ASG Brands Kehris video statement at the Cities Summit of the Americas on local governance for sustainable action on drugs

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

More than fifty percent (50%) of the world’s population live in cities today.

According to recent UN data, almost 70% of people will live in cities by 2050.

As cities become more overpopulated, economic and social disparities are likely to increase, threatening the rights to food, housing, water and sanitation and equal access to health and education services for all.

In parallel, the problems related to drug policies are also becoming more visible and dire in cities around the world.

Dear Colleagues,

During the past decade, drug policy reform has made unprecedented advances at the international, regional, national and sub-national levels.

We have witnessed and accompanied several of these changes.

In 2016, the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs adopted an outcome document that reorients drug control to more balanced policies, based on evidence, public health and human rights. It highlights States’ commitment to promote and protect human rights in the implementation of all drug related policies.

In 2018, the UN System adopted a common position on drug-related matters, which also provides guidance on making drug policies human rights compliant.

Last month, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a new resolution on drug policy that urges States to develop and implement human rights-based and gender-sensitive drug policies.

High-level discussions on drug policy have also started at intergovernmental regional forums in several regions, including in the Americas.

Discussions are also taking place at the national levels for reforming drug policies.

It is critical that cities and municipalities are included in these initiatives.  

Authorities in cities and municipalities are often directly responsible to address the drug situation and therefore play an important role in the practical and effective implementation of drug laws and policies adopted at national level.

This meeting is therefore both timely and urgent.

Dear Colleagues,

While the central government has the primary responsibility for human rights, the local government has an important complementary role to play.

This is also true when it comes to efforts to address drug situations in cities.  

Mayors and local governments should have the necessary political and institutional space and resources required to adopt and implement human rights-based responses to the specific local drug situation. 

Instead of furthering the stigma associated with the criminalization of drug use, drug policies in cities as well as at central level need to be focused on reducing harm among people who use drugs and be based on evidence.

For examples, in several countries in the Americas – such as Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru – possession of scheduled drugs for personal use is not a criminal offence.

This approach aims to address obstacles in accessing treatment and other health services and to save lives.   

We have also seen that the expansion of harm reduction services in cities has made a significant impact in reducing the numbers of new HIV cases in people who inject drugs.

Mayors and local authorities must ensure human rights compliant policing and can empower and incentivize municipal and local police engaged in drug law enforcement to treat people who use drugs with dignity.

They also have a critical role to play by engaging with all stakeholders concerned in developing and implementing human rights informed drug policies at the city level. This can include police, prosecutors, health and social workers, educators, people who use drugs, affected families and civil society.

Building consensus is key to well-informed, effective drug policy polices.

Dear Colleagues,

In conclusion, I wish to refer to the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy.

These guidelines provide a comprehensive set of human rights standards for placing human dignity, public health, and sustainable development at the centre of our responses to illicit drug economies.  

They are a useful tool for policy-making on drug policy and should apply to local levels and cities as much as to the national level.

I hope that authorities at all levels around the world will use these important Guidelines for advancing human rights-based response to the drug situation.

Our Office will continue to engage on this critical issue and looks forward to working with authorities at all levels to place human rights at the heart of drug policies and their implementation.

I wish you a successful discussion.

Thank you.