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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy 1
#13378591 - 10/24/10 12:17 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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This is a major story. We'll see how well the press covers this Wednesday morning ...
UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy October 22, 2010 - Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Media Advisory
At a press conference in New York on Tuesday 26 October, at the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly, one of the UN’s key human rights experts will call for a fundamental rethink of international drug policy.
Anand Grover, from India, is the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health, whose mandate is derived from the UN Human Rights Council. Mr Grover’s annual thematic report, to be presented on October 25/26, sets out the range of human rights abuses that have resulted from international drug control efforts, and calls on Governments to:
*Ensure that all harm-reduction measures (as itemized by UNAIDS) and drug-dependence treatment services, particularly opioid substitution therapy, are available to people who use drugs, in particular those among incarcerated populations.
*Decriminalize or de-penalize possession and use of drugs.
*Repeal or substantially reform laws and policies inhibiting the delivery of essential health services to drug users, and review law enforcement initiatives around drug control to ensure compliance with human rights obligations.
*Amend laws, regulations and policies to increase access to controlled essential medicines
*To the UN drug control agencies, Mr Grover recommends the creation of an alternative drug regulatory framework based on a model such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The report is the clearest statement to date from within the UN system about the harms that drug policies have caused and the need for a fundamental shift in drug policy.
The report has been welcomed by the European Union in the EU statement on crime and drugs to the UN General Assembly.
Press conference details: Tuesday, 26 October at 1:15pm at the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, New York, (close to the UN library in the Secretariat Building - entrance on 42nd Street and 1st Avenue). There will be a press release issued.
Summary
The current international system of drug control has focused on creating a drug free world, almost exclusively through use of law enforcement policies and criminal sanctions. Mounting evidence, however, suggests this approach has failed, primarily because it does not acknowledge the realities of drug use and dependence. While drugs may have a pernicious effect on individual lives and society, this excessively punitive regime has not achieved its stated public health goals, and has resulted in countless human rights violations.
People who use drugs may be deterred from accessing services owing to the threat of criminal punishment, or may be denied access to health care altogether. Criminalization and excessive law enforcement practices also undermine health promotion initiatives, perpetuate stigma and increase health risks to which entire populations - not only those who use drugs - may be exposed. Certain countries incarcerate people who use drugs, impose compulsory treatment upon them, or both. The current international drug control regime also unnecessarily limits access to essential medications, which violates the enjoyment of the right to health.
The primary goal of the international drug control regime, as set forth in the preamble of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), is the “health and welfare of mankind”, but the current approach to controlling drug use and possession works against that aim. Widespread implementation of interventions that reduce harms associated with drug use — harm-reduction initiatives — and of decriminalization of certain laws governing drug control would improve the health and welfare of people who use drugs and the general population demonstrably. Moreover, the United Nations entities and Member States should adopt a right to health approach to drug control, encourage system-wide coherence and communication, incorporate the use of indicators and guidelines, and consider developing a new legal framework concerning certain illicit drugs, in order to ensure that the rights of people who use drugs are respected, protected and fulfilled.
Recommendations
Member States should:
Ensure that all harm-reduction measures (as itemized by UNAIDS) and drug-dependence treatment services, particularly opioid substitution therapy, are available to people who use drugs, in particular those among incarcerated populations.
Decriminalize or de-penalize possession and use of drugs.
Repeal or substantially reform laws and policies inhibiting the delivery of essential health services to drug users, and review law enforcement initiatives around drug control to ensure compliance with human rights obligations.
Amend laws, regulations and policies to increase access to controlled essential medicines.
The United Nations drug control bodies should:
Integrate human rights into the response to drug control in laws, policies and programmes.
Encourage greater communication and dialogue between United Nations entities with an interest in the impact of drug use and markets, and drug control policies and programmes.
Consider creation of a permanent mechanism, such as an independent commission, through which international human rights actors can contribute to the creation of international drug policy, and monitor national implementation, with the need to protect the health and human rights of drug users and the communities they live in as its primary objective.
Formulate guidelines that provide direction to relevant actors on taking a human rights-based approach to drug control, and devise and promulgate rights-based indicators concerning drug control and the right to health.
Consider creation of an alternative drug regulatory framework in the long term, based on a model such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
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guest1
Mycena




Registered: 05/25/09
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: veggie]
#13379016 - 10/24/10 03:16 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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If drugs were legal, you could call the cops if someone stole them from you.
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curenado
73rd Man



Registered: 04/01/03
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Loc: North Central Arkansas
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: guest1]
#13379356 - 10/24/10 08:01 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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I do not see the goverments giving up their share of the lucrative illegal trade. We will see. That is like saying "Make guns cheap and freely available" - it has never been about people, just money. But interesting none the less.
-------------------- Yours in the Natural State Land of Enchantment! "The woods are lovely, dark and deep; but I have patches to keep, and jars to sterilize before I sleep...." "When psychotomimetics become cultural, so does cultural psychosis"
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adamantasaurus
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: veggie]
#13379599 - 10/24/10 09:50 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
*Decriminalize or de-penalize possession and use of drugs.
*Repeal or substantially reform laws and policies inhibiting the delivery of essential health services to drug users, and review law enforcement initiatives around drug control to ensure compliance with human rights obligations.
AMEN!!! somebody is thinking the right way at least
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut



