The actions varied in size and design: from small gatherings of supporters in countries as diverse as Guinea and Kazakhstan, to larger protests in France and the USA, and a range of music events, dance displays, flash mobs and sport tournaments.
On 23rd June, as part of the Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action, activists, academics, policy makers and people who use drugs gathered at the UK Houses of Parliament to discuss the impact of drug control on human rights, with a specific focus on the death penalty.
On 26 June, 2015 the Global Day of Action we call on UN agencies, governments and community leaders to take action in addressing the harmful consequences of the war on drugs on women’s lives.
You can sign up from your Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr accounts, and Thunderclap will send out the following message on your behalf on the 26th June – at the same time as hundreds of others around the world.
Although some positive statements were made on health, human rights and development, the thematic debate was disappointing in terms of opportunities for NGO participation.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered an extremely clear explanation of why traditional repressive drug control strategies need to be reformed – his words should particularly be heeded by those broadly progressive countries who accept the need for reform, but are yet to be persuaded of the urgency or need to give the UNGASS much political or diplomatic attention.
It is encouraging to hear that harm reduction measures should be included within a ‘well-balanced’ drug control system, even if the Board still cannot bring itself to articulate the ‘two word phrase’.
Mr Sipp has occupied several high level posts in the German Federal Health Ministry, as well as working with the European Union. He was co-ordinator of the German delegation to the CND between 2001 and 2009. He has a positive record with respect to harm reduction.
At the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control, IDPC reiterated the need for Africa to be very active in the global debate, and to have a common voice at the UNGASS and beyond.
Professor Mattick has conducted randomised control trials and published extensively on research into OST and the treatment of drug dependence. His is a psychologist by training.