text: A seminar hosted by the Department for Anti-Drug Policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy and organized in collaboration with Pompidou Group will take place in Rome on 10-11 December 2015.
  Under its mandate of introducing gender dimension in drug policy, Pompidou Group published in 2014 a research on the gender dimension of the non-medical use of prescription drugs which called for a better understanding of the link between drug use among women and violence. As a result, a review of literature on violence (experienced or perpetrated) and use of psychoactive substance by women was conducted. To dig deeper in the phenomenon, a consultation of professionals via focus groups was conducted in 2015 in four countries: France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
  The outcome of this consultation will be presented at the seminar in Rome and complemented by the experience of professionals in addiction treatment as well as from the field of harm and risk reduction along with interventions from policy makers.
  Participants from 22 countries will discuss how exposure of women to violence is taken into account in risk reduction and addiction treatment systems. The seminar will also promote understanding on the difficulties and needs of staff.
  Final aim of the meeting is to prepare recommendations to address more effectively violence involving women addicted to psychoactive substances through examples of services that work or practical guidelines for professionals.
  The participants of the Seminar are from the Eötvos Lorand University, Budapest; MILDECA Interministerial Mission for Combating Drugs and Addictive Behaviours; Israel Anti-Drug Authority; GAT, Portugal; Office for Combating Drugs Abuse, Croatia; General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, Egypt; Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, Spain; Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy; Council of Europe; Pompidou Group Executive Secretary; Terre des Hommes; University of Malta; University of Florence; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Cermes3-French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, France; Parsec, Italy; Fundación Salud y Comunidad, Spain; Fédération Addiction, France; King’s College London; Athens University and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).