This section features reports, including the Implementation Report Series, which are written for a general audience and are intended to highlight key themes or issues in drug policy requiring human rights attention, best practices from the local level that demonstrate rights realisation, and tools and methods for translating norms into action. The reports take a positive perspective, focusing on existing efforts and opportunities from around the world showing how action on human rights is possible and practical in the drug policy space and how – in some cases – it is already happening.
It is our hope that these reports showcase the possibilities for transformative rights-based action in drug policy in a way that is beneficial to those working in drug policy who may not have human rights expertise, as well as those working in human rights who may be unfamiliar with drug policy issues.
This report presents a feasible pathway for moving towards a human rights-based legal and policy environment relating to drugs.
This implementation report provides a snapshot of four years of Guidelines implementation efforts by stakeholders across more than 25 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa, by the European Union; and by UN human rights mechanisms reflecting an emerging community of practice among a diverse group of stakeholders.
In preparation for the regional dialogue for Sub-Saharan Africa, this document sets out the thematic results of preparatory work, providing a spotlight on human rights and drug policy in the region. As with other reports in the Implementation Series, it is intended to inspire action by providing an overview of ongoing efforts by a range of actors and across issues relevant to human rights and drug policy.
(Briefer - organised by OHCHR and International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy with support from GANHRI Secretariat at the March 2025 Annual GANHRI Meeting)
This document summaries the discussions at a side event on 10 March 2025, GANHRI Annual Meeting, where a panel examined how National Human Rights Institutions can use the international Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy to promote and monitor human rights-based drug policies at the national level. Practical strategies and opportunities for using the Guidelines in ongoing national efforts were considered. The panel included Marizen Santos (Division Chief, Philippines Commission on Human Rights), Angela O'Hagan (Chairperson, Scottish Human Rights Commission) and Tony Ojkowu (Substantive Executive Secretary, Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission). Opening remarks by Julie Hannah (Director of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy) and Emily Christie (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Moderator, Simon Walker (Chief, Rule of Law & Democracy Section, OHCHR).
