26-6-2023 (MANILA) United Nations human rights experts have issued a plea to cease the global “war on drugs,” stating that its consequences have been most severe for those living in poverty.
Ahead of the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26, the UN experts emphasized that the international community must replace punitive measures with support and advocate for policies that uphold the rights of all individuals.
The experts urged for a transformative shift in the global approach to drugs, prioritizing health and other fundamental human rights.
“The ‘war on drugs’ can largely be seen as a war on people. Its impact has been particularly harsh on impoverished individuals and frequently coincides with discrimination against marginalized groups, minorities, and indigenous peoples,” the experts stated in a released statement.
Based on their research and first-hand experiences, the experts found that discriminatory consequences were a recurring theme across drug policies, affecting a wide range of human rights. These include the right to personal freedom, freedom from torture, fair trial rights, the right to health (including access to essential medicines, palliative care, comprehensive drug prevention and education, drug treatment, and harm reduction).
The experts highlighted the significant stigma and discrimination faced by women who use drugs worldwide when accessing harm reduction programs, drug dependence treatment, and basic healthcare. Although one in three people who use drugs are women, they represent only one in five individuals in treatment. Women also bear a disproportionate burden of criminalization and imprisonment, with 35 percent of incarcerated women worldwide convicted of drug-related offenses, compared to 19 percent of men.
Leading human rights organizations have reported up to 30,000 extrajudicial killings in the Philippines since former president Rodrigo Duterte initiated his violent “war on drugs” following his election in 2016.
“We call upon Member States and all UN agencies to base their drug policy responses on international human rights law and standards,” urged the experts.
They emphasized that states and international entities providing financial or technical assistance for drug policies should ensure that these measures are gender-responsive, while actively safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“We urge Member States and international bodies to replace their current drug policies with approaches firmly rooted in comprehensive, restorative, and reintegrative justice. Effective, community-based, inclusive, and preventive measures are equally vital,” added the experts.
The experts emphasized that the international community must transition from punitive measures to supportive approaches and endorse policies that respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of all individuals.
