Vienna, May 15, 2024– Youth RISE and the Paradigma Coalition are proud to announce their active participation in a significant side event organized by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
ABOUT THE EVENT
This side event brought together key stakeholders to discuss human rights and drug policy reforms, with the aim of promoting a legal framework that respects human rights and supports sustainable development.
Co-sponsored by Colombia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Amnesty International, Fair Trials, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the International Drug Policy Consortium, the International Network of People Who Use Drugs, the Open Society Foundation, Paradigma Coalition, Penal Reform International, and Youth RISE, the meeting centered on the critical need to decriminalize conduct protected under international human rights law, with a special focus on the recently adopted 8 March Principles.
The event began with Zaved Mahmood, Drug Policy and Human Rights Advisor at OHCHR, who welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to the event’s sponsors and co-organizers. Mahmood highlighted the objective of the event: promoting human rights and health-based drug policies aligned with sustainable development goals. He introduced Ambassador Laura Gil from Colombia, who delivered the introductory remarks.
Ambassador Laura Gil emphasized Colombia’s commitment to reforming international drug control conventions. She advocated for human rights and health-based drug policies that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, underscoring the Colombian Mission’s progressive efforts in Vienna.
Patricia Schulz, Commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists, highlighted the ICJ’s central role in the adoption of the 8 March Principles, which advocate for a human-rights-based approach to criminal law. Schulz detailed the development process of the Principles, which stemmed from the collective concerns of civil society organizations, UN actors, and human rights mechanisms about the overcriminalization of vulnerable groups. She explained that the Principles provide a framework for States to check their compliance with international human rights laws and standards, and she encouraged their use by state authorities, legal professionals, and civil society for advocacy and education.
Olivia Rope, Executive Director of Penal Reform International, addressed the global increase in prison populations, attributing it to penal populism, authoritarianism, and the criminalization of poverty, status, and activism. She highlighted how both archaic and new laws contribute to prison overcrowding, particularly in Africa, where colonial-era laws still criminalize vagrancy and begging. Rope pointed out the disproportionate impact of these policies on women, noting that poverty and punitive drug policies have significantly increased female imprisonment. She endorsed the 8 March Principles as an essential resource to combat overcriminalization and promote human rights-based legal reforms.
Rebeca Marques Rocha, International Communications & Advocacy Officer at Youth RISE, praised Colombia’s progressive drug policies and the ICJ for the 8 March Principles. Highlighting the Paradigma Coalition’s Common Position on Drugs, she emphasized the human rights violations and public health crises caused by the criminalization of drug use, citing data from the UNODC’s 2023 World Drug Report that highlights increasing drug-related deaths and high incarceration rates for drug offenses and the findings from the International Drug Policy Consortium Shadow Report and the Harm Reduction International’s Divest/Invest campaign. Rocha advocated for decriminalization and harm reduction approaches, citing Portugal’s success in reducing drug-related harms through these methods. She called for a shift from punitive responses to human rights and public health-focused drug policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.Youth RISE and Paradigma Coalition invite everyone to stay informed and engage with several key resources. Anticipate the forthcoming Penal Reform International report on global prison trends, set for publication in June, which will provide critical insights into global incarceration trends. Engage with the International Drug Policy Consortium Shadow Report for the mid-term review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on drugs, offering a thorough analysis of current drug policies and their impacts. Join the Harm Reduction International’s Divest/Invest campaign, advocating for reallocating resources from punitive drug policies to harm reduction and public health initiatives. Finally, read and utilize the 8 March Principles as a powerful advocacy tool to address the harmful human rights impacts of unjustified criminalization.
CALL TO ACTION
1. Upcoming Penal Reform International Report:
We invite everyone to anticipate the forthcoming Penal Reform International report on global prison trends, set for publication in June. This report will offer critical insights into global incarceration trends and serve as a valuable resource for advocates and policymakers. Read more here.
2. International Drug Policy Consortium Shadow Report:
Engage with the International Drug Policy Consortium Shadow Report for the mid-term review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on drugs. This report provides a thorough analysis of current drug policies and their impacts. Access the report here.
3. Harm Reduction International Divest/Invest Campaign:
Join the Harm Reduction International’s Divest/Invest campaign, which advocates for reallocating resources from punitive drug policies to harm reduction and public health initiatives. Learn more here.
4. The 8 March Principles:
We urge all stakeholders, including policymakers, activists, and civil society organizations, to read and utilize the 8 March Principles as a powerful advocacy tool. These principles aim to address the harmful human rights impacts of unjustified criminalization. Read and use the principles here.
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For further information, please contact:Rebeca Marques Rocha at rmarques@youthrise.org