Declaration of Antigua: For a comprehensive policy against the world drug problem in the Americas

Reiterating further the importance of participation by civil society in addressing the world drug problem, including the design, execution, and evaluation of public policies, based on their experience and knowledge;
  • Civil society engagement

18. That they encourage member states, in accordance with their domestic law, to continue strengthening measures and policies, including a gender perspective, as appropriate, to reduce overcrowding in prisons, while promoting greater access to justice for all, and establishing penalties that are reasonable and proportionate to the severity of the crime, and supporting alternatives to incarceration in appropriate cases, particularly by increasing access to rehabilitation, comprehensive health care, and social reintegration programs; and, in that regard, they encourage member states to strive to incorporate the relevant provisions of the United Nations Standards and Norms into their practices.
  • Proportionality of sentencing

19. That they encourage member states to consider, as part of their national policies, comprehensive and sustainable alternative development programs and measures—including, where appropriate, preventive alternative development—aimed at eliminating the factors that cause poverty, social exclusion, and environmental degradation in order to avert the involvement of vulnerable populations in activities connected with illicit drug production and trafficking.
  • Alternative development
  • Development/SDGs

View document