UN human rights bodies & procedures

Publications27 August 2024

Concluding observations on the 24th and 26th periodic reports of the UK - Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

CERD calls attention to the disproportionate impact of the criminal legal system on racialised people and groups, urging the UK to consistently apply anti-discrimination laws and engage in relevant policy reform.

News18 July 2024

Repeal punitive laws against poverty and inequality - Interactive Dialogue with the UNSR extreme poverty and human rights at HRC56

IDPC joins sister organisations in calling for the decriminalisation of activities related to drug use and sex work, as well as the legal regulation of substances, to tackle marginalisation.

Publications8 July 2024

Reforming drug laws to address racial injustice - Submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Release, Amnesty International, UNJUST UK, HRI and IDPC shed light on racial disparities in drug policing and associated human rights violations, urging for decriminalisation, the redirection of resources into care systems, and equitable reform.

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.

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.

Publications28 May 2024

Drug use, harm reduction and the right to health - Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health

The UNSR on the right to health explores the importance of harm reduction in relation to both drug use and related norms and policies.

News6 May 2024

Singapore: execution warrants issued despite pending legal proceedings

Various human rights groups call out Singapore's arbitrary expedition of cases and invoke the state's duty to protect rights of those facing death penalty.

News29 April 2024

Harm reduction for sustainable peace and development - Call for inputs

The UNSR on health calls for contributions for a report on the impacts of harm reduction on health equity.

Publications16 April 2024

Decriminalising drug use and sex work to end the criminalisation of poverty and homelessness - Submission to the UNSRs on the right to adequate housing and on extreme poverty and human rights

IDPC and other organisations encourage the Special Rapporteurs to acknowledge the harmful effects of criminalising drug use and sex work in relation to the policing of people living in poverty in public spaces.

News8 February 2024

Transforming the UN drug policy paradigm: IDPC statement at Human Rights Council intersessional panel

IDPC Director, Ann Fordham, called for a process of institutional transformation to contribute to a new drug policy paradigm.

News22 January 2024

Call for civil society comments on the preliminary draft outline of the UN CESCR General Comment on drug policy

The views of civil society and affected communities should be reflected in the General Comment and this is a fantastic opportunity to submit them.

News23 October 2023

Coca chronicles: Monitoring the UN coca review - Issue #1: Bolivia challenges UN coca leaf ban

TNI traces the history and current state of Bolivia's efforts to end the persecution of the coca leaf, as enshrined in global drug control treaties.

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