UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for focus on human rights and harm reduction in international drug policy

In a statement on the eve of the adoption of the new political declaration, the High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, called for a greater focus on human rights and harm reduction in drug policy. She reaffirmed the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of health and expressed concern that ‘drug users suffer discrimination, are forced to accept treatment, marginalized and often harmed by approaches which over-emphasize criminalization and punishment while under-emphasizing harm reduction and respect for human rights. This despite the longstanding evidence that a harm reduction approach is the most effective way of protecting rights, limiting personal suffering, and reducing the incidence of HIV.’