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OAS Organizes International Seminar on "Legislative Activity and the New Alternatives to Combat Drugs"

The Organization of the American States (OAS), has organized for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21, the International Seminar on "Legislative Activity and the New Alternatives to Combat Drugs", in San José, Costa Rica.

The event, held in conjunction with the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, the Forum of Presidents of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) and the Parliamentary Forum ParlAmericas will address issues related to criminality, democracy and the legislative agenda; the strengthening of political parties and parliaments in policies and agendas for citizen security; and collaborative dialogue between public authorities to build policies and legislation that allow for the effective combating of the problems of insecurity and in particular the problem of drugs.

The seminar will be opened by the President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, Deputy Luis Fernando Mendoza, and will include the participation of the Secretaries of Political Affairs and Multidimensional Security of the OAS, Kevin Casas-Zamora, and Adam Blackwell, respectively; and the Director of the Central America Public Security Program of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Eduardo Nuñez.

During the first session, Secretary Casas-Zamora will present a conference on "Crime, Democracy and Legislative Agenda," followed a presentation of the OAS Report on the Drug Problem in the Americas by Secretary Blackwell. Following that presentation, a high-level panel will address the issue of the "Drugs and collaborative dialogue between public authorities," which will feature the participation of the Minister of the Interior, Police and Public Security of Costa Rica, Mario Zamora Cordero; the President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, Deputy Siegfried Reyes; the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee for Citizen Security and Administration of Justice of FOPREL and Chair of the Board of Security and Justice in the Congress of Guatemala, Deputy Oliverio García Rodas; the President of the Commission on Security and Narcotics of Costa Rica, Deputy Carlos Góngora; Colombian Congressional Representative and member of the Board of Directors of ParlAmericas, Germán Blanco Alvarez; and the President of the Security Commission of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica, Jorge Calderon.

The event's agenda is available here.

WHAT: International Seminar on "Legislative Activity and the New Alternatives to Combat Drugs"

WHEN: Wednesday, August 21, 09:00 local time (15:00 GMT)

WHERE: Double Tree Hotel by Hilton Cariari Salons 1 and 2, San Jose, Costa Rica

Reference: AVI-213/13