In this statement, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov condemns the use of the death penalty for drug offences, in particular in light of the recent executions in Indonesia.

Recent mass executions by Indonesia have thrown the international spotlight on the death penalty for drug offences, and ignited debates between abolitionist and retentionist States on the legality and efficacy of this sanction.

Most drug offences for which the death penalty is applied in national courts cannot be ‘most serious crimes’ under international human rights law as they are not even ‘particularly serious’ crime under international drug control law.

This IDPC report provides an overview and analysis of the key debates and discussions that took place during this year's CND, in particular in light of the approaching UNGASS.

This congress conveyed the importance of joint advocacy efforts to address the drug problem by prioritising a health-based approach and reiterating the importance of efforts to abolish the death penalty at the UNGASS in 2016.

A group of academics from Indonesia’s top universities have rallied to stand with civil society experts and call for an evidence-informed response to drugs in Indonesia.

The executions can be linked to funding for counter-narcotics programmes provided via the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and funded by European states including France and Germany.

In the lead up to the negotiations of the UNGASS outcome document, IDPC has drafted this advocacy note with recommendations on the structure and contents of the “zero draft”.

Penal Reform International aims to correct misapprehensions and to give readers an understanding of Islamic law and jurisprudence relating to the death penalty.

Amnesty International reported that 694 people have been put to death in Iran in the last six months, nearly matching the toll for the whole of 2014.

Campaigners have taken the UK Foreign Office to court over concerns that British money could be supporting the use of the death penalty in Pakistan.

Richard Branson and former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald called for an inquiry into Home Office’s support for anti-narcotics operations which they say have helped to fund executions in countries such as Pakistan and Iran.

Evidence shows that the repressive way of dealing with the drug problem in ASEAN countries has done little to reduce the supply and demand of illicit drugs or to deter traffickers and users.

Ann Fordham, IDPC Executive Director, was one of the panellists at the Human Rights Council panel on human rights and drug policy, and focused her intervention on the impacts of drug control on civil and political rights, in particular the issue of the death penalty.

This Q&A was prepared by Harm Reduction International, the International Drug Policy Consortium and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty ahead of World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October 2015.

IDPC highlights three critical points of consideration and recommends a series of steps Australia should take in advocating for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

In this fourth edition of its 'Global Overview' series, Harm Reduction International offers an update on the death penalty for drugs in law and practice worldwide, and considers critical developments on the issue.

MEPs vote decisively in favour of the abolition of the death penalty for drug-related offences being made a prerequisite for EU financial and technical assistance to third countries.

Speaking ahead of the 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty, observed on 10 October, UN experts agreed that "Executions for drug crimes amount to a violation of international law and are unlawful killing".

The drug trade is surprisingly resilient to the threat of capital punishment. Yet thousands of people languish on death row for drug-related crimes across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.