• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Drug Policy and Law
  • Harm Reduction
  • Activism

Drugreporter

News and Films from the Frontline of the War on Drugs

  • News
  • Café
  • Videos
  • About Us
  • EN
    • HU
    • RU

Video Report of the UN Drug Debate

April 8, 2015 | Author: Péter Sárosi

Tweet

This March, our video advocacy team attended the 58th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the largest drug policy gathering in the world, to find out how governments and NGOs feel about the prospects of drug policy reform. We produced a series of short thematic videos, to give you an overview of the current state of political debate on the burning issues of international drug control.

Internationally, drug policy is at a crossroads: the debate is shifting from a paradigm based on criminalising drug users, to a more public-health-oriented approach. But is this only a change in rhetoric, or a sign of real political reform? We asked activists who have been attending the CND for several years.

There are high expectations from civil society about the UN General Assembly on Drugs, a high-level meeting of governments that aims to discuss the world drug problem in New York next year. The last UNGASS was held in 1998 under the slogan: “A drug-free world: we can do it!” After almost 20 years, many governments feel frustrated at of the evident failure and measurable unintended consequences of this utopian strategy. But can we expect governments to discuss the alternatives to current drug policies next year? We asked participants to share their views with us.

Another sign of change was the stronger-than-ever presence of civil society at the UN headquarters: NGOs from all over the world came to share their experiences with government delegates, about how to deal with drug problems in the most effective ways. Our video provides a powerful photo exhibition, and a campaign in support of harm reduction.

China proposed an international ban on Ketamine, a dissociative drug known for its anaesthetic properties in medicine – as well as for its use as a recreational drug. Although the World Health Organisation recommended against scheduling this substance, many governments urged the CND to ban it. From this video, you can find out whether they were successful or not.

One of the most controversial issues debated at the CND, was the death penalty for drug offences. There are at least 32 countries which still prescribe capital punishment for drug offences, and several Asian countries still execute drug offenders every year. Although European countries condemn the death penalty, and call for its abolition, they also contribute to the execution of people – learn how, from our video!

For more information on the CND please read the CND blog edited by the members of the International Drug Policy Consortium!

István Gábor Takács
Peter Sárosi
Mátyás Kálmán

Filed Under: Articles, Video Database Topics: Criminalisation, Drug Consumption Rooms, Drug Policy and Law, Harm Reduction, Regulation and Control, UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, UN Drug policy

Access to this article is free - but to produce articles and videos is not. Drugreporter is a non-profit website that needs your support to provide you with high quality contents.

Become a supporter and make a donation of 5 $ today!

Kapcsolódó cikkek:

The Italian Anti-Rave Law Violates Human Rights – Interview with Susanna Ronconi

February 1, 2023 - Péter Sárosi

40 Years in the Frontlines of Harm Reduction in Ireland – Interview with Tony Duffin

December 20, 2022 - Péter Sárosi

Decriminalisation in Portugal: Through the Lens of People who Use Drugs

December 5, 2022 - István Gábor Takács

Kapcsolódó videók:

Decriminalisation in Portugal: Through the Lens of People who Use Drugs

December 5, 2022 - István Gábor Takács

Drugreporter News | 2022 November

November 24, 2022 - István Gábor Takács

Harm Reduction in Athens – With the Eye of an Outsider

November 23, 2022 - Péter Sárosi

You can browse our topics here:

Activism COVID-19 Criminalisation Dose of Science Drug Consumption Rooms Drug Policy and Law European Drug Policy Harm Reduction Hepatitis HIV/AIDS Marijuana Policies Medical Marijuana Needle and syringe programs New Psychoactive Substances Opiate Substitution Overdose Prevention Psychedelic Medicines Regulation and Control Russian Drug Policy Sex Work United Nations Drug Policy US Drug Policy

Primary Sidebar

BECOME A SUPPORTER OF DRUGREPORTER! INVEST THE PRICE OF A COFFEE MONTHLY AND MAKE SURE DRUGREPORTER KEEPS RUNNING!
Subscribe to the Newsletter!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

Drugreporter Video Database

Hundreds of videos on drug policy, harm reduction and human rights for streaming and download, also on a world map!

DRUGREPORTER NEWS

Monthly drug policy news from around the world

Drugreporter café

In our new online video show, we regularly discuss new developments in the world of drug policy with professionals, activists and decision makers. You can also listen to the Drugreporter Café in Podcast format on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

COVID-19 Harm Reduction Update

On this info page Drugreporter provides regular updates about resources and news on how harm reduction service providers respond to the COVID-19 Epidemic.

Drugreporter Video Advocacy Network

Browse videos produced by members of our Drugreporter Video Advocacy Network, from all around the world!

DRUG USERS NEWS

Russian language videos on drug policy, harm reduction and human rights.

Our award winning animated documentary movie is based on the original audio recording of Kostya Proletarsky, a drug user and HIV activist who died as a result of mistreatment and torture at a Russian prison. Festival appearances, news and resources are available here!

Footer

Rights Reporter Foundation
Hungary, 1032 Budapest
San Marco Street 70.
Email: rightsreporter@rightsreporter.net

Search

Our other websites:

The Rights Reporter Foundation

The Autocracy Analyst

Room for Change Campaign

Room in the 8th District Campaign

A Day in the Life movie website

Drugreporter