This webinar marks the launch of the Global Commission on Drug Policy's thirteenth Thematic Report: "Beyond Punishment: From Criminal Justice Responses to Drug Policy Reform".

The webinar features Commissioners Louise Arbour (Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Canada), Diego García-Sayán (Former Minister of Justice and former Minister of Foreign Affairs - Peru) and Anand Grover (Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health - India), who discuss the key findings of the report based on their professional and regional expertise. The webinar is moderated by award-winning health journalist, Jacqui Thornton.

Panelists discuss how punitive drug policies have led to mass incarceration and human rights violations, examining a wide range of criminal justice responses - from stop-and-search practices targeting marginalized communities to extreme measures such as the death penalty and enforced treatment. They advocate for policy reform through evidence-based strategies, including harm reduction, decriminalization, and the legal regulation of drug markets, while also emphasizing the urgent need for reforms focused on health and human rights. Panelists also discuss pathways to addressing structural inequalities and supporting vulnerable groups.

The report is available in English, Spanish, and French (link below). The Russian translation will be available in February 2025.

Key topics covered:
-Criminal justice responses to drugs
-The ineffectiveness of punitive approaches
-Harm reduction, regulation and legalization as models for reform

Learn more: https://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/reports/beyond-punishment-from-criminal-justice-responses-to-drug-policy-reform

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