united nations Archives

United Nations’s World Health Organization Calls for Worldwide Decriminalization of Drug Use and Possession

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017

**In a public statement the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the worldwide decriminalization of drug possession and use.**

“United Nations entities recall that a central principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to “ensure that no one is left behind” and to “reach the furthest behind first””, states the Joint United Nations statement on ending discrimination in health care settings, which was released yesterday. “Recognizing that discrimination in health care settings is a major barrier to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations entities commit to working together to support Member States in taking coordinated multisectoral action to eliminate discrimination in health care settings.”

With this in mind, the WHO is calling for “Reviewing and repealing punitive laws that have been proven to have negative health outcomes and that counter established public health evidence”, including “drug use or possession of drugs for personal use”.

State Department Official Gives Green Light for Countries to Decriminalize Drugs

March 10, 2016

By Samuel Oakford, Vice.com – Republished with Special Permission

Washington’s top international narcotics official gave a qualified go-ahead for countries to decriminalize drugs on Tuesday — the latest sign that the US is walking back decades of hardline rhetoric ahead of a pivotal special session of the United Nations General Assembly on global drug policy in April.

Speaking to reporters at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York, William Brownfield, assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, said American officials were attempting to “find areas of pragmatic reform” with other member states over drug policy. A consensus outcome document currently under negotiation at the Committee on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna is expected to be finalized by the middle of next week, he said, and will be presented at the UN special session (UNGASS).

Leaked United Nations Paper Calls for Decriminalizing Drug Use and Possession

October 19, 2015

By Drug Policy Alliance

Drug Decriminalization Rapidly Emerging as Consensus Goal of Drug Policy, Public Safety and Health Stakeholders as 2016 UN Special Session on Drugs Approaches

Momentum Accelerating in the U.S. and Abroad Toward Drug Policy Reforms: Marijuana Legalization, Drug Decriminalization, and Ending Mass Incarceration

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appeared set to call on governments to end the criminalization of drug use and possession, according to DPA Honorary Board Member Richard Branson – but in a dramatic turn of events withdrew a briefing paper under pressure from at least one country, according to the BBC.

China Sentences 13 to Death for Drug Charges in Public Rally

June 26, 2015

China sentenced 13 people to death on Friday for drug-related charges at a public rally attended by thousands.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency. the prisoners were among 38 convicts to receive sentences before a crowd of over 10,000 people in the city of Lufeng, which is located in the southern province of Guangdong. Eight of the prisoners were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, while others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Indonesia Executes Eight People for Drug Offenses

April 29, 2015April 28, 2015

An Indonesian police firing squad boards a boat heading to an island where eight drug-related executions took place (photo: CNN).

Today, eight people were executed in Indonesia for drug offenses ranging from transporting heroin to intent to distribute cannabis.

Despite repeated pleas for mercy from family members, human rights organizations, the United Nations, and government officials around the world, Nigerians Martin Anderson, Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, Raheem Agbaje Salami, Okwuduli Oyatanze, and Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Indonesian Zainal Abidin and Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte were killed by firing squad today, just past midnight in Indonesia’s timezone.

United Nations: Criminal Sanctions for Drug Use Are “Not Beneficial”

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014

By Drug Policy Alliance

Drug Decriminalization Rapidly Emerging as Consensus Goal of Drug Policy, Public Safety and Health Stakeholders

Today, a key working group of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced the release of groundbreaking recommendations discouraging criminal sanctions for drug use. The Scientific Consultation Working Group on Drug Policy, Health and Human Rights of the UNODC – which includes Nora Volkow, head of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – is releasing the recommendations at the High-Level Segment of the 57th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The working group recommendations say “criminal sanctions are not beneficial” in addressing the spectrum of drug use and misuse.

Uruguay President Calls Head of UN Narcotics Board a Liar

December 15, 2013

By RT.com

Uruguay’s president has accused the head of the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of lying and double standards, after the official claimed the country did not consult the anti-drug body before legalizing marijuana.

Earlier this week, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize both the sale and production of marijuana.

INCB chief Raymond Yans has slammed the “surprising” move, accusing the South American state of legalizing the drug without first discussing it with the UN organization.

Leaked United Nations Document Shows Many Countries Ready To End The War on Drugs

December 22, 2013December 11, 2013

By Johnny Green, TheWeedBlog.com

Latin American Nations Especially Critical, Say Prohibition Contributes To Violence, Drug Abuse Should Be Considered Public Health Problem

VIENNA – A leaked draft of the UN’s long-term strategy to combat drug abuse shows a number of countries oppose the current prohibitionist model and favor a public health approach to drug use rather than a law enforcement one. The draft is currently being compiled by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and will be released in 2016 as the basis for the international organization’s 10-year plan for reducing narcotic drug abuse.