Policing

Events

Counter-terrorism, organized crime and human rights: The risks of conflating legal frameworks

New York, United States

22 October 2026

Speakers examine how ‘narco-terrorism’ narratives are being used to justify militarised responses and explore alternatives grounded in human rights, harm reduction and drug policy reform.

News15 October 2026

Civil society statement opposing the regressive bill proposing mandatory sterilisation of homeless women who use drugs in Bolivia

IDPC joins civil society in denouncing a Bolivian bill proposing forced sterilisation of marginalised women who use drugs, calling instead for decriminalisation and voluntary, gender-responsive harm reduction services.

News12 October 2026

‘Violence is our daily bread here’: Rethinking harm reduction from the streets of Colombia

Harm reduction in Colombia must go beyond health services to confront the everyday violence, criminalisation and structural inequalities shaping the lives of people who use drugs, centring their lived experiences, safety and dignity.

News29 September 2026

Civil society calls to confront systemic racism in drug control — Dialogue with the EMLER at HRC63

IDPC and partners welcomed the UN EMLER’s recognition of systemic racism in drug law enforcement and called for urgent action to address the racialised impacts of punitive drug policy.

News23 September 2026

How Bolivia's drug laws enable sexual torture

In Bolivia, out of 21 emblematic cases of sexual torture against women in police custody, 9 were linked to the enforcement of national drug laws.

Publications22 September 2026

Killing “narco-terrorists” at sea: The legality of military attacks on criminal groups and drug trafficking under international human rights law and other applicable international law

The UN Special Rapporteur concludes that US military attacks against people suspected of drug trafficking cannot be justified under international law and may constitute crimes against humanity.

Publications3 September 2026

Systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the enforcement of drug laws and policies — Report of the UN EMLER

The UN Expert Mechanism on Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement calls for a fundamental shift away from punitive and militarised drug policies towards decriminalisation, responsible regulation and approaches grounded in racial justice, human rights, public health and community participation.

Events

8th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH2026)

Leeds, United Kingdom

6 September 2026 - 9 September 2026

LEPH2026 will bring together law enforcement, public health, policy and research experts to explore approaches at the intersection of policing and public health, including on drug policy and harm reduction.

Events

Responding to police in health service settings: Know your rights, protect your clients

Online

13 August 2026

The event offers practical tools for health and harm reduction service providers in British Columbia to protect clients’ rights and reduce unwanted police interference.

Publications20 July 2026

Counter-terrorism law, organised crime and human rights — Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism

IDPC, CELS, HRI and WOLA warn that conflating drug trafficking with terrorism enables unlawful military action, weakens human rights protections and restricts civil society space.

Publications17 July 2026

The promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism - Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights

The Special Rapporteur warns against treating organised crime groups as 'terrorists', highlighting the human rights risks of securitised, militarised responses, and calling for policy reform.

Events

Drugs, data and justice: Resisting algorithmic policing, building safety

Online

22 July 2026

This roundtable explores how punitive drug policies are fuelling digital systems of surveillance, exclusion and institutional violence, and how cross-movement advocacy can advance harm reduction, accountability and safety.

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