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AGREEMENT BETWEEN OAS AND BRAZIL TO STRENGTHEN
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN RESEARCH ON DRUGS

The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of the American States (CICAD/OAS) today formalized an agreement with the Brazilian government that will provide support to member states interested in incorporating drug-abuse subjects into university curriculums. The agreement will also lead to the implementation of programs in on-line research techniques for professionals in health care and related fields, as well as a pilot study on drugs, women and violence which will include the participation of 23 universities in 11 countries of the hemisphere.

The cooperation agreement was signed this morning at OAS headquarters by CICAD Executive Secretary James Mack, and Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS. Among others present at the ceremony were Brazil’s Anti-Drug National Secretary, Paulo Roberto Yog de Miranda Uchôa, who was recently elected Vice-president of CICAD; and a delegation representing the Latin American Parliament, coordinated by Representative Laura Carneiro and composed of Representatives Alberto Fraga and Colbert Martins.

The inclusion of the subject of drug abuse in university study programs, which has the support of Brazil’s Department of Education, will initially benefit universities from the north, northeastern, and central eastern Brazilian regions, and later be expanded to other countries of the Americas. The agreement will also strengthen CICAD’s On-Line Regional Specialization Research Program, geared toward professionals in health care and related fields, and will facilitate the implementation of the research project “Drugs, Woman and Violence in the Americas,” which includes the participation of four universities in the United States and 19 in Latin America, with support from Brazil’s National Secretariat for Public Security and CICAD.

In his speech, Ambassador Osmar Chohfi said the Brazilian government will be responsible for most of the costs of these projects, which will be complemented by CICAD. “We want to contribute in an effective manner so that we can share with our hemispheric neighbors the progress we achieve at a national level in the fight against drugs, while at the same time strengthening our regional organization,” he said.

In a December 6 speech at the opening of the CICAD session, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza emphasized that this agreement “consolidates the role of Brazil as a hub for scientific research in the area of drugs.” He also noted a mutual collaboration agreement signed last month with the government of Chile, through its National Council for the Control of Narcotics. The CICAD meeting ended late this afternoon after three days of studying, among other issues, new models of alliances on drug education, evaluation of prevention programs, and the progress made on the Inter-American Observatory on Drugs.

Reference: E-285/05