Africa Policy Week Held in Cape Town
The 2023 Africa Policy Week was a unique event that brought together people from Southern, East, and West Africa who influence and develop policy and people who have a vested interest in promoting people-centered public policy that ensures the safety and well-being of all people.
During Policy Week, delegates from government, civil society, academia, and the affected communities shared and heard how policies impacted people and what is being done to ensure that future policies put people first. Policies should support, not frustrate, evidence-informed services and interventions that improve health and well-being and not further marginalize and oppress people already stigmatized, marginalized, and at increased risk.
Former President, Kgalema Motlanthe, was the keynote speaker at the African Policy Week 2023. The former South African President is a Commissioner on the Global Commission on Drug Policy, and the Chair of the East and Southern African Commission on Drug Policy (ESACD). Established in February 2023, the ESACD reviewed current policies, recommended evidence-based policies, and mobilized public opinion to promote action at all levels. Recently, Commissioner Motlanthe delivered a powerful closing speech at the International Harm Reduction Conference, and we look forward to his speech that will initiate discussions at the African Policy Week.
The event took place between the 14th and 17th of August 2023 at the Upper East Side Double Tree Hotel. The theme for the event was "Putting People First". The theme was built on the statement issued by the United Nations Human Rights Commission calling on all countries to End Stigma and Discrimination and Put People First.
