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22.10.2015 Togo

West Africa Commission On Drugs To Visit Togo For The First Time

22.10.2015 LISTEN
By Mamadou Diallo

Lomé, 21 October 2015 – President Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde will visit Togo on 22-23 October 2015. Accompanied by Dr. Alpha Diallo from Guinea, the two commissioners will share key findings of the Commission's report Not Just in Transit: Drugs, the State and Society in West Africa with state officials, members of the press and civil society groups.

"The problem of drug trafficking facing West Africa far exceeds the capacity of most countries in the sub-region" President Pires will say. Inviting conjunct efforts against the scourge of drugs, he will specify that "the states' response should include the support of drug users."

"In accordance with the recommendations of our report, we ask Togo and other governments in West Africa to reform laws and policies on drugs and to decriminalize non-violent offenses related to drugs» Dr. Alpha Diallo will emphasize. Indeed, "the current approaches have not provided solutions and therefore our countries must rethink their drug policy."

In July 2014, in an article citing the report of the West African Commission on Drugs, President Faure Gnassingbe wrote "We must strive together to prevent the use of our ports and airports as hubs of transit that threaten the health of our people, the security of our country and the stability of our region."

During their mission, the Commissioners Pires and Diallo will share and explain the report's recommendations and bring its main elements to the attention of the public. A press conference will be held on Thursday, August 22 from 10am to 12pm at l'espace Agora Senghor situé près du collège Saint Joseph dans l'enceinte de la Paroisse universitaire, Lomé.

For further information, please contact:

Mamadou Diallo, Coordination, Communication and Advocacy

West Africa Commission on Drugs

Cell: + 228 90 388 159. Email: [email protected]

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