International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)

THIS WEEK — the CND Independent Expert Panel holds online consultations, an opportunity for participation & accountability. Observer registration: + 28 Oct, 09:00 Bangkok: ow.ly/NECG5100TqO + 28 Oct, 15:00 Vienna: ow.ly/eger5100TqN More at: ow.ly/ZTN25100TqL

Forced sterilisation is a grave human rights violation. IDPC joins colleagues firmly rejecting a bill in Bolivia proposing it for homeless women who use drugs. In line w/ intn'l standards, Bolivia must instead decriminalise + provide voluntary, gender-responsive services. https://ow.ly/CPbE50ZXYxZ

#DrugPolicy success should look like lives protected, violence reduced... not arrests and seizures. Former Colombian Ambassador to the UN, Laura Gil, urges CND Expert Panel to confront failures & put #HumanRights first. Interview w/ Ann Fordham - Health and Human Rights https://ow.ly/7CsR50ZY0x0

🌿 The WHO review left the coca leaf under unduly strict international control. At #HRC63, civil society and UN experts explored pathways to protect Indigenous rights, ancestral practices and growers’ livelihoods. Watch the recording: https://ow.ly/46Tr50ZXEz1

🌿 Decades of international restrictions on coca have undermined Indigenous traditions. The WHO's review of the coca leaf was a missed opportunity to correct a historical injustice — Martin Jelsma examines why: https://idpc.net/news/2026/10/the-world-health-organization-coca-review-a-post-mortem

HAPPENING NOW at #HRC63 🌿 Indigenous and peasant rights cannot remain sidelined in drug policy. Join us to discuss the flawed coca-leaf review—and the path to real change. https://unog-un-org.zoom.us/j/92375224078?pwd=NJtVudzCrELOJZavhbaaG02R2kYabp.1

🔥VICTORY FOR DULF & HARM REDUCTION!🔥 BC’s Supreme Court threw out the convictions of DULF’s co-founders, finding their community-led safer supply model saved lives and did not undermine public safety. Parliament has 6 months to create a viable legal pathway. https://ow.ly/p6Ph50ZSZxv

[TODAY] Join INPUD for a community-led dialogue launching a new brief on #decriminalisation by and for people who use drugs. 🗓️ 30 Sept. 🕒 15:00 (Geneva time - CEST) Interpretation in Arabic, French, Russian & Spanish Register: https://ow.ly/BjUO50ZSMnr https://ow.ly/wOqk50ZSMnu

i'm in BC Supreme Court waiting to hear the ruling from Justice Catherine Murray, who is making findings: a non-medicalized safe supply program is desperately needed, the DULF compassion club didn't cause any harm, and there wasn't any licit supply for DULF to access

TOMORROW — Learn about the latest developments & trends in Europe re: drug situation from civil society & community leaders. With Thomas Clausen (European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) Ganna Dovbakh (CSFD/EHRA) and Leo Jefferys (EuroNPUD). 🗓️ 30 SEPT. 🕐 13:00 CEST Register: https://ow.ly/xxvJ50ZSICL

Punitive drug policies reinforce systemic racism in law enforcement. At #HRC63, IDPC & partners welcomed UN EMLER’s recognition of this intersection and called for stronger action by Member States & across the UN drug control system. Read & share: https://ow.ly/It5K50ZSaE4

Overjoyed to welcome Isabel Pereira-Arana to the IDPC team! 💚 A leading voice in #DrugPolicyReform & #HumanRights, Isabel joins us as Senior Consultant for Multilateral Advocacy, supporting our work across key UN spaces. ¡Bienvenida, Isabel! https://idpc.net/team/isabel-pereira-arana

Conflating drug trafficking with terrorism/armed conflict is deadly. UN SR on #HumanRights & Counterterror, Ben Saul, warns that the use of '#NarcoTerrorism' narratives to justify military action undermines the right to life & international law. UN-SPexperts https://ow.ly/yCcK50ZQg5W

