Each year, the UNODC reports an estimated half a million drug-related deaths – deaths that
could be prevented with well-funded harm reduction services and an enabling political and
legislative environment that provides care and support for people who use drugs, instead of
punishment. This side event was organised by the International Drug Policy Consortium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
This is also the main recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in their landmark reports on drug-related issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And yet, a global overview of harm reduction services around the world show that they continue to be inaccessible for many, direly underfunded, and at constant risk of being closed down – while a majority of countries continue to impose severe sanctions against people who use drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n