News and Announcements

New Thai anti-drug policy to be announced tomorrow

01 April 2008

A new anti-drug policy will be announced in Thailand tomorrow which many fear will mark a reinstatement 2003's brutal war on drugs. In February 2003, the Thai government, under then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, launched a violent and murderous ‘war on drugs’ aimed at the ‘suppression’ of drug trafficking and the ‘prevention’ of drug use.… Read more

CND passes a ground-breaking - yet watered down - human rights resolution

18 March 2008

The human rights resolution introduced on 13 March came back to the full CND plenary session for debate Friday evening, and was debated for several hours. As with the debate in the Committee of the Whole on Thursday , China, Pakistan, Thailand, Egypt and Japan led the attack against the resolution. Countries including the UK, Argentina,… Read more

“Discussion of political issues such as human rights are inappropriate at CND” – China leads charge against human rights resolution

14 March 2008

Call it revenge of the death penalty states. Only days after UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, used his opening speech at the 51st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to raise the issue of human rights and call for an end to the death penalty for drug offences , a coalition of death penalty countries banded together to… Read more

CND day 4 - INPUD statement before plenary session

13 March 2008

This morning, Stijn Goossens of the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) gave the following statement on the promotion of health and human rights of people who use drugs during the Commission on Narcotic Drugs plenary debate in Vienna. "Thank you, Mr Chairman, for allowing me a slot to speak, and to the Commission and its… Read more

CND day 2 - Harm Reduction International statement on human rights and harm reduction during plenary debate on demand reduction

11 March 2008

This afternoon, during the second day of the 51st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Harm Reduction International's Senior Policy Advisor, Rick Lines (at bottom left of the photo-click on image to get full size) addressed delegates during a plenary debate on demand reduction. A copy of Harm Reduction International's statement is… Read more

CND day 1 - War on Drugs does not Justify Rights Violations: New Report Examines Widespread Abuses Due to Drug Control Policies

11 March 2008

(Vienna, March 10, 2008) – The United Nations must stop the ongoing subversion of human rights in the name of drug control, the Harm Reduction International , Human Rights Watch , the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme said in a joint report released today as the UN Commission on Narcotic… Read more

CND day 1 - UNODC chief calls for end to the death penalty for drug offences and a greater focus on human rights

10 March 2008

Harm Reduction International has welcomed today's statement by UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, calling for an end to capital punishment for drug offences, and a greater focus on human rights in drug enforcement activities. Speaking this morning at the opening session of the 51st Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting in… Read more

HIV? Human Rights Abuses?...The INCB Has More Pressing Concerns

05 March 2008

Today, Hamid Ghodse and Philip Emafo of the International Narcotics Control Board launched a media offensive in the UK as part of the release of INCB’s 2007 Annual Report . Appearing on Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, the BBC website and the front page of this morning’s London Metro, both Board members raised their concerns as UN drug… Read more

Harm Reduction International criticises INCB working practices in a new report

19 February 2008

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB or the Board) plays an important role in the international drug control system, serving as an independent body monitoring states’ implementation of their obligations under the international drug conventions. It has, however, been criticised for being one of the most secretive bodies in the UN… Read more