Decriminalisation, legal regulation & reform

Drug law reform

Blog1 June 2023

After the national election, will Thailand move forward in realising a human rights and harm reduction approach to drugs?

The incoming Thai government coalition must put electoral politics aside and focus on enacting drug policies grounded in principles of social justice, human harm reduction, and human rights.

News20 April 2023

Aligning drug policy and human rights commitments at the global level – The 66th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and drug policy reform in Ghana

At this year's CND, Ghana's recent drug policy reforms set an important precedent of how approaches to drug policy led by health and human rights priorities can prevail over the failed 'war on drugs' approach.

Events

RightsCon 2023

San José, Costa Rica

5 June 2023 - 8 June 2023

The 12th edition of RightsCon will host participants both in Costa Rica and online, from Monday, June 5 to Thursday, June 8, 2023

Publications29 March 2023

The 8 March principles for a human rights-based approach to criminal law proscribing conduct associated with sex, reproduction, drug use, HIV, homelessness and poverty

The ICJ, with UNAIDS and the OHCHR, outline a human rights-based approach to laws criminalising conduct in relation to sex, drug use, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, homelessness and poverty.

Events

International Drug Policy Reform Conference 2023

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

18 October 2023 - 21 October 2023

Attendees will spend three days building community with people committed to finding alternatives to the war on drugs while participating in sessions given by leading experts from around the world.

News13 February 2023

IDPC recruits Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer – Criminal justice reform in Southeast Asia project

The appointed person will lead and coordinate the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) tools and activities in this project, including capacity building, collation and analysis of data from project outputs, quarterly reporting against indicators and targets, and support delivery of consultancies to conduct the baseline, midline and endline evaluations.

News13 February 2023

IDPC recruits Regional Coordinator – Criminal justice reform in Southeast Asia project

The appointed person will lead on the overall implementation and coordination of this project, working closely with country partners to increase the engagement of legal experts, legal service providers, media professionals, and people who use drugs in advocating for drug policies grounded in principles of harm reduction, social justice and human rights.

News4 February 2023

Peru's coca reform chance disappears amid political crisis

Ongoing political turmoil has halted government plans to purchase vast quantities of illicitly grown coca, leaving the market in the hands of organised crime.

Publications7 December 2022

IDPC Progress Report 2021-2022

IDPC highlight some of the key activities and impacts achieved through IDPC’s work for the period running from April 2021 to March 2022, focusing on the five themes of our Strategic Plan for 2021-2023.

Publications30 November 2022

Drug laws and policies in four regions of Eurasia

The ECECACD inventories drug policies and related challenges in Eastern, Central and Southern Europe, as well as Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

News30 November 2022

THE BLACK INITIATIVE: Fighting Brazil’s racist drug war

The war on drugs feeds into a racist system that concentrates power in service of whiteness, perpetuating violence and exclusion against Black communities.

News1 November 2022

Address damage from Malaysia's harsh zero-tolerance drug policies: Advocates

Activists trust that the abolition of the mandatory death penalty for drug offences is a first step in addressing the destructive impact of the 'war on drugs'.

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