Registered: 01/26/08
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Loc:
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: adamantasaurus]
#13379711 - 10/24/10 10:36 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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This is a huge step! I'm excited to see how this plays out.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 18,037
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: bryguy27007]
#13379758 - 10/24/10 10:46 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
essential health services
I've literally wandered the mountainsides and deserts, taken unnecessary risks in the cities.
Never once, did I assume that my well being was essential to others.
As someone who has relished solitude, I can appreciate non-interference with others.
As such, I do not want an international body to make me financially liable for the irresponsible behavior of other people.
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puff4200
Natural born lever puller


Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 1,269
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: durian_2008]
#13379883 - 10/24/10 11:33 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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wow this is very sudden. I'm interested to see how this plays out.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 18,037
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: puff4200]
#13380020 - 10/24/10 12:09 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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They're not being totally honest, when acting as though you're getting a free gift, or an unconditional privilege.
The goal is not decriminalization, it's documentation.
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rawrrawr
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: durian_2008]
#13380173 - 10/24/10 12:55 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
durian_2008 said: They're not being totally honest, when acting as though you're getting a free gift, or an unconditional privilege.
The goal is not decriminalization, it's documentation.
This is so ignorant. Let me guess...There are aliens, we never landed on the moon, and BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!
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littleton
Stranger



Registered: 08/18/10
Posts: 440
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: guest1]
#13380566 - 10/24/10 02:34 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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lol that means i cant steal drugs no more
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 18,037
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: rawrrawr]
#13384053 - 10/25/10 07:38 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
durian_2008 said: They're not being totally honest, when acting as though you're getting a free gift, or an unconditional privilege.
The goal is not decriminalization, it's documentation.
Quote:
rawrrawr said: This is so ignorant... BROTHER IS WATCHING!
They're cataloging behavior and writing laws.
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dwpineal
Psychedelic Artist



Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 4,667
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: durian_2008]
#13384321 - 10/25/10 09:51 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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I'm extremely pleased to see this come up. I guess that any changes to the current laws may seem like they are not going in the right way or have flaws in the proposed changes, but too many lives have been ruined over the incarceration of non-violent drug offenders on a world-wide basis. The Fact that this recommendation is being put in front of the UN delegation means a lot. Hopefully they will totally re-create a new world wide drug policy that avoids incarceration penalties for "drugs."
It would be a move towards a lot saner world...
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blujay
pass it b*ch!


Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 5,120
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: durian_2008]
#13384571 - 10/25/10 11:04 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
durian_2008 said:
Quote:
essential health services
I've literally wandered the mountainsides and deserts, taken unnecessary risks in the cities.
Never once, did I assume that my well being was essential to others.
As someone who has relished solitude, I can appreciate non-interference with others.
As such, I do not want an international body to make me financially liable for the irresponsible behavior of other people.
You already are, and their health costs will be less than the costs to imprison all these people, particularly considering many of the people caged are there for usign drugs that will not result in health care costs.
--------------------
  wat man rly
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 18,037
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: blujay]
#13395727 - 10/27/10 03:07 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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I apologize if I seem trollish for this, but I thought that universal and unconditional privacy of persons and their property was the moral of the story.
Sharing accountability is something like spreading the punishment around.
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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Re: UN expert calls for a fundamental shift in global drug control policy [Re: durian_2008]
#13395811 - 10/27/10 03:25 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Update ...
UN health rapporteur: Drug war ignores rights, decriminalize narcotics use October 26, 2010 - The Canadian Press
The U.N. independent investigator promoting physical and mental health on Monday urged decriminalization of narcotics use, saying punishment and sanctions don't cure drug dependency.
Anand Grover, a well-known lawyer from India, also said the war on drugs has ignored drug users' human rights.
Grover is the U.N. Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on physical and mental health. He told the General Assembly committee dealing with rights issues that people who use drugs may not get the health care they need for fear of being arrested, or may be denied health care if they seek help.
Drug users also may be sent to compulsory treatment centres where they undergo forced labour, detention, military-type drills, physical exercises and other types of interventions whose effectiveness he said is not backed by scientific evidence, he said.
"People who use drugs and people who are dependent on drugs possess the same freedoms and entitlements guaranteed by international legal instruments," said Grover. "Both groups experience violations of their rights" under current international drug enforcement practices, he said.
He said decriminalization of drug use would not make it legal, but would eliminate prison terms and other sanctions that do not cure addiction.
"The current international system of drug control has focused on creating a drug-free world, almost exclusively through use of law enforcement policies and criminal sanctions," Grover wrote.
"Mounting evidence, however, suggests this approach has failed, primarily because it does not acknowledge the realities of drug use and dependence,' he said. "While drugs may have a pernicious effect on individual lives and society, this excessively punitive regime has not achieved its stated public health goals, and has resulted in countless human rights violations."
Grover said "nearly 90 to 100 per cent of people who use drugs returned to drug use after being subjected to forced treatment."
"The United Nations entities and member states should adopt a right-to-health approach to drug control," he argued.
As for legal drugs, he complained that people in many countries have limited access to essential medications, especially for emergency obstetric procedures and management of epilepsy.
"An alarming availability gap exists between the developed and developing world in relation to the supply of essential medicines," he said. "About 89 per cent of all legally controlled medicines, including morphine, is consumed by North America and Europe."
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