Health Poverty Action urges the UK government to address the root causes of the illicit drugs trade, rather than compounding related problems through punishment.

375 civil society groups, including prominent human rights NGOs, from across the globe have called on UN drug control authorities to urge an immediate stop to the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders in the Philippines.

Whilst disappointing overall, the final outcome document adopted by all member states at the meeting contains some promising points on development.

Health Poverty Action is calling for a new approach to drug policy, which puts people’s health and rights first.

Civil society groups from all over the world have released a statement condemning governments for failing to acknowledge the devastating consequences of punitive and repressive drug policies as they prepare for a UN summit on the issue next month.

Natasha Horsfield, from Health Poverty Action, exposes the multiple negative effects of the war on drugs on development.

This paper by Health Poverty Action and IDPC sets out the ways in which current drug control efforts are already impacting upon the development sector’s efforts to achieve sustainable development.

The ‘War on Drugs’, has not only failed to achieve its goals – it is fuelling poverty, undermining health, but has also failed some of the poorest and most marginalised communities worldwide.