Vienne, Genève et le système des Nations Unies dans son ensemble doivent travailler plus étroitement pour assurer l’alignement entre les engagements relatifs au contrôle des drogues, au développement et aux droits humains et l’améliorer. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

By Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights,

1st ‘Brandenburg Forum’ (BBF) in Geneva

“Building Bridges between the drug policy and human rights regimes of the United Nations”

Opening remarks by Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights

Excellencies, Distinguished participants,

I am pleased to join you today at the opening of the first Brandenburg Forum in Geneva.

I thank Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and other co-organisers for organizing this virtual event.

A year into the COVID-19 crisis, countries across the globe continue to face alarming levels of pressure on their health and social services. 

have further deepened with devastating impact on the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals and communities.

In his Policy Brief on Human Rights and COVID-19, Secretary-General António Guterres recognised the vulnerability during this pandemic of people who use drugs.1 

Millions of people have been adversely effected in accessing

vital and lifesaving harm reduction programmes

 as health systems have become overwhelmed by the pandemic.

A recent global report on harm reduction, however, shows that COVID-19 also resulted in some positive changes, with harm reduction services quickly adapting to altered conditions. The most profound example of this was the change in opioid agonist therapy delivery.2

, where individuals are detained without due process in the name of “treatment” or “rehabilitation”, remains a serious human rights concern. They face higher vulnerabilities, including HIV, TB and now COVID-19, as a result of sub-standard living conditions, including massive overcrowding and related challenges in maintaining physical distancing.

Last summer, twelve UN agencies – including OHCHR- called on States that operate compulsory drug detention centres to close them permanently without further delay as an important additional measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.3

The COVID-19 crisis occurs in the context of a long-standing general crisis of the global prison situation, now exacerbated by the current public health emergency. Over 11 million people are currently imprisoned globally. Data also shows 

20% percent of the global prison population are detained for drug offences

, including non-violence minor offences and drug use,4 making drug policy a significant driver of over-incarceration.

A large number of those behind bars are awaiting trial, and some of them have been in pre-trial detention for years. The drastic rise in the number of 

 globally is disturbing. Such increase is mainly due to women being convicted of minor drug-related offences.

 often results in disproportionate sentencing in addition to hindering persons in need of treatment for drug use from receiving such treatment. It also aggravates the stigmatization of and discrimination against them.

Another long-standing human rights concern is 

the use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses

. A wide range of drug-related offenses are punishable by death in over 30 states, which is contrary to international human rights law.5 The United Nations opposes the death penalty everywhere and in all circumstances. There is a clear international trend towards abolition. At the end of last year, 123 States voted in favour of the General Assembly resolution for a moratorium on use of the death penalty.

Data and experience over a number of decades have clearly shown that the many attempts across the globe to conduct 

 have failed to eliminate the illegal drug trade and its use. The harmful, long-term consequences of these ‘wars’ are deep and far ranging, involving increased violence and a myriad of human rights violations . Such approach undermines the ability for the public health system to address the problem.

 face discrimination at every step of the law enforcement and the criminal justice system. They are more likely to be apprehended, searched, arrested, convicted, and harshly sentenced to death penalty for drug crimes. The UN Working Group on Experts on People of African Descents viewed that “the war on drugs has operated more effectively as a system of racial control than as a mechanism for combating the use and trafficking of narcotics.”6 Countries must redress racial discrimination in drug law enforcement.

 for serious human rights violations in the context of so called “war on drugs” remain critical challenge to ensure justice for thousands victims of these wars.

We are holding this virtual event in the midst of COVID-19 – a time that has made 

 more important than ever– indeed a principle that should also be the basis for global drug policies.

7 , all member States committed to ensure that all aspects of drug policies are evidence based and addressed in full conformity with international human rights law.8

With the generous support of Germany and Switzerland, and in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, our Office partnered with UNDP, WHO, UNAIDS and the International Centre at the University of Essex to develop the 

International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy

, which was launched in March 2019 in Vienna.

The Guidelines is the best tool at our disposal to support States in the implementation of their human rights commitments of UNGASS 2016. Two regional dialogues were organised on the Guidelines in 2020. We have seen examples of positive impact of the Guidelines at national level. For example, the Constitutional Court in Colombia has cited the Guidelines twice; in 2019, in a decision regarding substance use and human rights and last year, in a landmark case on crop eradication with glyphosate. We must continue promoting and disseminating the Guidelines at the global, regional and national levels.

These guidelines are based on practices and jurisprudence of 

UN human rights treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders

 of the Human Rights Council. Over the years, these human rights mechanisms played crucial role in addressing drug policy related challenges affecting the enjoyment of a range of human rights. I am pleased that some of these human rights mechanisms are represented at this virtual forum.
In 2015 and 2018, upon requests of the Human Rights Council, our Office prepared two reports on human rights and drug policy ahead of the UNGASS 2016 and the 2019 Ministerial High Level Meeting of CND respectively. 9 A 

 on best practices and challenges in the implementation of human rights commitments of the UNGASS 2016 and the 2019 Ministerial Declaration could be useful tool for States and other stakeholders.

In 2018, thirty-one principals of UN entities adopted a 

 to provide coordinated support to States in drug related matters.10 Through a public health and human rights lens, the Common Position provides guidance for actions, including shifting drug policies and interventions toward a public health approach and ensuring respect for human dignity and human rights. The Common Position provide us a framework to work together to ensure that no one is left behind, including in the drug control context.

