Human Rights Council

Publications17 July 2025

5th Brandenburg Forum in Geneva: Expanding the conversation on the human rights implications of drug policy - Meeting report

The Forum urged periodic HRC resolutions, stronger UN coordination, an operational expert panel, and sustained harm reduction funding, highlighting Indigenous rights, decriminalisation, and civil society inclusion as key priorities.

Events

Support. Don’t Punish: Advancing towards a health and human rights-based approach to drug policy

Geneva, Switzerland

27 June 2025

This event will explore how harm reduction and human rights can shape drug policy reform, against the backdrop of debates on the matter at the Human Rights Council and the Support. Don't Punish Global Day of Action.

News19 May 2025

58th Human Rights Council: Drug policy highlights

HRI underscores how debates on drug policy, the death penalty, and HIV, supported by civil society advocacy, stressed the centrality of human rights, harm reduction, and proportionality.

News6 March 2025

Human rights, harm reduction and drug policy: Redoubling efforts reform and funding efforts - IDPC statement at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council

IDPC calls on governments to end drug-related human rights abuses, invest in harm reduction, and align drug policies with human rights and protect the HIV response.

News21 November 2024

Abolish mandatory sentencing and all extreme punitive responses - Joint statement to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

IDPC co-signs joint statement at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council urging sentencing reform for drug offences, including abolishing the death penalty and mandatory sentences.

Publications3 November 2024

57th Human Rights Council: Drug policy highlights

HRI spotlights key concerns from the 57th Human Rights Council, including rising drug-related executions, human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and racial disparities in criminal justice.

News16 October 2024

Global coalition supports resolution on the social reintegration of criminalised people at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council

One hundred twenty NGOs from 49 countries voice support for improving social reintegration support systems for former offenders—a group facing disproportionate risk of overdose and drug-related harm.

Publications18 September 2024

4th Brandenburg Forum in Geneva: Towards transformative change in human rights-based drug policy - Meeting report

The Forum addressed environmental, human rights and public health issues related to drug policy, as well as related international progress and opportunities for cooperation.

News16 September 2024

Reforming drug policies is essential to end human rights violations - IDPC statement at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council

IDPC and partners urge the Council to tackle rampant human rights abuses committed in the name of drug control by engaging meaningfully with policy reform.

Publications5 August 2024

Breaking the cycle: ending the criminalization of homelessness and poverty

The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty calls for a shift away from punitive measures, recognising harm reduction as a framework to address specific vulnerabilities of people who use drugs.

Publications30 April 2024

55th Human Rights Council: Drug policy highlights

Harm Reduction International publishes a summary of major debates, decisions and documents related to drug policy from the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.

Events

Human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem - Human Rights Council intersessional panel

Geneva, Switzerland

5 February 2024

The intersessional panel discussion aims to provide space for a constructive and inclusive dialogue on human rights challenges in addressing the world drug situation.

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