"Turning the Tide: Historic UN Report Signals Hope for Human Rights in Drug Policies"

Dear Supporters & Advocates of Change,

I hope this message finds you all well. We are thrilled to bring you an important update on the ongoing efforts to address the long-standing issues surrounding the war on drugs. Recently, on December 10, 2023, a significant development occurred in Vienna, marking a historic moment in the fight for human rights within drug policies.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched a groundbreaking report that sheds light on the human rights dimensions of drug policies. Mr. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, unequivocally recognized that prohibitionist drug policies lead to widespread human rights violations and fuel discrimination. This condemnation of the so-called 'war on drugs' is both urgent and welcome, given the serious and ongoing violations that occur under the guise of drug control.

The report's launch in Vienna, the epicenter of the UN drug control system, created a charged atmosphere. The UN drug control bodies have historically made little progress in aligning drug policies with human rights. However, this new report challenges the status quo, and its findings were endorsed by 134 NGOs from around the world in a collective statement.

Notably, the launch event was co-sponsored by 15 member states, the European Union, and several UN agencies, including UNAIDS, UNDP, and WHO. Panelists emphasized that a 'business as usual' approach to drug policy would be unconscionable in light of the failures of punitive approaches.

While progress has been made at the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna has lagged behind. The report provides clear guidance on how to shift from the failed punitive paradigm to approaches that prioritize human rights, health, development, and social justice.

However, it's essential to note the absence of support from the UNODC at the launch event and its failure historically to center human rights in its work. For the past three years, on International Human Rights Day, IDPC has sent letters urging the UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly, to address human rights systematically within the agency's work, yet these pleas have gone unanswered.

The OHCHR's report represents a historic step forward, building on a decade of momentum in prioritizing human rights in UN drug policy debates. We remain hopeful that this momentum will lead to genuine, transformative change away from repression and punishment towards policies that prioritize human rights, health, development, and social justice.

Thank you for your continued support, and let's stay vigilant in our pursuit of justice and positive change.

In Solidarity,