As example, I wish to refer to our recent efforts in the Philippines where, pursuant to the Human Rights Council’s resolution 45/33 adopted last October, the design of a UN joint programme on human rights is currently being finalized.

Developed jointly with UNODC and other UN partners, it includes a component on human rights-based approach to drug control and draws on relevant guidance set out in the Common Position. We also continue to monitor the human rights situation, and remain concerned by the continued high number of drug related killings.

As emphasized in the Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights, it is our common responsibility to put human rights at the center of all policy and decision-making processes. This includes, of course, those related to drug control.

We have no doubt that principled and comprehensive policies which respect dignity, development, human rights and justice will reduce both demand and supply of drugs; protect health; and contribute to achieving the 

Our Office stands ready to work with all stakeholders in this endeavor.

[1] https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_human_rights_and_covid_23_april_2020.pdf. Page 12

[2] https://www.hri.global/files/2020/10/27/Global_State_of_Harm_Reduction_2020.pdf

[3] https://unaidsapnew.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/unjointstatement1june2020.pdf

[4] https://cdn.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Global-Prison-Trends-2020-Penal-Reform-International-Second-Edition.pdf

[5] General Comment 36, Human Rights Committee

[7] The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem 2016

[8] The Outcome Document of UNGASS 2016, General Assembly resolution S-30-1, annex. 19 April 2016

[10] https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CND/2019/Contributions/UN_Entities/What_we_have_learned_over_the_last_ten_years_-_14_March_2019_-_w_signature.pdf

Créer des ponts entre les régimes des politiques des drogues et des droits humains des Nations unies

La Colombie Britannique demande la décriminalisation de la possession et de l’usage personnel de drogues pour sauver des vies, réduire la stigmatisation et commencer à traiter la dépendance aux drogues comme une question de santé et non de criminalité. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

British Columbia is asking the federal government to grant the province an exemption under federal law to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use.

If the request is granted B.C. would become the first jurisdiction in Canada with the exemption.

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson sent a letter to Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu on Feb. 3 formally asking for the exemption. The request is in line with Premier John Horgan’s repeated calls for the federal government to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs.

“Although B.C. has made significant progress implementing a wide-ranging overdose response, people who use drugs continue to face obstacles accessing these services. In particular, the stigma around drug use along with the fear of criminal sanctions are barriers preventing people from accessing life-saving services,” Malcolmson writes.

“I look forward to working with you on this important initiative, and the many other ways we can work together to help save lives.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a growing number overdose deaths in the province. B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe is scheduled to provide an update on Thursday of how many people died of illicit drug deaths in 2020.

Canada : La Colombie Britannique demande au gouvernement fédéral une dérogation pour décriminaliser les drogues illégales

La méthadone à emporter réduit les obstacles à ce traitement qui sauve des vies. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

A UNODC initiative marked a critical step forward in the implementation of HIV harm reduction in Viet Nam around a decade ago, when the very first doses of methadone were administered in the country through the Opioid Substitution Therapy programme. Today, a brand new UNODC programme to be launched early this year, promises to expand its predecessor’s reach by offering take-home methadone doses.

The increase in autonomy afforded to people who use drugs through take-home doses delivered to their doorstep, will enable clients in Viet Nam to improve their quality of life.

The elimination of transportation costs and commute time associated with in-person visits at methadone clinics, means that the take-home doses will not only help improve the lives of people with substance use disorder – but will also have a positive impact on their families and the community.

“Vietnam has a quite successful methadone treatment programme, expanded to all of 63 provinces,” explains Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Deputy Director of VAAC. “However, we can keep only 52,000 patients on treatment out of the cumulative 160,000. As we understand it, geographical and transportation issues remain the biggest barriers for service retention.”

L’ONUDC soutient la réduction des risques au Vietnam par des doses de méthadone à emporter

Les niveaux de délivrance étaient près de 10 fois plus élevés dans les états dont la population avait les statuts socioéconomiques les plus hauts par rapport à ceux dans lesquels la population avait les statuts socioéconomiques les plus bas. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

By the University of California / Medical Press

If you're poor and terminally ill in southern Mexico, there's far less chance you'll get the painkillers you need for palliative care than your cousins in more prosperous regions, particularly those pharmacy-rich areas along Mexico-U.S. border, say UCLA researchers and colleagues who studied opioid dispensing levels across the country.

Despite a Mexican government initiative launched in 2015 to improve access to prescription opioids among palliative care patients, the country has seen only a marginal increase in dispensing levels, and inequities in dispensing have left many of the nation's poorest residents without comfort in their final days, said lead author Dr. David Goodman-Meza, an assistant professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"People in the poorest areas of Mexico are dying in pain," Goodman-Meza said. "A lot of work needs to be done to increase access to opioids for those who have a medical need for them in Mexico."

Actualités

Créer des ponts entre les régimes des politiques des drogues et des droits humains des Nations unies

Canada : La Colombie Britannique demande au gouvernement fédéral une dérogation pour décriminaliser les drogues illégales

L’ONUDC soutient la réduction des risques au Vietnam par des doses de méthadone à emporter

Les pauvres du Mexique ont peu de chances d’obtenir des opioïdes destinés aux soins palliatifs