The Drugreporter team report on the highlights of this year’s 66th CND, where several member states vowed to leave prohibition and the 'war on drugs' behind.
Petro's government announced it will endorse Bolivia's request for the removal of the coca leaf, which is recognised as a part of the identity and collective memory of both countries and other Indigenous communities in the Andean region.
Compulsory rehabilitation centres for people who use drugs constitute a grave violation of human rights, and must be replaced by voluntary, community-based treatment that provides evidence-informed and human-rights based services.
Roughly 26 million people around the world who are suffering from severe pain do not have access to painkillers, therefore the 'pain gap' between rich and poor countries must be alleviated.
Civil society looks to the Council for leadership in encouraging and welcoming initiatives from within the UN human rights system to ensure drug policy affirms, rather than undermine, human rights.
The Deputy High Commissioner urges that instead of the war on drugs, states should adopt drug policies anchored in evidence, human rights approaches and public health and vows to stand ready to support states, civil society and other stakeholders in this endeavour.
