World

Blog28 June 2024

The 2024 World Drug Report: UNODC misses the mark on human rights and harm reduction

The 2024 World Drug Report misrepresents the right to health, diverges from the UN system's own guidance on the matter, and shockingly omits mentioning harm reduction.

Blog26 June 2024

World Drugs Day 2024: Human rights and harm reduction take centre stage while UN drugs agency grapples with denial

The UN system increasingly questions the validity of the 'drug war', embracing harm reduction and decriminalisation — so why is UNODC stuck in the inertia of the past?

Events

Drug policies and responses: a right to health framework on harm reduction - High-level side event

Vienna, Austria

27 June 2024

On the occasion of World Drug Day, the UN SR on the right to health will present her latest report's findings and recommendations.

News24 June 2024

From criminalisation to harm reduction, health and rights - IDPC statement at the interactive dialogue with the UNSR on the right to health

Stigma, discrimination, criminalisation and racism have had devastating impacts on the right to health of people who use drugs, in particular on people facing multiple and intersecting layers of vulnerability.

News24 June 2024

UN expert calls for end to the ‘war on drugs’

UN Special Rapporteur Tlaleng Mofokeng called upon member states to end the war on drugs, as a war on people and a threat to the dignity, health and rights of communities.

Publications20 June 2024

World Drug Report 2024

UNODC releases its annual analysis of global drug markets, trends, and policy developments – which includes, for the first time, a chapter on the right to health and drug use.

News14 June 2024

Fentanyl exposure: myths, misconceptions, and the media

This report documents misreporting on fentanyl exposure, highlights its negative consequences, and offers tips for good approaches.

News14 June 2024

The United Nations calls for the protection of traditional knowledge

A recent UN report stressed protecting Indigenous cultural and medicinal plant use, preventing corporate exploitation, and integrating traditional knowledge into public health policies.

News13 June 2024

US: MDMA therapy for PTSD rejected by FDA panel

The panel emphasised risks and challenges related to assessing psychotherapeutic modalities, blinding studies, and ensuring patients' safety.

Publications13 June 2024

Global patterns in small-scale cannabis growers’ distribution practices: Exploring the grower-distributor nexus

Søgaard et al. conclude that social supply and, in a lesser magnitude, for-profit supply, are normalised among small-scale cannabis growers.

Events

Advancing drug policy reform at the local level

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

26 June 2024 - 26 June 2024

For this annual day of recognition, world leaders will come together for an insightful discussion on the role of local governments in catalyzing change that safeguards public health and human rights.

Events

Evidence to impact: Powering effective drug policy with data collection and research

26 June 2024

This special event will commemorate World Drug Day and launch the 2024 UNODC World Drug Report.

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