RiodeJaneiroDeclaration

ByinvitationoftheCoordinationofthePacificationPoliceUnitoftheMilitaryPoliceofRiodeJaneirostate,
and in partnership with Viva Rio, we have come together in Rio de Janeiro and present the following
conclusions.Wearepublicsecurityandlawenforcementprofessionalsfromseventeencountries(Germany,
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, the USA, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Mexico,
Nicaragua,Peru,Portugal,theUnitedKingdom,SwitzerlandandUruguay),includingseveralauthoritieswho
havedevelopedinnovativedrugpoliciesincountriessuchasPortugalandUruguay.

We have gathered here to rethink the repressive law enforcement policies against the trade and use of
illegaldrugs,whichwehavespentagreatpartofourlivesenforcing.Weareconcernedabouttheveryfew
resultsthathavebeenachievedinsomanyyearsofbattle,asweseemtobestuckinaviciouscycle.Weare
even more concerned about a number of negative consequences for which we have paid a high price in
resourcesandlives.Wereaffirmthecontinuedneedfortoughenforcementagainstorganizedcrime,money
launderingandcorruption,butwearenolongersatisfiedwiththeWaronDrugsdoctrine.Wearelooking
forother,moreeffectiveandmoreconstructiveapproaches.

Individual choices that lead to drug use are the result of complex psychological and social factors, which
affect people from childhood onwards and in particular during adolescence. Family, religious faith, school
andthecommunityallplayaroleinthis,butinmanycountriescurrentdrugpoliciesdumptheentireissue
onthepoliceandthepenalsystem.Weresentthissituationthatexposesustogreatrisks,endangeringour
ownlivesaswellthoseofothers,ourmoraleandtheimageofourinstitutions.Itisnotfairanditdoesnt
address the root cause of the problem. A civic police force in a democratic society should pursue more
intelligentandconsistentgoals,includinginitscombat.

The experience of the Pacifying Police Units (UPP) in Rio de Janeiro deserves the attention of the
internationalcommunity.Itdoesntrenouncelawenforcementagainstorganizedcrime.Onthecontrary,it
hasstepped upitslawenforcement,reclaimedterritories,andreducedarmedviolence. Thepolice useof
forceandthecommunitypoliceeffectivelyworktogether.However,noteverythingistheresponsibilityof
thepolice.Socialandeconomicinvestmentsinurbanizationprojectsinthefavelasandtheintegrationofthe
city have increased. Opportunities have been created to work together with community health services,
offeringaharmreductionstrategyforalcoholandotherdrugaddictions.

WeknowthattheRiodeJaneiroexperiencestillfacesseriouschallenges,andsomeaspectsofitconcerns
us, such as its sustainability in the long term but it motivates us to consider other examples, like the
decriminalizationofdrugsinPortugal,intheNetherlandsandinUruguay,thesaleofmedicinalmarihuanain
seventeen US states, harm reduction policies and therapeutic models in Switzerland, Germany, United
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, as well as multidisciplinary reintegration programs for atrisk youth and for
youthinconflictwiththelawinNicaraguaandPeru,preventionprograms,likeDAREandPROERD,thathave
been important in the experience of some countries of Latin America and educational practices, such as
thoseoftheYouthIntegrationCenterinMexico.Allparticipantsinthismeetinghavegoodpracticestoshare
thatarebasedonthesimplepremisethatpunishmentalonedoesntwork.Theseexamplesdeservetobe
shared with others, while allowing for adjustments to the reality of each country. Overall, these practices
demonstratethataspoliceofficersweneedtobebetterpreparedtoaddressdruguse.

Despite the many challenges, we share a realistic optimism that it is possible to overcome the harm and
damagecreatedbythesocalled"WaronDrugs.Insteadoffightingtoothandnailforthefantasyofadrug

freeworld,wewanttoachievemoreobjectivegoalstoreducetheharmfulconsequencesofdruguse,both
forindividualsandsocietyasawhole.

We call upon our colleagues in law enforcement and public security to courageously commit to this issue
andfosteracloserrelationshipwithothergovernmentsectorsandsocietywhoalsoneedtobeinvolved.

