Human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem - Report of the OHCHR

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Human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem - Report of the OHCHR

12 September 2023
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The present report outlines human rights challenges in addressing and countering key aspects of the world drug problem. It also offers an overview of recent positive developments to shift towards more human rights-centred drug policies, and provides recommendations on the way forward in view of the upcoming midterm review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration and to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 52/24. The Council requested Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report, in consultation with States, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other relevant United Nations agencies, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, on human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem, and to present it to the Council at its fifty-fourth session.

2. In preparing the report, OHCHR issued a call for submissions, addressed to States and other stakeholders. The report is based on the analysis conducted by OHCHR of over 100 contributions, and a review of publicly available material, including recent developments from human rights mechanisms and Vienna-based bodies.