Drug policies and responses: a right to health framework on harm reduction - High-level side event

When? Thursday, 27 June 10AM to 12noon

Where? CR-4 at the Vienna International Centre

Organised by Austria, Australia, Colombia, South Africa, Switzerland and the Global Commission on Drug Policy

On the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and following the launching of the World Drug Report 2024 by UNODC, which contains a chapter on the right to health, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health will present her report on “Drug policies and responses: a right to health framework on harm reduction” in Vienna to share her findings and recommendations. The discussion will allow to explore the impact of drugs laws and policies, as well as harm reduction and the right to health.

NGOs interested in attending the event, especially those based in Vienna, are are requested to send the name and other details to the Permanent Mission in Colombia in Vienna. The Permanent Mission will facilitate access to the Vienna International Centre (VIC) where needed.

Agenda

Moderator:

• Ambassador Laura Gil, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations in Vienna (Opening and Closing Remarks).

Speakers:

• Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
• Ambassador Gabriela Sellner, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Vienna.
• Ambassador Raphael Nägeli, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Vienna.
• Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at UNODC.
• Mr. Michel Kazatchkine, Professor of medicine, former Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Commissioner from the Global Commission on Drug Policy
• A representative of the International Network of People who Use Drugs (tbc)