Summary of the President of the General Assembly on the informal interactive stakeholder consultation in support of the preparatory process for the UNGASS on the world drug problem

As the only Special Session of the 70^th session, the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft expressed that UNGASS is a major event on the 2016 General Assembly calendar. (…) He greatly encouraged inclusive, open and transparent preparations for the special session and welcomed the important contribution civil society and other relevant stakeholders have made to the process.

The UN Secretary-General highlighted the important role of civil society and other stakeholders play in advancing the sustainable development agenda. Furthermore, he stressed that as a cross-cutting issue, the balanced implementation of the drug conventions requires the continued involvement of the UN system, and all relevant stakeholders particularly in the areas of human rights, health and development. He also said he was extremely grateful for the contribution being made by civil society and other relevant stakeholders, and will country on hearing their continued and experiences voices during these important debates

1. There was broad agreement over the need for a people and human rights centered and public-health based approach to drug control. Participants underscored that from a public health perspective, punitive and repressive policies are damaging and counter-productive as they exacerbate drug-related harms, such as HIV and HCV epidemics and high levels of overdose. In addition, some participants suggested that as a result of legal and policy restrictions, stigma and overregulation, only 1/6 of people who use drugs receive the necessary treatment.

2. Several participants voiced concern regarding the lack of access to controlled medicines for the relief of pain and suffering continues which they state to be a serious failing in the public health system and a violation of the right to health. They stressed that this gap must be addressed urgently, in particular for funding and technical support to be made available to better educate drug control officers, lawmakers and healthcare professionals. They underlined that those who need pain relief must receive it, both in developed and in developing countries. Several participants highlighted the importance of Morphine in this regard.

3. There were many calls highlighting the urgency to implement and scale up comprehensive harm reduction services and evidence-based drug dependence treatment, and to ensure that these services are gender-sensitive and are also made available to young people who require them. Participants urged governments to make these health services available in prisons and other closed settings and underlined how denying people who use drugs access to harm reduction programs is a violation of their right to health. Various participants expressed that risk and harm reduction measures have proven effective and must be openly acknowledged. Furthermore, participants said there should never be non-consensual medical treatment in relation to drug dependence and compulsory or coercive drug treatment can also undermine recovery.

4. Several panellists stated that drug addiction should be perceived as a multi-factorial health issue not a criminal issue. They suggested that this can be best addressed through an integrated spectrum of responses ranging from prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery and social integration.

5. (…) There were numerous calls for the active involvement of young people in the development and design of drug policies, which was characterized as critical. (…) Also, the need for evidence-based drug dependence treatment and harm reduction for young people was stressed by several participants, as was the need for young people not to be criminalized for the use of drugs.

7. Several participants explained how the health and well-being of people who use drugs is severely undermined by the criminalization of drug use, as it deters people from accessing health services for fear of arrest and imprisonment. It increases the risks and vulnerabilities of an already marginalized population group. There were several calls to consider decriminalization, depenalization and alternatives to punishment and incarceration for people who use drugs to improve health outcomes. Several participants expressed the view that recovered drug users must also not face stigma and discrimination, particularly in a way that undermines opportunities for employment and education. In addition, there were calls for Member States to consider the responsible legal regulation of drugs, including medical cannabis, as part of a harm reduction response to drug use.

8. The role of civil society, representing affected and marginalized populations, was strongly highlighted, since it can promote and support effective and sustainable drug policies and programmes. Panellists underlines that broad and integrated involvement of civil society is critical to the success of the UNGASS and the review of the 2009 Political Declaration and its Plan of Action. There was strong call for Member States to take into account the evidence from the ground, as well as the recommendations from the Civil Society Task Force and other civil society organisations submitted during the negotiation process on the UNGASS outcome document.

3. There was a strong call for proportionality of sentences for drug offences and for the abolition of the use of the death penalty for drug related crimes. Some participants expressed the usefulness of guidance for Member States regarding what constitutes a serious offence in the context of the Conventions, especially regarding proportionality, the use of death penalty and international law.

5. Panellists underlined that in order to achieve sustainable alternative development, farmers must be included in the process of designing and implementing alternative development policies and programs, with the aim of protecting the human rights of farmers and their communities as a key guiding principle and recognizing that punitive policies toward farmers have detrimental effect on their livelihoods.