Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

News25 September 2023

UN agency says drug war has ‘major human rights impacts,’ urging countries to instead adopt a public-health approach

A recent OHCHR report underscores the vast human rights issues fueled by the drug war, encouraging member nations to transition away from punitive drug control measures in favor of a public health-centered approach.

News20 September 2023

134 NGOs sign collective statement urging the international community to act on UN human rights chief's ground-breaking call for systemic drug policy reform

Over 100 civil society groups worldwide urge the international community to listen to the UN Human Rights Chief's call for reforming global drug control regime and national drug laws.

Blog20 September 2023

UN High Commissioner for Human rights calls for transformative change in drug policy in ambitious new report

Ann Fordham (IDPC Executive Director) analyses the key takeaways and significance of the OHCHR's latest report, noting how its call for transformative change includes an unprecedented recommendation to consider the responsible regulation of illegal drug markets.

Publications18 September 2023

54th session of the Human Rights Council: Drug policy opportunities

Harm Reduction International identify key moments where drug policy will be addressed in the upcoming 54th Session of the Human Rights Council, presenting significant prospects for reform.

Publications15 September 2023

Moving away from the punitive paradigm: An analysis of the 2023 OHCHR report on drug policy

IDPC highlights the major gains from the 2023 OHCHR report on human rights and drug policy, and provides recommendations to Member States and UN entities for its effective implementation.

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.

Publications24 July 2023

The decriminalisation of people who use drugs: An essential component of a human rights-based approach to drug policy - IDPC submission to OHCHR

IDPC, CDPE, Instituto RIA, HRI and the Health[e]Foundation provide data and recommendations on the importance of decriminalisation to fulfil the human rights of people who use drugs.

Publications11 July 2023

Moving beyond prohibition and towards a human rights-based approach to drugs: IDPC submission to OHCHR

IDPC calls on the UN system and Member States to initiate a process to evaluate the human rights impacts of the global drug control regime, and to propose concrete steps for its reform and modernisation.

Blog6 April 2023

Harm reduction, racial justice, Indigenous Peoples rights: UN Human Rights Council breaks new ground on drug policy

The latest Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights implications of drug policy represents the most ambitious and progressive resolution on the matter to date, and should influence the outcome of the upcoming 2024 mid-term review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.

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.

News1 March 2023

OHCHR statement at high level side event on a human rights approach to drug policy

The Deputy High Commissioner urges that instead of the war on drugs, states should adopt drug policies anchored in evidence, human rights approaches and public health and vows to stand ready to support states, civil society and other stakeholders in this endeavour.

Publications30 November 2022

Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the Philippines - Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee provides recommendations to the Philippines, crucially calling for an end to the violence of its so-called 'war on drugs'.

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