“DIOGENIS Drug Policy Dialogue” is a civil non-profit organization, governed by Article 784 of the Greek Civil Code. It was founded in 2010 and since 2015 is based in Athens, Greece. The organization is governed  by a 5-member Board of Directors, which is elected every two years by the General Assembly of its members. Diogenis has specialized knowledge and experience in the field of drugs and psychoactive substances policy at national, european and global level. The staff of the organization consists of the Executive Director, the Advocacy and Communications Officer, and the Office and Financial Management Officer.

Diogenis cooperates with  competent authorities for policy-making in Greece, the European Union and the United Nations. Diogenis has the Special Consultative Status in the field of drugs, to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In addition, Diogenis is member of the Vienna NGO Committee “VNGOC”,  of the European Commission’s Civil Society Forum on Drugs“CSFD”, of the International Consortium on Drug Policy “IDPC” and is a founding member of the South East Europe Drug Policy Network “DPNSEE” as well as founding member and coordinator of the “Platform of Greek NGO’s for Psychoactive Substances”.

Diogenis aims are:

to promote a coherent and effective drug policy and legislation with a focus on public health, scientific evidence and human rights

to promote the co-operation and coordination of civil society organizations at national, European and global level

to develop and establish good relations with experts, scientists and relevant policy makers and practitioners in the field of psychoactive substances

to promote and develop effective policies and good practices; inform, raise awareness, engage the public and stakeholders to address more effectively the negative impacts of drug production, trafficking and use

to promote and implement research exploring, analyzing and better understanding the drug phenomenon in Greece and South East Europe and

to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people who use psychoactive substances

During the period 2010-2019, Diogenis developed a number of initiatives and actions, including:

The organization of  the annual international drug policy dialogues in collaboration with the Transnational Institute/TNI (Amsterdam) (2010-2014), and the inter-Balkan annual drug conference in South East Europe (2010-2014). The Dialogues were attended by policy-makers from different countries, representatives of international organizations, scientists, professionals working in the field and representatives of civil society organizations.

In collaboration with a team of scientists/researchers affiliated with law schools of universities and research institutes in SEE countries, DIOGENIS carried out two research programs:

• Drug policy and Drug legislation in SE Europe and
• Sentencing of drug offenders:  Legislator’s Policy and the Practice of the Courts in Southeast Europe. The findings of these researches were published in two volumes in English. It was an example of collaboration between the scientific community and civil society organizations.

From 2010 to 2015, Diogenis established, supported and coordinated the Informal NGO Drug Policy Network in Southeast Europe. In 2015, this initiative became  an independent legal entity based in Belgrade under the name Drug Policy Network in South East Europe (DPNSEE).

In 2013, the greek NGO Platform for Psychoactive Substances was established. Diogenis is one of the founding members and is responsible for the coordination and the secretarial support of the platform. Through the Platform’s actions, Diogenis contributes, to the design and implementation of initiatives aiming at exercising pressure on policy makers and to organise advocacy campaigns such as the international campaign to promote the rights of people using psychoactive substances “Support.Don’t Punish.”

Throughout the years of operation Diogenis has:

conducted a large number of workshops, open dialogues and press conferences to inform all parties involved in Greece and South East Europe about international and European developments in drug policy

significantly contributed to better understand and investigate the needs in the field of the psychoactive substances through research. Research initiatives focussed on the impact of the financial crisis both on the overall drug policy and more specifically on its treatment and harm reduction services in the region of South East Europe and the impact of the “stigma on users” by health professionals and the consequences for their access to health services and the application of drug law in practice and more. All of the above are recorded in a large number of publications, reports and information documents to better disseminate the information available here

tried to raise the voice of the community of people who use psychoactive substances through advocacy campaigns like the campaign “Persons Who Use Drugs Count”

Diogenis intends to focus his actions in the coming years in Greece in order to develop programs and actions that will address critical analysis and suggestions for improving existing policy. Our goal is to promote a policy aimed at shifting the focus from repression to public health promotion and human rights’ respect. Priority is the active involvement of civil society organizations and the community of people who use psychoactive substances in design, implementation and evaluation of national drug policy. Diogenis will support with his actions the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS 2016) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national, European and international level.