Global Commission Slams UNGASS 2016 Outcome That Strains the Credibility of International Law

by Will Godfrey April 21, 2016 At a packed press conference in Manhattan this morning, a formidable panel—including former presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Switzerland, a former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, a former UK deputy prime minister and entrepreneur Richard Branson—declared itself “profoundly disappointed” by the failure of the UNGASS 2016

Continue reading

21 April 2016: Global Commission Slams UNGASS 2016 Outcome That Strains the Credibility of International Law

by Will Godfrey April 21, 2016 http://theinfluence.org/global-commission-slams-an-ungass-2016-outcome-that-strains-the-credibility-of-international-law/ At a packed press conference in Manhattan this morning, a formidable panel—including former presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Switzerland, a former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, a former UK deputy prime minister and entrepreneur Richard Branson—declared itself “profoundly disappointed” by the failure of the UNGASS

Continue reading

21 April 2016: Decriminalize all drugs, business and world leaders tell UN

Leaders of Global Commission on Drug Policy including Richard Branson and three ex-presidents say special session on drug policy was ‘fatally flawed’ Jessica Glenza at the United Nations April 21, 2016 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/21/un-special-session-global-drug-policy-failure-critics-say A British billionaire, three former presidents and a renowned Aids researcher have called for all drugs to be decriminalized

Continue reading

If the war on drugs is failing, U.N. Assembly doesn’t see it

“The document does not acknowledge the comprehensive failure of the current drug control regime to reduce drug supply and demand,” the Global Commission on Drug Policy said in a statement. “Nor does [it] account for the damaging effects… Advocates for drug reform, who were hoping that a high-level summit this

Continue reading

The UN has talked about drugs, now what? By Richard Branson

Today, the UN General Assembly’s Special Session (UNGASS) on drug policy reached its conclusion, with the underwhelming and disappointing outcome that had been in the making for months. It’s been like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Image from Drug Policy Alliance The UNGASS outcome document does not call for an

Continue reading

Decriminalize all drugs, business and world leaders tell UN

Leaders of Global Commission on Drug Policy including Richard Branson and three ex-presidents say special session on drug policy was ‘fatally flawed’. A British billionaire, three former presidents and a renowned Aids researcher have called for all drugs to be decriminalized at a press conference that was sharply critical of

Continue reading

It’s Time to Abandon the War on Drugs for a Health-Focused Drug Policy by Jorge Sampaio

LISBON, Portugal — Almost no one would disagree with the core principle of “putting people first” — be it when business strategies are at stake or when public policies are being discussed. However, in spite of the undeniably witty mass appeal of this memorable 1992 Clinton presidential campaign slogan, the United Nation’s

Continue reading

AP article on Global Commission and UNGASS

Associated Press 3-Day UN Special Session on Drug Policy Starts Tuesday Dave Bryan Apr 19, 2016   The first U.N. special session to address global drug policy in nearly 20 years is expected to feature a debate over whether countries should emphasize criminalization and punishment or health and human rights.

Continue reading

19 April 2016: AP article on Global Commission and UNGASS

Associated Press 3-Day UN Special Session on Drug Policy Starts Tuesday Dave Bryan   Apr 19, 2016   http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/day-special-session-drug-policy-starts-tuesday-38498281 The first U.N. special session to address global drug policy in nearly 20 years is expected to feature a debate over whether countries should emphasize criminalization and punishment or health and

Continue reading

Global Commission at UNGASS 2016!

Wondering how the Global Commission on Drug Policy is participating at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs?   We hope you can join us in New York from April 19-21, 2016 for these important events! You can also follow the official UNGASS process on webcast: http://webtv.un.org The Global Commission

Continue reading