Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

News4 April 2025

Philippines: Türk says arrest of former President Duterte is important step toward accountability

A report by the UN Human Rights Office in 2020 found there were credible allegations of widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings in the context of the regime's 'war on drugs'.

News10 February 2025

Human rights and the social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures - OHCHR call for inputs

The OHCHR seeks to identify policies, programmes and partnerships for rights-affirming approaches.

News11 December 2024

‘War on drugs has failed, completely and utterly’: UN human rights chief

The High Commissioner emphasised the need for a radical shift in approach that prioritises health, dignity and inclusion.

Publications24 September 2024

Joint submission to the UN CESCR regarding opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and human rights in Poland

IDPC, EHRA, HRI, and HFHR highlight the challenges facing harm reduction and drug dependence treatment in Poland as well as recommendations for reform.

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.

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.

Blog11 December 2023

International Human Rights Day 2023: The time to correct course on UN drug policy & human rights is now

The entire UN system, including CND and UNODC, must join the growing number of UN agencies and Member States documenting and denouncing the harms of the ‘war on drugs’, and calling for drug policies that centre human rights.

Publications13 November 2023

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

Harm Reduction International highlight key debates, decisions and documents in which drug control and its impact on human rights were analysed and addressed at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council.

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.

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