As civic space shrinks and organized crime grows, the Nordic countries are at a crossroads. This conference brought together activists, researchers, policymakers, and people who use drugs to discuss solutions rooted in Nordic values. Watch all presentations filmed by Drugreporter here!

As human rights protections weaken and organized crime gains influence across Europe, Nordic civil society organizations, researchers, policymakers, and people who use drugs gathered in Oslo to discuss a new vision for drug policy based on democracy, dignity, social justice, and freedom of speech. The “Nordic Mobilization on Human Rights and Drug Policy” conference launched a new cross-border Nordic network aimed at strengthening human rights-based approaches to drugs and amplifying the voice of civil society.

The two-day conference featured speakers from across the Nordic region and beyond, including researchers, mayors, youth leaders, harm reduction advocates, and representatives of international drug policy organizations. Discussions focused on human rights, organized crime, legal regulation, and the need for stronger Nordic cooperation in response to shrinking civic space and increasingly punitive drug policies.

Drugreporter filmed all presentations from the conference, which you can now watch below. You can also watch them in a YouTube playlist.

Day 1: Human Rights, Justice & The Challenge of Organized Crime

Arild Knutsen – Welcome Address

Anne Lindboe, Mayor of Oslo – Political Opening

Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam – Video Greeting

Kai Spurkland (NIM) – “How are human rights relevant for drug policy?”

Damon Barrett (University of Gothenburg) – Human Rights & Drug Policy

“Human Rights, The Outer Threat, The Threat from Within & The Rule of Law” Panel discussion Moderator: Damon Barrett
Panelists: Eivind Digranes, Senior Advisor (NIM), Andrea Thuesen, Lawyer (Gadejuristen).

“Youth, Politics & Policing” Panel discussion

Moderator: Arild Knutsen
Panelists: Gaute Børstad Skjervø (AUF), Ali Reza Yakhdani (SSU), Lars Barstad Løvold (FpU), Willy Pedersen (UiO).

Neil Woods (LEAP) – “The Economics of Prohibition.”

Ann Fordham (IDPC) – “Regulation, Civil Society & United Nations Perspectives.”

Neil Woods & Ann Fordham in conversation with Peter Sarosi – Way Forward in Drug Policy

Jenna-Rose Astwood – A Broader Perspective: The hidden climate cost of prohibition

Frank Conde Tangberg (Amnesty Norway) – Human Rights and perspectives from South America

Jenna-Rose Astwood & Frank Conde Tangberg in conversation with Arild Knutsen

Johan Wicklen – Summary of the day & Swedish context of Drug Policy

“How do we continue the debate and promote a Nordic Model?” Panel Discussion

Panelists: Svala Jóhannesdóttir, Arild Knutsen, John Melhus.

Day 2: The Voice of Civil Society & The Way Forward

Anton Basenko Executive Director INPUD – Civil Society & Drug User Organizing in a Global Context

Péter Sárosi (Rights Reporter Foundation) – Autocracy and the War on Drugs in Hungary

Arild Knutsen and John Melhus (FHR) – What is a User Organisation in a Nordic Context?

Leo Jefferys (EuroNPUD) – From the Pavements to the Parliaments

Tuukka Tammi and Veera Kankainen – User Organisations in the Nordics

Network Launch: “Who We Are” 5-minute introductions from all 8 Nordic network organizations.

Introducing Gadejuristen (Denmark)

Introducing Users Academy (Denmark)

Introducing Brugerforeningen (Denmark)

Introducing Finnish Association for Humane Drug Policy

Introducing Matthildur Skadaminnkun (Iceland)

Introducing Linköping Brukarförening (Sweden)

Introducing ProLAR Nett (Norway)

Organizers:
The Association for Humane Drug Policy, Norway, (FHR) and 7 partner organizations from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.

Supported by:
Nordic Council of Ministers (DEMOS program)

Filmed by: István Gábor Takács and Aleksi Huli, Mikko Laajola, Mikko Neuvo and Kalle Polkutie from the Finnish Association for Humane Drug Policy