USJ Macao participated in the “Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs” in Vienna, Austria
USJ Macao participated in the "Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs" in Vienna, Austria
24
Mar
24/03/2025
Prof. Helen Liu, Programme leader of the USJ Prison Outreach Programme, attended the “Sixty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs” and participated in the “Families As Active Actors in Drug-Related Issues: Transforming Support and Advocacy” side Meeting, in Vienna.
Prof. Helen Liu, Programme Leader of the USJ Prison Outreach Programme, attended the “Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs” from 10 to 14 March 2025, in Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. Over 2,000 representatives from more than 100 member states, international organisations and non-governmental organisations participated to discuss the implementation of international drug control and drug-related policies. In addition, this commission held more than 200 side events and exhibitions. Prof. Helen Liu from Faculty of Health Sciences, together with the Macao SAR government representatives and Macao social service agencies, participated in a number of side events for non-governmental organisations.
[Prof. Helen, second from the left, with the Macao Government Delegation in Vienna, Austria]
[Prof. Helen, second from the left, with Macao social service agencies representatives in Vienna, Austria]
In a side event of the Families as Active Actors in Drug-Related Issues: Transforming Support and Advocacy, Prof. Helen was invited to present a topic entitled “How Education Creates a Pathway to Social Reintegration: the Role of Family Engagement to Support the Prison Outreach Program”. The event brought together leading experts, practitioners, and advocates from Norway, Italy, United Kingdom, and the United States who work with families to improve treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.
Taking this opportunity, Prof. Helen Liu displayed the Prison Outreach Programme and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating how education can drive social change. Currently, the Prison Outreach programme offers courses drawn from the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Students in the programs find guidance and encouragement as integral parts of the academic curriculum, so that once they have served their time, the road to reintegration can be smoothed by social and organisational support.
In her talk, she also pointed out several suggestions to consider in order to improve the quality of the programme. She was to expect the society can continue to provide inmates with diverse employment opportunities so as to mitigate their financial difficulties and enable them to complete their study smoothly. Secondly, to improve collaborations between the Macau government and different stakeholders, including non-profit organisations (NPOs). In order for prisoners to successfully re-integrate into society or return to school, they must be able to rely not just on the school’s resources, but also on support from the Macau government and local NGOs to provide the relevant jobs and internship opportunities. Last but not the least, to keep on an evidence-informed approach to practice and the role of research to support better outcomes for the rehabilitation youth and families.
