Decriminalisation

Cannabis legalisation gaining favour in Mexico

For the past decades, Mexico has been severely affected by illicit drugs. The Mexican government's main strategy so far has consisted in a tough law enforcement and punitive approach, as an echo to the US 'war on drugs' strategy. This approach has resulted in high levels of violence: the number of deaths due to drug-related violence has been rising to 28,000 since 2006 – with more than 6,000 people killed in Ciudad Juarez alone since 2008. 

In August 2010, Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared that he would support a national debate on the legalisation of illicit drugs, reversing his previous stance on the subject. He then underscored that he did not favour legalisation, particularly while the US and the international community maintained their prohibitionist approach. Nevertheless, Calderon's call is significant and has sparked intense discussions on drugs in the country.
Added on 25 August 2010

Drug laws and prison in Ecuador

Analia Silva, an Afro-Ecuadorian woman in her late 40s, says that getting a job in Ecuador was really difficult for her because she did not know how to read or write, and she continuously faced racial and age discrimination. Jobless, desperate and being the sole provider of her two children, she started selling small amounts of drugs to make ends meet. She was caught within months and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Her sentence was disproportionate to the crime she committed, but it could have been worse.

Analia Silva, an Afro-Ecuadorian woman in her late 40s explains how she was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for selling small amounts of drugs to make ends meet. In this video testimony, she explains the collateral damage that this anti-drug policy had on her life.

 

The human face: TNI/WOLA video series on drugs and prison in Latin America

This series of videos features people who have endured harsh and disproportionate sentences for drug-related crimes. The videos are part of a Transnational Institute (TNI) / Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) study investigating the prison systems of eight countries in Latin America.

This series of videos features people who have endured harsh and disproportionate sentences for drug-related crimes. The videos are part of a TNI/WOLA study investigating the prison systems of eight countries in Latin America. These personal stories illustrate the unjust impact of current drug laws on the most vulnerable individuals of society.
Added on 25 August 2010

IDPC Briefing Paper – Cannabis in Mexico: an open debate

In August 2010, before a meeting of academics and representatives of civil society organisations, Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared that the legalisation of illicit drugs could contribute to reducing the power held by organised crime. He quickly added, however, that this was not an option that would be considered by his own administration.

The recent declaration by Mexican president Felipe Calderón on cannabis legalisation has sparked new discussions on illicit drugs in the country. However, the drugs debate is not a new topic for the Mexican political agenda. This document presents a general overview and analysis of the cannabis debate in Mexico.
Added on 25 August 2010

What can we learn from the Portuguese decriminalisation of illicit drugs?

The issue of decriminalising illicit drugs is hotly debated, but is rarely subject to evidence-based analysis. This paper examines the case of Portugal, a nation that decriminalised the use and possession of all illicit drugs on 1 July 2001.

Drawing upon independent evaluations and interviews conducted with 13 key stakeholders in 2007 and 2009, this paper critically analyses the criminal justice and health impacts against trends from neighbouring Spain and Italy. It concludes that contrary to predictions, the Portuguese decriminalisation did not lead to major increases in drug use.
Added on 29 July 2010

The Vienna Declaration – Sign up now!

The Vienna Declaration is the official declaration of AIDS 2010. The Declaration calls for drug policies that are based on scientific evidence rather than ideology. More specifically, the Declaration calls for the decriminalisation of drug use and the meaningful involvement of affected communities in developing policies and programmes.

The Vienna Declaration is the official declaration of AIDS 2010 and calls for drug policies that are based on scientific evidence rather than ideology. It calls for the decriminalisation of drug use and the meaningful involvement of affected communities in developing policies and programmes. As of today, over 16,000 have signed the Declaration.
Added on 29 July 2010

Drug Policy Networking Zone – Know Your Drug War

IDPC and Transform Drug Policy Foundation co-hosted the Drug Policy Networking Zone – a busy and dynamic space that was shared with the Harm Reduction and Human Rights Networking Zones. The key message of the Drug Policy Networking Zone was a call to consider the costs of the dominant approach to drug control both in monetary and human terms.

IDPC and Transform Drug Policy Foundation co-hosted the Drug Policy Networking Zone – a busy and dynamic space that was shared with the Harm Reduction and Human Rights Networking Zones. The key message of the Drug Policy Networking Zone was a call to consider the costs of the dominant approach to drug control both in monetary and human terms.

TNI Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies No. 6 - Argentina: reform on the way?

In a memorable decision in August 2009, the Argentina Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional legislation that criminalized drug possession for personal consumption. The court decision followed the same line of thinking as a process started in 2005 within the executive branch, to reformulate the national drug policy. An advisory committee created in 2007 drafted a series of legislative proposals and guidelines for defining public policies on drugs that adhered to human rights standards in the criminal, social and health spheres.

In August 2009, the Argentina Supreme Court declared legislation criminalizing drug possession for personal consumption as unconstitutional. This briefing discusses the background of that decision, the small steps taken since, but argues that there is still much to do before a genuine reform agenda can be implemented.
Added on 28 July 2010

CESCR releases progressive observations on Colombia, Mauritius and Kazakhstan

In its Concluding Observations on Colombia, Mauritius and Kazakhstan, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) released its most progressive statements so far on harm reduction and alternative development.

In its Concluding Observations on Colombia, Mauritius and Kazakhstan, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights released its most progressive statements so far on harm reduction and alternative development.
Added on 26 May 2010

IDPC Drug Policy Guide

This is the first edition of the IDPC Drug Policy Guide aimed at national government policy makers. This publication is a collaborative effort by a number of IDPC members and partners, and brings together global evidence and best practices on the design and implementation of drug policies and programmes at national level.

It is increasingly clear that the ‘war on drugs’ is not succeeding in eradicating the drugs problem. There are a growing number of policy options available to address drug-related harms. Politicians therefore face the challenge of defining a set of policies that are appropriate for the situation in their country. The IDPC Guide brings together global evidence and best practice to assist national policy makers in the design and implementation of drug policies.
Added on 4 March 2010
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