Criminalising children for drug possession while denying them access to #HarmReduction is not protection. The Global Commission on Drug Policy calls for rights-based #DrugPolicy grounded in dignity, care and meaningful participation: https://ow.ly/ssCh50ZN9Jx

Punitive responses to organised crime deepen the violence and inequalities women already face. At #HRC63, new research examines these harms in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. 🗓 1 Oct. 14:00–15:00 📍 Concordia 1 http://ow.ly/iJr130sYZGE

At #HRC63, women with lived experience of incarceration and civil society partners call for drug policy reform that addresses gender inequality, keeps families together, and advances socioeconomic justice. Watch and share: https://ow.ly/V4tN50ZPBWf

Punitive #DrugPolicy reproduces the inequalities faced by women and girls, exposing them to compounded harms. This new OHCHR report launched at #HRC63 documents these gendered impacts and charts a path toward rights-based, gender-responsive approaches. Read & share: https://ow.ly/yNHp50ZQeFo

The future of the coca leaf must centre Indigenous Peoples and peasant communities. At #HRC63: what follows the international review of coca, and how can the plant and affected communities be protected? 🗓 1 Oct. 13:00–14:00 📍 Concordia 1 http://ow.ly/8a0c30sYZGC

#HRC63: Resuming coca crop eradication with toxic herbicides would have serious consequences for rural communities and the environment in Colombia. Dejusticia, Elementa DDHH & the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) urge UN monitoring to prevent harm. Watch: https://ow.ly/IW1Z50ZPBzE

Punitive drug policies entrench systemic racism, incl. through racial profiling, policing and incarceration. At #HRC63, a new UN EMLER report examines impacts on Africans and people of African descent. 🗓 30 Sep. 12:00–13:00 📍 Room V, Building A http://ow.ly/8bRl30sYZGB

The CND Expert Panel is inviting written contributions from civil society and other stakeholders. This is a key opportunity to ensure civil society perspectives and priorities inform the Panel's work and the 2029 CND High-Level Review. 🗓️ Deadline: 15 Nov 2026 More info: https://ow.ly/aa1k50ZM39R

The UN drug control and human rights systems have long developed on separate tracks. How can their growing convergence strengthen advocacy for drug policy reform? 🗓 29 Sep. 12:00–13:00 📍 Concordia 1 #HRC63 http://ow.ly/etqw30sYZGA

Drug policy is a gender equality issue. At #HRC63, the OHCHR presents its new report on how drug policies affect women and girls — and what gender-responsive, rights-based approaches require. 🗓 28 Sep. 13:00–14:00 📍 Room V, Building A http://ow.ly/Teom30sYZGz

Children and young people live with the consequences of drug policy, but are often left out of the debate. Parallel to #HRC63, this event discusses what a child rights-based approach can look like: 🗓 30 Sep. 18:30–20:00 📍 UNIGE Uni Mail, Room MS150 http://ow.ly/yxtU30sYZGy

New Global Commission on Drug Policy brief charts a child rights-based agenda for #DrugPolicy reform, centring dignity, health and participation. Read, in multiple languages + child-friendly versions! https://ow.ly/OcCe50ZN9Ho

The CND Expert Panel could help shape the future of the UN drug control system. Civil society and affected communities can help put evidence, lived experience, health and human rights at the centre. 🗓️ Deadline: 15 Nov More info: https://ow.ly/EuwR50ZM32v

On a challenging year, our network gained ground: + Stronger UN #HumanRights commitments. + 1000s championing #SupportDontPunish in 260+ cities. + New #HarmReduction openings in SEA. Our Progress Report reflects on these gains — and 20 years of IDPC! https://ow.ly/xJQW50ZM2pp

For over three decades, Martin Jelsma has shaped the drug policy reform movement. As he begins a new chapter after retiring from the Transnational Institute, we celebrate his immense contribution — and the ideas, generosity and solidarity that have characterised it. 💚 https://ow.ly/O3iP50ZKNyG

