UN human rights bodies & procedures

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.

News11 October 2023

UN experts call for universal abolition of the death penalty

The statement underscores that states retaining the death penalty for drug-related offenses are unequivocally in contravention of international law.

Events

Special event: Human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem

Geneva, Switzerland

20 September 2023

The Panel will provide a platform for international human rights experts, representatives of State and civil society organisations to discuss findings and recommendations of the latest OHCHR report on the human rights impacts of drug policies.

Publications12 September 2023

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

OHCHR present their report to the Human Rights Council on the impact of the world drug problem on human rights, urging policymakers to shift towards a health and human-rights centred approach to drug policy.

Publications15 August 2023

Comments to draft General Recommendation N. 37 on racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health - IDPC submission to CERD

IDPC, Amnesty International, CDPE, HRI, DPA, Release and CELS provide evidence on the role of drug policies as a driver of discriminatory policing and incarceration.

Publications9 August 2023

Submission to CERD: The right to health and the criminalisation of ancestral plants

IDPC and ICEERS argue that the right of Indigenous Peoples to grow, use, possess, heal, and travel with their ancestral plants should be enshrined as a part of a right to health free from racial discrimination.

News6 July 2023

Call for expressions of interest: Small grants for advocacy with UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

This call will support three organisations with grants of up to USD 5000 to carry out strategic advocacy with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its general comment on drug policy. Deadline for applications: 27 July 2023.

News26 June 2023

UN experts call for end to global ‘war on drugs’

The international community must replace punishment with support and promote policies that respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all.

Publications15 May 2023

On the situation of women and gender-diverse people who use drugs surviving multiple situations of violence and vulnerability in Spain - Shadow report

Metzineres and IDPC illustrate through official documents, research and personal testimonies the need to eliminate discrimination, criminalisation and systematic violence against women and gender-diverse people who use drugs.

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