The “war on drugs” has failed, says High Commissioner

Vice-President Choquehuanca, 
Minister Murillo,
Madame Dreifuss,
Excellencies, 
Colleagues,

Thank you to Colombia, Bolivia and all the co-sponsors for convening this event and driving forward the much-needed discussion on the world drug problem.

Many of us are here in this room today because we have witnessed a clear failure of the “war on drugs.”

A failure to save lives.

A failure to protect the dignity, health and futures of the 296 million users around the world.

And a failure to effect the transformative policy change we need – urgently - to avert further human rights reversals.

As you know, the current overarching international drug regime – characterised by punitive approaches and repressive policies – has had devastating impacts on human rights at all levels.

Yes, drugs kill and destroy lives and communities.

But so do oppressive and regressive drug policies.

The “war on drugs” has militarized law enforcement responses in a number of countries all around the world.

We have seen a sharp escalation in the use of lethal force to crackdown on drug use and distribution.

As well as an epidemic of overincarceration and prison overcrowding in far too many countries.

The use of the death penalty for drug-related convictions has doubled worldwide, in violation of international human rights law.

Today’s drug policies have rendered treatment and harm reduction measures inaccessible to the millions who need them, often discriminating against the poorest and most marginalised of our societies.

And all of these punitive approaches inflict particularly severe harm on children and young people, women, people of African descent, and Indigenous Peoples.

Colleagues, 

Despite the catalogue of challenges, I am glad to note that we are seeing positive steps towards more humane approaches.

International forums – such as this – are increasingly bridging the gap between human rights and drug policy in their discussions.

Civil society is playing a more powerful role in bringing the voices of the people most affected to the decision-making tables.

And – in the face of its shocking overuse - the international community is today making stronger efforts to move away from the death penalty for all offences, including drug offences.

It was a privilege to be present this morning to see the adoption of the High-Level Declaration, demonstrating renewed commitment by States to human rights and drug policy.

My Office’s report issued last August sets out the raft of human rights concerns related to the world’s drug problem.

It also provides a path forward, with concrete recommendations for States to anchor their approaches to the world drug problem in human rights and dignity.

I am very pleased to see that a number of countries are already adopting policies and practices that decriminalise personal drug use and treat such drug usage exactly how it should be: as a public health and human rights issue.

I thank Colombia, for example, for playing a leading role in advocating for a transformative shift in international drug policies, grounded in human rights. Within its borders, it has made significant changes to domestic drug policies. And to better protect the most vulnerable, it is working towards dismantling criminal networks and prosecuting those leading them.

The Czech Republic has recently adopted an Action Plan on Addiction Policy, sparking much-needed debate on decriminalising and regulating addictive substances according to their level of harmfulness.

I welcome Ghana’s recent adoption of legislative changes towards public health-friendly drug policy. I encourage the Government to match it with meaningful initiatives for alternatives to incarceration, access to treatment, healthcare and social services for people who use drugs.

In the United Kingdom, Scotland has also just published a draft outline of its Charter of Rights for people affected by substance use, firmly anchored in human rights approaches.

Finally, I note that Pakistan ended capital punishment for drug-related offences in July last year.

These are all very welcome developments.

Colleagues,

Our discussion today will also centre around the review of the coca leaf, which could mark an important turning point for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples in many countries.

I thank Bolivia for spearheading this review process.

Indigenous Peoples have endured decades of deep discrimination and human rights violations: their lands, territories and resources have been stolen; and many of their cultures have been destroyed or remain under threat today.

In the context of our focus here at this event, Indigenous Peoples have also been overpoliced on practices, such as subsistence cultivation of drug crops - crops which may be used as traditional medicines, which are essential to their lives and livelihoods, and which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Since 1961, the coca leaf – a sacred plant for many Indigenous Peoples – has been categorised as a Schedule I drug, obligating countries to criminalise its use and cultivation.

I note that the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances expressly allows for “traditional illicit uses.” Subsequent UN resolutions on drugs – as well as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - have also affirmed the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of vital medicinal plants.

We look forward to the results of the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee conducting the review of coca leaf’s classification.

Any decision taken on this matter must consider the human rights implications for the Indigenous Peoples concerned.

This review holds significant potential to revise drug policies for the better, with corresponding impact on the lives, livelihoods and ancestral traditions of Indigenous Peoples the world over.

I stress the critical need to secure and support the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples throughout all stages. And I encourage the Committee to draw upon the specific expertise of the various UN Indigenous Peoples’ mechanisms, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Colleagues, 

One thing is clear: the disproportionate use of criminal penalties and repressive approaches to address the world drug problem is causing far more harm than good.

We therefore need a paradigm shift in global drug policy.

A more responsible - and humane - regulation of the drug market to eliminate profits from illegal trafficking, criminality and violence.

And ultimately, we must remember that at the heart of the world’s drug problem lie people.

So, at the heart of the laws, policies and practices applied in this area must also be people and their rights, freedoms and dignity.

Thank you.