Unlike in previous years, NGOs were successful in being granted access to the plenary session to deliver statements to the assembled government representatives.
This article describes approaches to improve the situation regarding particular target groups, such as drug users, sex workers, (undocumented) migrants and youth at risk.
The latest version of the IDPC Advocacy Guide provides an update on the emerging process for the review of global policies on controlled drugs being conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
This latest report in the Beckley series looks at the operation of middle-level drug dealers, and how their behaviour is influenced by the activities of the law enforcement agencies.
The 51st meeting of the CND took place in Vienna from 10th to 14th March 2008. It was an eventful meeting, and this summary of proceedings covers the key aspects of the week, including NGO involvement, the Thematic Debate, progress of resolutions, human rights, coca leaf, harm reduction and the INCB
To promote and secure health in prison, testing for infectious diseases and vaccination is a major opportunity, and does have an impact on the health of the incarcerated, the correctional employees and the communities to which the inmates return.
This report includes a wide range of examples in which human rights standards and norms are infringed as a result of state activities pursued in the name of drug control. This clearly demonstrates the need for close attention to this issue within the UN system.
The latest INCB Annual Report was published on 4th March 2008. This brief response explains the contents of the report, and comments on the positions taken by the Board on proportionality in drug law enforcement, the scheduling of coca leaf, and harm reduction.
This briefing paper brings together material and analysis from a number of recent reports that raise questions about the role and functioning of the INCB.
The International Narcotics Control Board has been criticised for being one of the most secretive bodies in the UN system. It holds its meetings behind closed doors. No minutes are published. There is no opportunity for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to observe or make submissions.
In 2002 the INCB asked the Legal Affairs Section (LAS) of the then UN International Drug Control Programme to explore the legality of a number of harm reduction measures vis-a-vis the UN drug control conventions.