Category: Harm Reduction

How is harm reduction a human rights issue? What is harm reduction? There are an estimated 16 million people who inject drugs in over 148 countries around the world.1This practice can carry significant health risks, including increased exposure to HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.2 Yet repressive drug policies and practices create and exacerbate the harms associated with illicit drug use. People who use drugs are regularly harassed and detained, subjected…

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Table A: International Human Rights Instruments and Protected Rights and Fundamental Freedoms UDHR ICCPR ICESCR CEDAW ICERD CRC Life Art. 3 Art. 6(1) Art. 6(1) Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment* Art. 5 Art. 7 Art. 37(a) Arbitrary Arrest and Detention Art. 9 Art. 9 Art. 37(b) Fair Trial Art. 8,Art. 10,Art. 11 Art. 9,Art. 14,Art. 15 Art. 5(a), Art. 6 Art. 40 Privacy Art. 12 Art. 17 Art. 16…

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Table 1: Harm Reduction and the Right to Life  Examples of Human Rights Violations A government authorizes, or fails to investigate, the murder of suspected drug traffickers as part of a crackdown on drugs. An ambulance refuses to respond to a drug overdose because the underlying activity is “illegal.” A government imposes the death penalty for drug-related offenses. Drug users die in locked rehabilitation clinics or hospital wards, such as…

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Table 2: Harm Reduction and Freedom from Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment, including in prisons Examples of Human Rights Violations Police of security officers beat and injure people suspected of using drugs. Investigators force drug suspects into withdrawal from heroin in order to extract confessions. A government imposes lengthy mandatory prison sentences for minor drug-related offenses. Persons convicted of drug offenses are detained and committed to treatment in…

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Table 3: Harm Reduction and Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Detention Examples of Human Rights Violations Drug users are arrested or detained based on planted evidence or evidence obtained through an illegal search or seizure. Drug users are imprisoned on criminal charges without a fair trial. Drug users are committed to forced treatment or detoxification without their consent. Human Rights Standards Treaty Body Interpretation ICCPR 9(1): Everyone has the right…

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Table 4: Harm Reduction and the Right to a Fair Trial Examples of Human Rights Violations An individual is convicted of drug charges after an undercover police officer lures them into committing a drug offense. A detainee is kept in pre-trial detention for drug charges for an unreasonable length of time. An individual is convicted on a drug offense without trial. An individual is convicted of a drug charge based…

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Table 5: Harm Reduction and the Right to Privacy Examples of Human Rights Violations Police are authorized to arrest or detain people based on suspected drug use, without having to prove possession or trafficking of drugs. Police are authorized to test the urine of anyone suspected of using drugs. School officials are authorized to conduct invasive searches of children and random drug testing. Government maintains registries of suspected drug users.…

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Table 6: Harm Reduction and Freedom of Expression and Information Examples of Human Rights Violations Drug users are denied information about HIV prevention, harm reduction, and safer drug use. Government bans publications about drug use or harm reduction, claiming they represent propaganda for illegal activity. The government shuts down websites providing information about harm reduction. See, www.hrw.org/news/2012/02/08/russia-government-shuts-hiv-prevention-group-s-website. Government officials harass or detain individuals who speak publicly in favor of needle…

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Table 7: Harm Reduction and Freedom of Assembly and Association Examples of Human Rights Violations Public authorities refuse to register a drug user association. Police break up a peaceful demonstration against drug laws. Police threaten a group of people at a community meeting providing information or support. See en.rylkov-fond.org. People who use or possess drugs are subject to arrest, imprisonment, and fines, such as the case of Cambodia’s 2011 Law…

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Table 8: Harm Reduction and Right to Bodily Integrity Examples of Human Rights Violations A suspected drug user is abused by police. Police fail to investigate a case of domestic violence against a drug-using woman. Doctors compel a drug-using pregnant woman to undergo an abortion. Police fail to investigate the assault or murder of a person suspected of using drugs, blaming it on “gang violence.” Note: The right to bodily…

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