The “developments” to which Yans refers involved the elimination of certain criminal penalties by ballot initiative, which he says the U.S. government should not allow.
INCB reiterates its position highlighted in its Annual Report for 2003 which stated that “Capital punishment is neither encouraged nor prohibited by the international drug control conventions”.
The INCB annual report focuses on increased prevention and treatment to combat drug use worldwide and highlights the emergence of new synthetic derivatives.
Six new INCB members will be elected on 23-25 April 2014. The list and bios of the candidates is now available below (including candidates nominated by governments, and those nominated by the World Health Organization).
At the launch of the INCB annual report, President Raymond Yans finally acknowledged the relevance of international human rights principles to the implementation of the UN drug control treaties.
INCB takes a new step towards the protection of human rights by encouraging member states to consider the abolition of death penalty for drug-related offences.
Drug policy reform experts have called on the INCB and related UN institutions to urgently open up a constructive dialogue on international drug policy reform.
In a political climate in which the international drug control system and the ‘war on drugs’ are being increasingly questioned, the INCB once again seeks to defend the status quo, instead of welcoming modernisation and supporting governments to find ways to deal with new challenges and realities.
The INCB Annual Report for 2013 is to be launched today in Vienna. For more information, please visit the INCB website and read the IDPC Media Statement drafted ahead of the launch.