Une lettre ouverte au président Obama
Neuf anciens chefs d’Etat écrivent une lettre ouverte au président Obama, lui demandant d’utiliser les dernier jours de sa présidence pour commuer davantage de peines de prison de personnes ayant commis des infractions peu graves liées aux drogues.
Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.
Abonnez-vous à l'Alerte mensuelle de l'IDPC pour recevoir des informations relatives à la politique des drogues.
Mr. President,
We wish to thank you for the great commitment you have shown to revisit the punitive approach to drug policy, particularly with regards to the pardon of low-level drug offenders.
These individuals have committed no violent act, yet they have been judged as criminals under strict drug sentencing laws and handed lengthy prison terms. What purpose does this serve except to create huge obstacles for them to ever lead productive lives?
Even people who use drugs or possess them for personal consumption risk tough sentences, when they should be protected by the principle of individual rights. The State should interfere in a private decision only if it puts society, public safety and public health at risk.
Those whose consumption has caused physical or mental distress require support and access to health services. In no event should their consumption be criminalized.
As our Global Commission on Drug Policy colleague Kofi Annan has said:
Drugs have destroyed many lives, but wrong government policies have destroyed many more. A criminal record for a young person for a minor drug offence can be a far greater threat to their wellbeing than occasional drug use.
We therefore hail the fact that you have commuted the sentences of more than 1,000 inmates during your presidency. However, there are still thousands more incarcerated in federal correctional facilities, serving long sentences for drug offenses that were non-violent in nature. We hope, therefore, that in these final days of your presidency, you will use the power of your office to commute even more prison sentences of low-level drug offenders, and restore dignity and hope to their lives. May your example inspire not only your successor, but also governors across the country.
We further acknowledge your respect for the laws passed by referendum in many states regarding the regulation of marijuana, and hope that the will of the people to reform drug policies will continue to be heard.
Respectfully,
Fernando Henrique Cardoso,
Former President of Brazil
Ruth Dreifuss
Former President of Switzerland
César Gaviria
Former President of Colombia
Alexander Kwasniewski
Former President of Poland
Ricardo Lagos
Former President of Chile
Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President of Nigeria
George Papandreou
Former Prime Minister of Greece
Jorge Sampaio
Former President of Portugal
Ernesto Zedillo
Former President of Mexico
Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.
Thumbnail: Flickr CC Justin Sloan