Outcome of the panel discussion on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights - Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Outcome of the panel discussion on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights - Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

3 March 2016
United Nations
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 28/28, decided to convene a panel discussion at its thirtieth session on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights, informed by the findings contained in the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the study on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights (A/HRC/30/65), and to have a constructive and inclusive dialogue on the issue with relevant stakeholders, including specialized United Nations agencies and civil society, and with the participation of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The Council held the panel discussion on 28 September 2015, at its thirtieth session.

In its resolution 28/28, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report on the panel discussion in the form of a summary. The present report was prepared pursuant to that request.

The Deputy High Commissioner opened the panel discussion, which was moderated by the former President of Switzerland, Ruth Dreifuss. The panellists were Javier Andres Florez, Director of Drug Policy at the Ministry of Justice of Colombia; Ann Fordham, Executive Director of the International Drug Policy Consortium; Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, Deputy Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Professor at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and Commissioner on the West Africa Commission on Drugs; Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse of the World Health Organization; and Aldo Lale-Demoz, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In addition, Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to the United Nations Office at Vienna and Chair of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, participated in the panel discussion.

The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 28/28, and provides a summary of the panel discussion on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights, held on 28 September 2015, during the thirtieth session of the Council.

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