HUMAN RIGHTS AND DRUGS: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED AND WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

Organized by Czechia with the support of Colombia, Ghana, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Global Commission on Drug Policy and the International Drug Policy Consortium.

A wide range of experts, both from individual UN Member States and from UN agencies and civil society, will discuss the issue. Jindřich Vobořil, National Drug Policy Coordinator, will also speak.

Human Rights and Drugs

Member States are committed to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, democracy and the rule of law consistently and coherently in all areas of its action. In this spirit, this side event will underline rational approach to drug policies in harmonization with human rights and effective implementation of all human rights commitments and the core principles of individual dignity and equality, as rooted in human rights instruments. In this side event, the discussion on various measures that lead to a stronger implementation of human rights obligations and minimize the disruptive consequences of disproportionate criminalization will be open. Moreover, this side event will take stock of the main challenges to effective civil society and community participation in both international and national-level drug policy making.

Our goal is to promote drug policies based on human rights and non-discrimination approach. The aim of the side event is to support effective civil society and community participation and open a discussion on innovative, but also evidence-based approaches that would lead to elimination the negative consequences of criminalization and, in turn, lead to rational actions and assistance to vulnerable and marginalized groups.