Global druG policy
‘IF WE LOOK AT OTHER DIFFICULT
POLICY AREAS
, whether that be the
refugee crisis, global warming or the
war in Syria, the UN does not generally
show leadership largely because of
individual member states’ own views.
It must be remembered that the UN is
the sum of its parts, not an individual
entity in and of itself. Multi-lateral
agencies are not the best places to sow
the seeds for regional or international
reform, largely because of individual
member states’ own views and
interests generally being paramount.
This was evidenced by the statements
made by Russia and many of the Asian
countries, who continue to push for
punitive responses to drug use and
supply, despite the human rights
abuses that are apparent in many of
these states.’
Niamh Eastwood
‘THE LAST SHREDS OF THE PRETENCE
of
a global consensus were ripped away
as countries completely disagreed with
one another via their country
statements, with some explicitly
stating that global drug policy had
failed while others – and this group is
getting smaller, although still includes
powerful states like Russia – talked of
the need to intensify the war on drugs.’
Ann Fordham
‘WE WERE VERY PLEASED
by the high
profile given to the death penalty de-
bate, and the large number of member
states voicing explicit opposition to the
practice. Despite its weaknesses, the
outcome document does contain the
strongest human rights provision ever
agreed in a UN drug control resolution.
So that is also progress.’
Rick Lines
‘PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DEPRESS-
ING MOMENTS
was when Indonesia said
that their drug laws – which involve the
use of the death penalty – were
compliant with international human
rights. This was moments after a
colleague from an Indonesian NGO who
represents those sentenced to the death
penalty had eloquently outlined the
horror faced by those who have been, or
are waiting to be, executed by firing
squad for low-level drug offences.’
Niamh Eastwood
‘AFTER A WEEK OF LISTENING TO THE
DEBATES
in New York, it’s clear that
things have shifted. More and more
governments are openly voicing their
displeasure with the dominant punitive
approach to drugs. Having the UNGASS
this year has helped to build important
momentum for change, bringing many
new voices calling for reform, such as
other UN agencies and new actors, into
the reform community – from criminal
justice, development, peace building,
palliative care, human rights, racial
justice and religious groups.’
Ann Fordham
‘NINE COUNTRIES STOOD UP
in front of
the world and called for legalisation.
That may not be many, but it’s nine
more than last time and shows how far
we’ve come. It’s not a taboo any more,
and if the UN system doesn’t show some
flexibility they will continue to imple-
ment the reforms anyway and the UN
drug control system will drift into irrele-
vance. It’s a case of reform or die really.’
Steve Rolles
‘IT IS REFORM NATIONALLY
that will
ultimately change the international
regime.’
Niamh Eastwood
‘THE UK GOVERNMENT’S MESSAGE
to
the UN is right – robust investment and
light-touch enforcement is the path
forward – but those words will ring
hollow if we fail to heed them at home.’
Paul Hayes, head, Collective Voice
‘IT IS CLEAR THAT NEWMETRICS AND
INDICATORS
should be developed in the
sphere of drug policy, aligning global
policy with the sustainable development
goals, and that guidelines should be
produced that reflect the socio-economic
foundations of involvement in the drugs
trade. In this way, the UNGASS can make
moves towards effectively dealing with
the challenges posed by drug usage and
mend some of the damage caused by a
costly and failed war on drugs.’
Yasmin Batliwala
‘THIS UNGASS WAS A SUCCESS
when
looking outside of the UN itself as it
served as a key opportunity to publicly
scrutinise failed drug policies,
something which the mainstream
media did reasonably well, by and large.’
Niamh Eastwood
‘THE COUNTRIES SEEKING CHANGE
didn’t get what they wanted at UNGASS
but their resolve has only stiffened,
along with the solidarity between
reform-minded states, and with the
growing reform momentum and change
on the ground they will doubtless
regroup and come back stronger – with
an emboldened and empowered civil
society supporting them all the way.
Progress can happen at multiple levels –
public debate, national reforms and in
multilateral agencies, and is mutually
supportive. So we need to keep pushing
on all those fronts.’
Steve Rolles
8 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| May 2016
‘Nine countries stood up in front of the world and called for
legalisation. that may not be many, but it’s nine more than last
time and shows how far we’ve come. It’s not a taboo any more...’
steve rolles
