World Drug Day 2022: Presenting UN human rights experts' call to align drug policies with human rights

Side event to the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

• WHEN: Monday, 27 June, 13:15 (Geneva)
• REGISTER: bit.do/drugs-human-rights

On World Drug Day, the UN used to stay silent about the human rights costs of drug control. Not anymore.

This year, several UN human rights experts will use World Drug Day to release a new joint statement calling on the international community to acknowledge the devastating consequences of punitive approaches to drug control, and to shift the emphasis of global responses towards supporting people involved with drugs.

This joint statement adds to the growing calls for a serious reorientation of drug policies to ensure that they respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of people who use drugs, and other affected communities.

Join us on Monday 27 June, at 13.15 CET, for a star-studded panel that will present this joint statement, as well as the drug-related recommendations in the new OHCHR report on HIV and AIDS. You can register here : https://bit.do/drugs-human-rights

We will have the following speakers:

• Elina Steinerte, Member, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
• Melissa Upreti, Chairperson, UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls
• Catherine S. Namakula, Chairperson, UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
• Lynn Gentile, Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
• Community representative (TBC)

The event will be chaired by Luciana Pol (CELS), and concluding remarks will be provided by Ann Fordham (IDPC).