People who use drugs must shape harm reduction. Ghana’s #Stigma reduction roadmap calls for stronger community feedback and peer-led approaches. Read & share the Roadmap, with contributions from gov & UN officials and civil society & community reps.: https://ow.ly/279I50ZKjZa

Presented today at #HRC63, this UN #EMLER report maps how racism structures drug enforcement — calling for decriminalisation, ending militarised responses, reparations & transiting to responsible regulation. IDPC & partners proudly contributed evidence. Read & share: https://ow.ly/LOBA50ZILOe

One year ago, the US began a bombing campaign against small boats in the name of fighting 'narcoterrorism' — at least 223 people have been killed. UN #HumanRights experts are unequivocal: these strikes are unlawful. Read & share the statement: https://ow.ly/uZl350ZIbJG

🤔 What does post-Prohibition look like, and who gets to benefit? 💸 #DrugPolicy reformers face a major challenge in ensuring legal regulation does not reproduce the inequalities of the '#WarOnDrugs'. Ann Fordham interviews legal scholar & #TheNextFix author Kojo Koram: https://ow.ly/p6NN50ZHKCw

💜 On #IOAD, we remember too many lives cut short by overdose, and refuse to accept this loss as ‘inevitable’. Punitive policies fuel risk & push people away from care. →Scale up harm reduction. →Decriminalise. →Invest in community care. →Confront Prohibition. #SupportDontPunish #EndOverdose

International Overdose Awareness Day is next Monday, 31 August 💜 For 25 years, #IOAD has created space to remember those we’ve lost and demand action to prevent further deaths. Are you ready? Whether you organise an event, share vital info or amplify communities, visit: overdoseday.com

Singapore has carried out at least 16 executions for drug offences in 2026. Today, UN #HumanRights experts have called for their immediate halt — as unlawful and arbitrary deprivations of life — in view of a moratorium and the full abolition of the death penalty. Read on: https://ow.ly/nMuc50ZBnrZ

Ahead of #LEPH2026, the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association , LEAP & Transform Drug Policy Foundation organise a workshop on policing & harm reduction addressing police-led diversion, naloxone distrib., divestment & more. 📍 Leeds, UK 📅 4–5 Sept. More at: https://ow.ly/Uhjc50ZBmzK

[THIS THURSDAY] Police interference in health services can deter people from accessing care. This webinar offers providers practical guidance to protect clients' rights & safety. By HRNA_AIIRM & Doctors for Safer Drug Policy w/ Caitlin Shane, Pivot Legal Society More at: https://ow.ly/n43v50ZyElb

Ghana’s drug law reform opened the door to greater justice in #DrugPolicy. Courts, health services and communities must now work together to deliver. IDPC's Maria-Goretti Ane reflects on a recent training paving the way for a health & rights approach: https://ow.ly/r7sZ50ZuboI

As IDPC celebrates its 20th anniversary and undergoes leadership transition, our commitment is undeterred: a stronger network to protect hard-won progress, with affected communities at the heart of reform. Board Chair Tomás Chang Pico elaborates: https://ow.ly/nwq150ZuaGb

Drug control cannot justify extrajudicial executions. WOLA documents 221 deaths in the United States' campaign against so-called 'narcoterrorism', calling for an immediate halt, accountability and remedies for affected communities. Read on: https://ow.ly/bcYb50ZugL1

The REFORM project found that training advocates, journalists and lawyers strengthens the case for #DrugPolicyReform, and that, beyond skills and capacity, we also need coalition-building, civil society engagement, and political leadership. More at: https://ow.ly/rMVQ50Zu8Ll

Launched last month, the #WDR2026 documents rising harms and growing drug markets, but stops short of confronting the human rights costs of the current global drug control regime. Read on: https://ow.ly/tYSg50Zu8ww