Between the 2nd and 4th of May 2023, a UNITE delegation of 6 members of parliament from Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, and Zimbabwe, and the Secretariat of UNITE’s Drug Policy Desk attended the Geneva Graduate Institute Executive Course in “Current Perspectives on Drug Policy”.
The three-day intensive course covered topics at the intersection of global health and drug policy, including harm reduction, human rights, the context in global health diplomacy and the international drug control framework, and current issues such as cannabis regulation, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the overdose epidemics.
The first day the course covered the context, history and legal framework of the global drug control regime, underlining the inconsistencies and united consequences of currently dominant punitive approaches. Perspectives of law enforcement were featured as well, underlining the idea that the current strategies deployed by law enforcement are in fact forcing the drug market to be more efficient, which results in an increase in criminality and organized crime.
The day ended with a panel discussion on decriminalization of drug use and possession, introduced by Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director of Release. The panel discussion offered a comparative approach to the different decriminalization models that have been implemented in countries, such as Portugal, where decriminalization of the use of all drugs was introduced in 2001 as part of a shift towards and major investments in public health. Challenges and opportunities for each model were evoked, as for instance UNITE Member Hon. Morgana Daniele, Member of Parliament of Lithuania participated on the panel and explained current efforts to decriminalize cannabis use in the country, and the challenges faced.
The second day focused on drug control from a health and health diplomacy perspective. Lectures were given by Dr. Barbara Broers, specialist in addiction medicine, who stressed that substance use is not always problematic, as overall around 85% to 90% of persons who use a substance do not have a problematic use; and by representatives of the International Narcotics Control Board and the WHO who spoke on human rights issues in accessing essential medicines under international control, and a session focusing on the opioid crisis in the USA.
The afternoon was dedicated to a negotiation exercise where participants were invited to negotiate a drug-related resolution in Geneva at the Human Rights Council.
The third day covered harm reduction topics as well as health and human rights related to drug policies. Annette Verster, Technical Officer on HIV, drug use and most at risk populations from the WHO shared that the implementation of needle and syringe programs (NSPs) reduces the HIV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in low- and middle- income countries. An evaluation by UNAIDS from 2023 showed that: “Approximately 10% of HIV infections among PWIDs globally were due to injecting drug use, and around 30% of the HIV infections in all regions worldwide other than Sub-Saharan Africa were the results of injecting drug use”. The improved safe injection practices can reduce and prevent the HIV transmission, especially if NSPs are part of a multi-component intervention including for instance supervised consumption rooms, overdose and infection prevention and naloxone provision.
Presentations addressed the human rights impacts of drug policies, harm reduction service provision globally and responding to drug use in prisons. The day ended with a panel discussion on perspectives for drug policy reform where Hon. Ricardo Baptista Leite, Founder and President of UNITE was also among the panelists. The panel underlined the idea that drug policy reform is urgently needed from a multisectoral approach, and bold political leadership and courage is necessary for change.
The example of Switzerland was highlighted, where a shift to drug policies based on the four pillars of harm reduction, treatment, prevention and repression of the illicit market was implemented 30 years ago, but new approaches continue to be debated to adapt to current realities. The process in the country was introduced by Hon. Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland, and former Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, who led the implementation of reforms in the 1990s. Following the sessions, the delegation of MPs also had a chance to connect informally with Mme Dreifuss and fellow Commissioners of the Global Commission.
Friday, the 5th of May, the UNITE delegation took the opportunity to visit several harm reduction services and treatment providers in Geneva. The delegation toured the supervised consumption facilities of Quai 9 and visited the drug checking service of “Nuit blanche” and visited the facilities of the heroin assisted treatment clinic of Hôpitaux Universitaires de Gèneve.
The UNITE delegation actively engaged in the class and learned many new aspects of drug policies that they are taking back to their respective countries. For instance, Hon. Esther Passaris, Member of Parliament from Kenya stressed the idea that “progress can be made when we approach drug policy with empathy, compassion, and evidence – based strategies.”
Over the course, Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba, Member of Parliament from Mexico, explained that the course helped gained an understanding “of adopting a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to face the challenges in this area. This course provides us with practical tools in legislation and diplomacy and inspires us to promote more humane and efficient drug policies in our respective countries and communities. Together, we can make a difference and contribute to a healthier and safer future for everyone.”
Hon. Daniele Molokele, from Zimbabwe has shared his experiences at the course in a video message:
