
  3. engaging with your local media to pursue opportunities for op-eds or other pieces;
  4. informing your local elected representatives about the Declaration and asking for their formal endorsement; and
  5. emailing us to share your efforts in promoting evidence-based illicit drug policy so that we can share your contributions with others.

These are only a few of the ways that organizations can help with this outreach. We recently produced a 'tool kit' of information that provides some additional ideas, examples, and resources for using the Declaration to educate others about evidence-based drug policy. Click here for more information. If you have additional ideas about how your organization could support this effort, please email us.

Thank you for your endorsement and your continued support. We look forward to working with you over the next year as we build momentum towards AIDS 2012.

All the best,

The Vienna Declaration Team
www.viennadeclaration.com