Briefings and submissions
50th Session of the Human Rights Council: Drug Policy Highlights
26 July 2022
On Friday, 8 July 2022, the Human Rights Council (HRC) concluded its 50th Session (13 June - 8 July 2022) in which drug control and its impact on human rights were analysed through different dialogues and resources. This briefing reviews key debates, decisions and documents regarding human rights and drugs-related issues. Read more
50th Session of the Human Rights Council: joint oral statement on the right to life
22 June 2022
ID SR EJK joint oral statement Read more
50th Session of the Human Rights Council: joint oral statement on the right to health
20 June 2022
Oral statement ID SR health Read more
50th Session of the Human Rights Council: Joint oral statement on states' responses to pandemics
13 June 2022
Item 2 - Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s oral update on State response to pandemics (res. 44/22) Mister President, I speak on behalf of 18 organisations. COVID-19 and related governments policies – many overwhelmingly punitive - disproportionately impacted marginalised and criminalised communities such as people in detention,… Read more
50th Session of the Human Rights Council: Drug policy opportunities
13 June 2022
The 50th Session of the Human Rights Council, to be held between 13 June and 8 July 2022, presents valuable opportunities for raising the human rights impacts of drug control policies worldwide and discussing pathways for reform. This briefing oultines some key sessions where drug policy will or can be addressed, and suggestions for… Read more
Joint submission to OHCHR on the promotion and protection of the human rights of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement
18 April 2022
Submission by HRI and Release to OHCHR on on the discriminatory application of drug law enforcement on Africans and people of African descent. Read more
Report to the UN Secretary-General on the question of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty
12 April 2022
Report to the UN Secretary-General on the question of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty Read more
Oral input at WHO Public Hearings on the New Pandemic Treaty, April 2022
12 April 2022
Oral Statement by Harm Reduction International on the question of “What substantive elements do you think should be included in a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response?” Read more
Meeting on enhancing technical cooperation and capacity-building in promoting and protecting the human rights of persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations in recovery efforts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
07 March 2022
UN Human Rights Council (49th Session) Mister President, Since the COVID-19 outbreak, dozens of countries have resorted to emergency executive powers for pandemic control. While some restrictions were justifiable, many were unnecessary or disproportionate. These powers were often misused to center decision-making and resources in the hands of… Read more
Interactive Dialogue on OHCHR Written Update on Sri Lanka
03 March 2022
UN Human Rights Council Forty-ninth Session 28 February – 1 April 2022 Madam President, I speak on behalf of [xxx] organisations. The High Commissioner and UN human rights bodies have consistently denounced the ongoing militarisation in Sri Lanka, which appears to have been exacerbated during and through the militarised response to… Read more
Submission to OHCHR on human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 47/14
16 February 2022
HRI, IDPC, CDPE and Instituto Ria welcome the opportunity to contribute on “actions taken and to be intensified or initiated to meet the innovative targets on societal enablers ahead of the High Commissioner’s report on human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS to be presented at the Human Rights Council in its 50th session. Read more
48th Session of the Human Rights Council: Drug Policy Highlights
20 October 2021
On Friday 8th October 2021, the Human Rights Council concluded its 48th Session (13 September – 8 October 2021). Several dialogues and resources addressed drug control and its human rights impacts. This briefing provides a review of some key moments and documents. Read more
48th Session of the Human Rights Council: HRI Oral Statement on Sri Lanka
14 September 2021
Oral Statement Item 2: General Debate on High Commissioner Oral Update on Sri Lanka UN Human Rights Council Forty-eight Session 13 September – 8 October 2021 Madam President, I speak on behalf of fourteen organisations. We reiterate the broad range of serious human rights concerns in Sri Lanka highlighted by the High Commissioner. In… Read more
47th Human Rights Council Oral Statement
02 July 2021
Hundreds of thousands of people are detained, today, in private or public drug rehabilitation facilities - some in application of sanctions, some after being coerced, others under the false pretence of consent. As denounced by the Working Group, detainees often undergo non-evidence based treatment centred around violence, humiliation, and abuse;… Read more
47th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: Drug Policy Highlights
14 June 2021
The 47th Session of the Human Rights Council, held between 21 June and 15 July 2021, presents multiple opportunities for assessing the human rights impacts of drug control policies worldwide, and discussing pathways for reform. Here are some key sessions and events where drug policy will be addressed, and suggestions for recommendations and… Read more
Human Rights Council - Written Statement on Violations of the Right to Life in the Context of Drug Policies
02 June 2021
Harm Reduction International and co-signatories congratulate Mr Tidball-Binz on his appointment as Special Rapporteur on summary executions. With this statement, we highlight key violations of the right to life enabled by repressive drug policies or reported in the context of drug law enforcement; and encourage this Rapporteur to pay specific… Read more
Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Torture on Accountability for Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
14 May 2021
Harm Reduction International (HRI) and Conectas Human Rights welcome the opportunity of contributing to the Special Rapporteur’s report on accountability for torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter: torture and ill-treatment). This submission focuses on torture and ill-treatment committed in application… Read more
Submission to the Runnymede Trust: CERD 2021 Call for Evidence
08 March 2021
HRI and Release develop this submission in response to the Runnymede Trust's call for evidence regarding the Government's implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Drug law enforcement disproportionately targets ethnic minority communities, including people of African and Asian… Read more
The impact of a multi- country harm reduction advocacy grant in South-East Asia
11 February 2021
This briefing compiles evidence of the impact of the multi-country grant Harm Reduction Advocacy in Asia (HRAsia), funded by the Global Fund’s Catalytic Investments between 2017- 2020. It also… Read more
Report to OHCHR on “human rights in the administration of justice”, pursuant to Resolution 42/11
11 January 2021
Harm Reduction International (HRI) and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) welcome the opportunity to submit information to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the preparation of its report under Human Rights Council Resolution 42/11 on human rights in the administration of justice. This submission addresses… Read more
Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee ahead of the third periodic review of Nepal (adoption of List Of Issues Prior to Reporting)
04 January 2021
Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee ahead of the third periodic review of Nepal (adoption of List Of Issues Prior to Reporting) 131st Session (1 – 26 March 2021) Read more
Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ahead of Lithuania’s Periodic Review
18 December 2020
Submitted by Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), Harm Reduction International (HRI), the Association of Women Affected by HIV/AIDS and Their Family Members “Demetra”, Coalition “I Can Live”, Support Foundation “Rigra” and youth-led NGO “Young Wave”. Read more
Submission to OHCHR on the protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people of African descent
04 December 2020
HRI and Release make this submission to OHCHR on the “Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers”, pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 43/1 Read more
Submission to the Human Rights Committee - Iran
05 June 2020
Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and Harm Reduction International report to the Human Rights Committee ahead of its review of Iran, focusing on the death penalty, compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres and cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments for drug offences. Read more
Submission to the Human Rights Committee - Indonesia
01 June 2020
Harm Reduction International, the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) and LBH Masyarakat report to the Human Rights Committee ahead of its review of Indonesia, focusing on the death penalty, compulsory treatment and extrajudicial killings. Read more