From punishment to care: Let communities lead — Statement at the UNAIDS PCB 58th meeting's thematic segment on harm reduction

Thank you, Chair.

I’m Juan Fernández Ochoa, from the International Drug Policy Consortium, where I coordinate Support. Don’t Punish — a campaign that each 26 of June brings together communities and allies in hundreds of cities in over 75 countries to advance drug policies built on rights and care.

As this is our first time speaking at this PCB, please allow me to express IDPC's sadness and condolences to the family and colleagues of Ambassador Gallón, from Colombia.

And, as a Venezuelan, I wanted to urge Member States to back humanitarian assistance as my country reels from a tragedy that threatens an already-struggling HIV response.

During the session, it has been affirming to hear colleagues speak to the transformative power of harm reduction and decriminalisation — and indeed we’re grateful to the NGO Delegation and civil society allies in the room for your support.

We increasingly hear this across the UN system, and need to hear it more in Vienna too.

On World Drugs Day, 19 UN human rights mandates called on States, the UN system and civil society to ‘break the cycle, from punishment to care and support for all’.

History makes the case for this clearly: It was most affected communities who laid the foundations for the response — often at great cost in the face of hostility and criminalisation.

We cannot continue to punish the communities that lead the way.

And I see that leadership in my campaign partners:

In South Africa, where people who use drugs and allies launched Vusubuntu — Africa’s first coalition for the decriminalisation of drug use.

In Ukraine, peer campaigners defend harm reduction funding from cuts amid crises.

In Mexico, where peer educators train clinic staff to ensure people living with HIV who use drugs are met with care, not stigma.

In these and many more places, communities carry on that legacy of leadership and mutual support that makes it possible to end the epidemic.

But punitive drug laws torpedo these efforts.

They do not end drug use; they make it more dangerous, in ways that too often end lives.

People who use drugs are our neighbours, our friends, our colleagues.

To protect life, everyone’s life, I urge you: support, don’t punish.