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Le Patriarche nowadays known as Dianova International is an association created in France in 1974 with the purpose of rehabilitating people who use drugs (PWUD) in a communitarian environment.
| Industry | Rehabilitation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | France |
Key people | Lucien Engelmajer |
History
edit1970s
editThe association was founded on May 2, 1974, by Lucien Engelmajer, in Saint-Paul-sur-Save, near Toulouse, France. The name of the association is a reference to the founder's surname.[1]
The association Le Patriarche developed a different approach to withdrawal, based on a system free from drugs and substitutes. It also implied a redefinition of social ties. The newcomers were under the supervision of their peers, who had experienced the same problem.[2] The association's motto was "help, to be helped". In the eighties, many centers were opened in Europe and the Americas. In the early nineties, it had more than 5,000 residents in 210 centers, located in 17 countries.[3]
1980s
editWhen the AIDS pandemic broke out, the association Le Patriarche was able to provide some care to the HIV-positive, by opening dedicated centres. However, it was unable to evolve and follow the new trends in consumption and treatments, being heavily criticised, mainly for the lack of qualified staff and having a structure based on free workforce.[4]
In 1985, the Swiss section of the association Le Patriarche separated and named a new president; however, the Swiss government seized the centres in its territory and forbid Lucien Engelmajer from entering the country.[5]
1990s
editIn 1995, the association Le Patriarche was signalled by a French governmental report as a sect.[6]
The association's charismatic leader and founder was accused and trialed on charges of embezzlement and violence against residents. In 1998, he was forced to quit by the administration. In the same year, the association was restructured and all references to its past were erased. That same year, pressured by judicial outcomes, le Patriarche rebranded and adopted "the corporate name, Dianova, in order to emphasize its renewal", attempting to separate from its founder.[7]
2000s and 2010s
editOn January 9, 2007, a Toulouse court condemned Lucien Engelmajer, founder of the association «Le Patriarche», for abuse of ignorance or frailty, practice of covert labour, breach of trust, embezzlement, forgery, money laundering, to a sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 375.000 euros.[8]
Under several arrest warrants, Lucien Engelmajer escaped to Belize, where he came to die in 2007[9]
The association continues its activities under the name Dianova International[10] and was even granted special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2007.
Bibliography
edit- Quiet, Peter. In the House of Le Patriarche. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015. (ISBN 978-1511408493)
References
edit- ^ Morales, Antonio (1983-05-16). "'El patriarca': "Nuestro sistema de recuperación de drogadictos, el único coherente y dinámico"" ['The Patriarch': "Our drug addicts rehabilitation system is the most coherent and dynamic"]. El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ^ Millas, Jaime (1981-07-02). "Cáritas suspende la subvención al Centro de Recuperación de Toxicómanos de Beniganim, en Valencia" [Cáritas suspends subvention to the Benigamin Drugs Rehabilitation center, in Valencia]. El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ^ Favereau, Eric (1998-03-27). "Mais où est passé le patriarche? Le fondateur contesté de l'association de lutte contre la toxicomanie a été démis de ses fonctions" [Where is the patriarch? The disapproved founder of the drug rehabilitation association was dismissed from office]. Libération (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ^ Sales, Ferran (1988-11-19). "La Administración insta a la asociación El Patriarca a que legalice sus centros de toxicómanos" [The Administration urges the association Le Patriarche to legalize its rehabilitation centres]. El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ^ Saez, Iñaki; Novo, Carlos (1985-06-24). "El Patriarca tiene problemas con las autoridades de los siete países eúropeos donde regenta centros" [Le Patriarche has problems with authorities from the seven european countries where its centres are located]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
- ^ Le Patriarche est cité par une commission de l'Assemblée Nationale dans le rapport de 1995 sur les sectes
- ^ Dianova International. "Who are we". Dianova website.
- ^ MIVILUDES - Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires, "Rapport au Premier ministre", p.32
- ^ "Morreu fundador da Le Patriarche" [The founder of Le Patriarche has died]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). Lisbon. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ^ Eric Clément, LaPresse.ca - Dianova: un passé lourd à porter pour l'ancienne secte