IntheInternationalDayofPeace,September21,2011,subscribethisdeclaration:

AlejandroSilva,Nicaragua.DelegationofTerresdesHommesinNicaragua.
DanielLlaury,Peru.ChiefoftheElAugustinoprecinctandcoordinatoroftheSpecializedModule
focusedonYouthinPolicePrecincts.
ErlindaCastillo,Nicaragua.ChiefoftheYouthServicesDivisionatthePoliceofNicaragua.
FlvioAlves,Portugal.SupervisoratPortuguesePoliceofPublicSecurityanddirectorofthe
DepartmentofCriminalInvestigation.
HansvanDuijn,Netherlands.FormerpresidentoftheDutchPoliceUnionandcurrentmember
andspeakerofLawEnforcementAgainstProhibition(LEAP).
HugoArmandoRamrezMeja,ElSalvador.VicedirectorofPublicSecurityfortheElSalvador
Police.
JackCole,USA.FormerexecutivedirectoroftheorganizationLawEnforcementAgainst
Prohibition(LEAP),workedasundercoverpoliceofficerindrugcrimesinvestigations.
JooGoulo,Portugal.PresidentofthePortugueseInstituteonDrugsandDrugAddiction(IDT).
JoaquimPereira,Portugal.DirectoroftheNationalUnittoFightDrugTrafficking(UNCTE)in
Portugal.
JorgedaSilva,Brazil.FormerChiefofStaffofRiodeJaneiroStateMilitaryPoliceandcurrent
professorintheStateUniversity.
JuanSonoquiMartinez,Mexico.ClassAofficeroftheD.A.R.E.(DrugAbuseResistance
Education)projectfortheMunicipalPreventivePoliceinCajeme,Sonora,inMexico.
LucieneMagalhes,Brazil.PresidentofthedoBrazilianForumonPublicSecurityandcolonelof
MinasGeraisStateMilitaryPolice.
LuisMauricioLermandaLpez,Chile.ChiefofPersonalandLogisticsfortheDrugsDepartment,
attheCarabineersofChile.
MelissaJardine,Australia.ResearcheronharmreductionintheNossalInstituteandmemberof
anetworkoflawenforcementagentswhosupportharmreductionstrategies(LEAHRN).

MiltonRomani,Uruguay.TravelingAmbassadoronDrugsandHumanRights.
NairoLopezRiao,Colombia.ChiefoftheJudiciaryPoliceattheAtlanticoprovince,Colombia
NationalPolice.
NeillFranklin,USA.ExecutiveDirectorofLawEnforcementAgainstProhibition(LEAP)andretired
policeofficerfromtheMarylandStatePolice.
NicoleTurner,Australia.Policeofficerfortwentyyears,researcherattheNossalInstituteas
CoordinatoroftheLawEnforcementandHarmReductionNetwork(LEAHRN).
OrlandoZacconeBrazil.Chiefpoliceofficerofthe18thPrecinctatPraadaBandeirainRiode
Janeiro,formerdirectorofPrisonersControloftheInterstatePolice(POLINTER).
PlautoRobertodeLimaFerreira,Brazil.MajorofCearStateMilitaryPoliceandcoordinatorofa
drugrehabilitationprojectforlawenforcementprofessionals.
ReinaldoCorrea,Brazil.PoliceofficeroftheDivisionforPreventionandEducation(DIPE)ofthe
DrugsInvestigationsDepartmentoftheCivilPolice(DENARC)inSoPaulo.
RobsonRodrigues,Brazil.AdministrativeChiefofStaffofRiodeJaneiroStateMilitaryPoliceand
formercoordinatorofthePacifierPoliceUnits(UPP).
RogerFlury,Switzerland.DruganalystfortheFederalCriminalPoliceofSwitzerland.
RubemCesarFernandes,Brazil.ExecutivedirectorofVivaRio.
RubensFabianRebuffo,Argentina.HeadoftheDivisionforInformationServicesoftheNeuqun
Police,Argentina.
SoniaDallIgna,Brazil.DirectoroftheDivisionforPreventionandEducation(DIPE)oftheDrugs
InvestigationsDepartmentoftheCivilPolice(DENARC)inRioGrandedoSul.
ThomasZosel,Germany.ChiefDetectiveandInvestigationTeamLeaderofthePolice
DepartmentinFrankfurtamMain,inGermany,attheDrugCrimesDivision.
TomLloyd,England.FormerChiefConstableofCambridgeshire,England,andcurrent
coordinatoroftheLawEnforcementprojectoftheInternationalDrugPolicyConsortium(IDPC).
WagnerRicardoCoutinhoRego,Brazil.MajorofAlagoasStateMilitaryPoliceandcreatorofa
specializedmoduleondrugprevention,HumanRightsandcitizenshipinmunicipalschools.
WilsonPetroniloLopezMaldonado,Guatemala.PoliceofficerattheDivisionfortheAnalysisof
AntinarcoticsInformation(DAIA)oftheNationalCivilPoliceofGuatemala.
YonyRobertMezquitaMachado,Uruguay.PoliceofficerattheDepartmentofPublicOrderof
theInvestigationsDivisionfromMontevideoPolice,inUruguay.