The main theme of the 48th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs was HIV/AIDS prevention among drug users. However, none of the adopted resolutions mentioned harm reduction or syringe exchange. Two reprepresentatives of HCLU participated as members of the OSI delegation, read their short report on the event.
Drug Policy and Law
Drug laws in most countries of the world follow the principle defined by the three international drug conventions (1961, 1971, 1988), that is, they prohibit the non-medical and non-scientific use of some mind altering drugs. This principle is not only outdated but it has become anachronistic: the reality is that millions of people use mind altering substances for recreational purposes and most of them do not experience significant harms from drug use. What is more, many harms people do experience are directly connected to the war on drugs, which created a lucrative black market that only benefits criminal organisations. A drug-free world is an illusion, drug policies should be aimed at reducing the harms of drug use and drug policies instead. We believe that drug use should not be punished and drugs should be regulated as legal products, adjusted to the specific characteristics and risks of those drugs.
Black Monday for the Freedom of Information
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU, www.tasz.hu ) lost the first round in its landmark Freedom of Information case on Monday, the 24th of January, in Budapest. In November, 2004, the HCLU filed a lawsuit against the Hungarian Constitutional Court. HCLU then asked the Budapest Court to release the petition of Csaba Hende, Member of the Parliament. The Constitutional Court denied providing the information, so HCLU started a Freedom Of Information case at the Budapest Court.
Black Monday for the Freedom of Information
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU, www.tasz.hu ) lost the first round of a landmark Freedom of Information case decided by the Budapest Court on Monday, the 24th of January, 2004. In November, 2004, the HCLU appealed this decision to the Hungarian Constitutional Court, from which it is still awaiting a decision. HCLU also requested that the Budapest Court release the petition of Csaba Hende, Member of the Parliament, in order to shed further light on the government’s involvement in the Court’s decision making process. The Constitutional Court refused to release this petition. HCLU responded by filing a Freedom of Information case with the Budapest Court.
Correction in the EMCDDA Report
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union informed the EMCDDA that there was an error in its Annual Report (released on 25 november, 2004). They replied and acknowledged the mistake, they promised to correct it in the online version.
Correction in the EMCDDA Report
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union informed the EMCDDA that there was an error in its Annual Report (released on 25 november, 2004). In its reply to HCLU EMCDDA acknowledged the mistake and promised to correct it in the online version.
HCLU Conference and Legal Training (13-14 November 2004)
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union organized its annual legal training and conference for drug treatment providers and researchers between 13 and 14 November, 2004.
HCLU Conference and Legal Training (13-14 November 2004)
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union organized its annual legal training and conference for drug treatment providers and researchers between 13 and 14 November, 2004.
Letter to the EU Commission
The EU Commission launched a public consultation on the new EU Action Plan of Drugs (2005-08). HCLU and a couple of Central-Eastern European NGOs answered the call and sent a proposal to the Commission in which they evaluate the implementation of the previous drug strategy and set up new guidelines for a new EU drug policy.
Letter to the EU Commission
The EU Commission launched a public consultation on the new EU Action Plan of Drugs (2005-08). HCLU and a couple of Central-Eastern European NGOs answered the call and sent a proposal to the Commission in which they evaluate the implementation of the previous drug strategy and set up new guidelines for a new EU drug policy.
HUNGARIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SAYS: „THERE IS NO RIGHT TO BE HIGH”
BUDAPEST 13 December 2004 – The Constitutional Court of Hungary in a 7 to 2 vote rejected the proposals claiming that drug laws that punish possession of drugs for personal use are unconstitutional. The Court accepted another proposals’ argumentation against certain forms of diversion treatment. According to the resolution, nobody has a right to be high, therefore criminal prosecution against drug users is not unconstitutional.
