Declaración del Presidente de la JIFE para el Día de los Derechos Humanos 2024

Jallal Toufiq destacó la necesidad de superar las disparidades en el acceso a medicamentos controlados y servicios de tratamiento, priorizando la salud y las alternativas al castigo. Más información, en inglés, está disponible abajo.

VIENNA, 10 December 2024 - On the occasion of Human Rights Day 2024, the International Narcotics Control Board emphasizes that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for the implementation of the international drug control conventions. INCB reiterates its call for human rights to be respected in the development and implementation of drug policy. Measures adopted with the purported aim of furthering drug policy that are inconsistent with universally recognized human rights norms are a violation of the international drug control conventions.

Ensuring availability of internationally controlled substances for medical purposes and access to evidence-based treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and social reintegration services for people with drug use disorders are important elements of the right to health.

Internationally controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are used for anaesthesia, pain management, treatment of neurological and mental health conditions and for opioid agonist therapy. Although the global supply of opiate raw materials exceeds the requirements reported by Governments to INCB, the estimated requirements submitted by some countries may not reflect actual medical needs, and there are persistent global disparities in the availability of internationally controlled medicines. The Board is committed to working with Member States to improve the implementation of the drug control treaties with a view to improving availability of controlled substances for medical, scientific and industrial purposes as well as access to evidence-based and stigma-free services for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and social reintegration. This also extends to humanitarian emergencies - whether they result from natural disasters, armed conflict or other anthropogenic causes - where patient access to essential controlled medicines and treatment services must be ensured. Affected States and exporting countries are reminded about the possibility of applying simplified control measures during emergency situations as foreseen in the drug control conventions.

Other human rights obligations related to drug policy include the promotion of equality and non-discrimination towards people who use drugs, prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to a fair trial for drug-related crimes, the principle of proportionality, and protection against all forms of cruel and inhuman punishment. INCB continues to remind Governments that the drug control conventions provide States with the possibility of applying alternative measures to conviction, punishment and incarceration, including education, rehabilitation or social reintegration. This extends to the need to ensure that the rights of vulnerable population groups are protected against exploitation by drug traffickers and that appropriate safeguards exist in criminal justice systems.

Human Rights Day is a timely reminder of the need to better safeguard human rights protections and place people at the heart of drug policies. In carrying out its treaty-based mandate, INCB is committed to ongoing cooperation with Member States to improve the implementation of the drug control conventions and their human rights dimensions, with the ultimate aim of safeguarding health and welfare, the overarching concern of the three conventions.