On this edition of Century of Lies: Support, Don’t Punish: A Public Health and Human Rights Based Approach to Drug Policy.
The Fifty-Ninth Session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from June 16 to July 8. A number of side events were held in conjunction with the HRC meetings. One of those side events was entitled Support, Don’t Punish: Advancing Towards a Health and Human Rights-Based Approach to Drug Policy. Recent developments within the United Nations have strengthened the call for public health- and human rights-based approaches to drugs. This side event took stock of progress in fulfilling the right to health for people who use drugs, particularly through harm reduction strategies. It also explored opportunities for reform at both national and international levels.
This week on Century we’ll hear portions of that side event, including presentations by Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health; Zaved Mahmood, Human Rights Officer at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ahmed Said, Coordinator at the Africa Network of People who Use Drugs; and Marie Nougier, Head of Research and Communications at the International Drug Policy Consortium.
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