The incoming Thai government coalition must put electoral politics aside and focus on enacting drug policies grounded in principles of social justice, harm reduction, and human rights.
Through participatory workshops, activists, policymakers and farmers collectively envisioned models of legal regulation for industrial hemp, medical and adult-use cannabis.
The latest Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights implications of drug policy represents the most ambitious and progressive resolution on the matter to date, and should influence the outcome of the upcoming 2024 mid-term review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.
The launch of the report brought together over 60 representatives from civil society, community networks and public authorities, prompting a discussion on the need to end rights-violating practices against people who use drugs.
Despite significant enduring challenges, Thailand's criminal justice reforms offer promise in a region marked by highly punitive responses to drug use and related activities.
Through presentations, debate and exercises, judges familiarised themselves with new law and suggested additions to the guidelines to reduce uncertainty in the implementation.
Governments and UN entities must take up their “historical responsibility” and reform drug policies ensuring that human rights are front and centre. At this juncture, with the drug war’s harms laid bare, anything less would be unconscionable.
The question of ‘when change is going to finally happen’ will continue to be a difficult one. But we can confidently say that thanks to Support. Don't Punish campaigners' shared and steadfast commitment, it is much closer than it was 10 years ago.
