Michel Kazatchkine and Mary Chinery-Hesse in EUObserver: “A fundamental contradiction in EU drug policy”
Read original article in EUObserver By Michel Kazatchkine, former director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy; and Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chancellor of the university of Ghana and member of the West Africa Commission on Drugs. Over the past
Ruth Dreifuss and Bill Richardson in The Daily Caller: “Abstinence from punishment, a path to address the opioid crisis”
By Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, and Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland and Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy* More than 70’000 people died from a drug overdose in 2017 in the United States, according to reports. This sets yet a new record, emphasizing the
Commissioner Ramos-Horta: “Put Human Rights in Global Drug Policy”
Read original post in the Harvard Health and Human Rights Journal. Around the world, people have experienced one of the most widespread and shameful human rights failures of our time—the global war on drugs. Barely a day passes without some tragedy or abuse fuelled by misguided drug policies hitting the
Khalid Tinasti in Modern Ghana: “Africa’s Time To Shape International Drug Policy”
Read original article in Modern Ghana. Africa’s Time To Shape International Drug Policy Last March, during a discussion on the decriminalization of drug use at a diplomatic dinner in Vienna, where the United Nations’ drug control entities sit, a Central African representative said that “African countries cannot decriminalize, because only
Commissioner George Shultz in Washington Post: “How we can help the migrant caravan”
“Curbing violence in Central America will require addressing the U.S. war on drugs. Instead of blaming the migrants who are fleeing violence and corruption in Central America, we should recognize why they are leaving and do something about it.” Read original article in the Washington Post.
Khalid Tinasti in The Daily Star, Bangladesh: “Drug Policies should be first of all concerned with preserving public health”
Bangladesh’s recent impetus on cracking down on drug abuse and trade has led to some divisive results—while there is no doubt that this is an issue that needs to be addressed, the approach taken by the authorities has been questioned. The country recently passed the Narcotics Control Bill 2018, which
ABC News Australia: “Drug decriminalisation a ‘blindingly obvious’ solution for Australia”
Read original article in ABC News Australia. Medical, legal and religious groups have joined forces to call for drugs to be decriminalised in Australia, arguing addiction should be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal one. The Fair Treatment campaign is being led by the Uniting Church with
Commissioner Branson in The Australian: “Casualties pile up in ‘war on drugs'”
Opinion piece in The Australian by Sir Richard Branson, member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, on how Australia can reduce drug dependency and save lives by decriminalizing psychoactive substances. Read article.
Globe and Mail: “Commission calls for ‘responsible control’ of illicit drugs through legalization, regulation”
Read original article on Globe and Mail. ANDREA WOO PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 24, 2018UPDATED SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 A commission comprising of former heads of state and international experts is calling for the “responsible control” of currently illicit drugs through legalization and regulation. But Canada is just weeks away from cannabis legalization and
Commissioner Obasanjo in Project Syndicate: “West Africa’s Failed War on Drugs”
Read original article in Project Syndicate. The region’s drug laws are in desperate need of reform. To reduce the harm caused by the illegal drug trade while maintaining access to essential medicines and services, governments must stop punishing addicts. LAGOS – No matter where you look in West Africa, drug laws