From flawed review to real change: Indigenous and peasants’ rights and the future of the coca leaf

When? Thursday, 1 October 2026 | 13:00–14:00 (CET)
Where? Concordia 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, and online

The Human Rights Council has repeatedly called for Indigenous Peoples’ rights to be protected. And yet, in the area of drug policy, Indigenous rights are sidelined and consistently violated. The case of the coca leaf is emblematic of this, with a flawed critical review of the plant that left the coca leaf under overly strict international control.

Following the critical review of the coca leaf by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the decision to leave the plant in Schedule I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, this side event brought together civil society, Indigenous coca farmers, UN experts and government officials to discuss the future of the coca leaf, including protection mechanisms at both local and international levels.

Speakers:

Opening remarks: Albert K. Barume, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Video screening: Excerpt from Erythroxylum Coca. Los Confundidos, featuring the voices of Indigenous coca farmers. Available in full here.

Panel discussion:

Paula Aguirre Ospina, Elementa DD.HH (Colombia)
Victor Rodriguez, Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER)
Ricardo Soberón, expert (Peru)

Closing remarks: Zaved Mahmood, OHCHR

Moderator: Isabel Pereira, International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC).

The event was co-organised by IDPC, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Elementa DD.HH, Alianza Coca Para la Paz, Dejusticia, Youth RISE, the Transnational Institute, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), Corporación Viso Mutop and the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA).