Tuesday 17 January 2023, 7-9 pm, online
Please join us for the DPWG’s AGM.
7-8 pm: Presentation and discussion from Anyone’s Child* “Effective lobbying for policy change” (all welcome)ps://anyoneschild.org
8-9 pm: Business meeting, including electing new co-coordinators and key roles** (members of the Green Party of England and Wales only)
*Anyone’s Child: Families for Safer Drug Control is an international network of families whose lives have been wrecked by current drug laws and are now campaigning to change them. We will be joined by members of Anyone’s Child who will discuss some of their successful campaigns to end the war on drugs.
** The DPWG is looking for enthusiastic and committed members of the GPEW to take on key roles within the working group, including that of co-coordinator. For more details on these and how to put yourself forward, see below.
Call for nominations for DPWG Co-coordinator and other key roles
Following the Green Party of England and Wales passing a revised and improved Drug Policy in 2019, the Drug Policy Working Group (DPWG) has been working with members and partners to implement the short-term policy and advocate for radical reform of current drug laws.
We are currently looking to elect/confirm 2 co-coordinators to work alongside the rest of the DPWG. We are also looking for people to fill the following key roles: secretary; meeting chair; communications coordinator
The DPWG is an enthusiastic and focused group of Green Party members (including Green Councillors) from across England and Wales. We’re passionate about the importance of drug policy reform to reduce unnecessary drug death and harm, tackle social injustices and promote a public health approach to drugs which recognises their medical, social and cultural importance.
The DPWG has had successes in supporting elections in Bristol and London, supporting councillors in tackling local issues and running national online debates and events. The Group is now focusing on its communications strategy, outreach (engagement with local parties, working with relevant groups) and implementing key aspects of the short-term policy.
Role descriptions
Co-coordinator:
Be one the main contacts within and outside of the Green Party for all issues relating to the working group
Steer the work of the Policy Group
Support members of the working group to take forward priority pieces of work
Ensure that the working group is engaged with and visible across the Green Party including through conference, Policy Fest, spokespeople, other groups and other events
Work with the Chair to ensure the smooth running of productive meetings
Secretary: Support co-coordinators in running of DPWG
Meeting chair: Organise and chair regular DPWG meetings and Annual General Meeting
Communications coordinator: coordinate DPWG communications internally with GPEW and externally via social media
Process
Please complete a nomination form and a declaration form (link below), and any statement you wish to make, no later than Tuesday 10 January 2023
Roles will be chosen at the Drug Policy Working Group Annual General Meeting on 17 January 2023 (7 pm, online; zoom link to follow). There will be a brief hustings (time for candidates to present themselves and answer questions) followed by a vote. All members of the Green Party of England and Wales are welcome to attend and vote.
If you have any questions about the roles, please email Carrie Hamilton: nomadneska@yahoo.co.uk
The DPWG recognises the disproportionate impact of current drug policy on communities of colour, economically marginalised communities, LGBTIQA+ communities and disabled people. We are committed to representing a broad range of affected communities and especially encourage people from these and other underrepresented groups to put themselves forward.
In order to stand please:
Complete a nomination form (link below) and on that form get two other Green Party members to propose and second your nomination (or ask them to email the Returning Officer as set out on the form).
Write any statement you wish to make for publication to members (max 250 words).
Send these documents to Carrie by Tuesday 10 January 2023 via email to nomadneska@yahoo.co.uk
Attend the AGM on 17 January 2023 if possible (where not possible, please submit a statement to be read at the meeting on your behalf)
Nomination form is available here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ibFduPczhYzx0u6wftKhiXHDHRlI17b46TMk-lB_ONc/edit
The Drug Policy is one of the Green Party’s key social justice policies. We iinvite all members of the GPEW to come along to our AGM to hear about all the great work of the working group is doing and how you can get involved.
Green Party Drug Policy
Green Party Drug Policy (Accessible Version)
You can view more information about the Drug Policy Working group at the link below.
Philippa Fleming Activist 
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