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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Brussels: Current drugs policy out of date
European NGO Council On Drugs & Development - Press Release
Monday 26 Mar 2001 Date: 26 Mar 2001 Subject: "CURRENT DRUGS POLICY OUT OF DATE" Brussels - Monday Today marks the 40th anniversary of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs signed in New York. A summit of European experts on drugs policy gathered this weekend in Brussels to analyse the results of fourty years of prohibition. They find that "current policy is extremely harmful to public health and a violation of human rights at huge financial costs" The original aim of the 1961 convention was to establish a drugs free society in 25 years. It turned out to be an illusion. The experts feel that society would be better off accepting that it never was or will be drugs free. According to them, "today's knowledge calls for radical change. Governments should take on the responsibility of regulating the drugs situation. To avoid further unnecessary human suffering and economic loss, decriminalisation of both production and consumption of drugs is needed". Among the results of the meeting, the folowing conclusions can be mentioned: 1. Policies aiming at a drugs free world are directly responsible for - non access to sterile injection equipment leading to the large Hepatitis pandemic, and of course AIDS, - the incarceration and criminalization of drugs consumers and peasants involved in drugs production - the spread of unsafe consumption patterns due to the lack of genuine prevention, information and healthy circumstances - the destruction of livelihoods, and generations of violence in poor communities in both developing and developed countries - the destruction of environments due to fumigation strategies Hence, drugs policies do far more damage to society in general than the drugs themselves. 2. Europe, traditionally a place where humanitarian values have been developed, should start to conceive a different policy. In fact, some countries have already done so: many successful experiments with innovative drugs policies are taking place on a local level, and an increasing number of authorities are no longer afraid to question current drugs legislation. However, the 1961 Convention continues to be the basic principle for drugs policy of almost all countries in the world. There is no willingness to debate whether this strategy actually works. Neither has there been a serious evaluation on its effectiveness. 3. We believe that drugs policies should have two basic priorities: public health and the respect of human and civil rights. In our view, drugs consumption should be accepted as part of life. In order to reduce eventual harm related to it, drugs production, trade and consumption should be regulated. Therefore, in the coming year, we will prepare an international Conference to take place in the European Parliament. In this Conference, we will present to European parliamentarians, members of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers our concerns with current strategies based on the 1961 Convention and propose that a serious, independent and thorough evaluation is taken on. The International Coalition for Just and Effective Drugs Policies can be contacted in the following countries: Belgium: Joep Oomen, ENCOD (tel. 32 3 272 5524, E-mail: encod@glo.be) Denmark: Jorgen Kjaer, Brugerforeningen (tel. 45 35 36 01 50, E-mail: jk@brugerforeningen.dk) France: Gerard Leblonde Valièrgue, Ligne Blanche (tel. 33 1 42 06 32 51, E-mail: lblanche@noos.fr) Germany: Astrid Forschner and Monika Meyer, JUBAZ (tel. 49 69 24002431) Italy: Mattia Diletti, Forum Droghe (tel. 39 6 67 60 44 53, E-mail: mdiletti@fuoriluogo.it) Netherlands: Job Joris Arnold, MDHG (tel. 31 20 624 47 75, E-mail: mdhg@xs4all.nl) Spain: José Luis Sanchez, Grup Igia (tel. 34 639 05 28 90, E-mail: info@igia.org) United Kingdom: Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt, the John Mordaunt Trust (tel. 44 77 59 86 83 73, E-mail: usersvoice.jmt@dial.pipex.com) EUROPEAN NGO COUNCIL ON DRUGS & DEVELOPMENT Lange Nieuwstraat 147 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium Telephone: + 32 (0) 3 272 5524 Telefax: +32 (0) 3 226 3476 E-mail: encod@glo.be Visit us at http://www.encod.net/ Visit the Youth Parliaments on Drugs and Development at http://www.youthparliament.com/
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