VNGOC: Good morning, and welcome to the informal dialogue with the WHO. First of all, I’d like to thank you on behalf of the Vienna NGO Committee and to thank the representatives of the World Health Organization for being here today to answer all the questions from civil society. Also, I’d like to say thank …
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
Side event: Human rights implication of drug policy: Prevention, accountability, effective remedies
Michael Camilleri, OHCHR. Eliminating impunity, access to justice are key elements of the 2016 UNGASS. The International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy states that everyone has the right to accountability. They suggests actions MS can take: create transparent human rights mechanisms, conduct investigations, holding perpetrators accountable, ensure access to appropriate remedies. Here we …
Side event: A decade of drug policy and human rights: Gaps, achievements and paths forward
Swiss Ambassador for Global health. It is a pleasure for me to be here with you and welcome you to this side event organised by Switzerland and cosponsored by a number of Member States and other stakeholders. We continue to promote human rights and a public health centred approach to drug policy. This event comes …
The Next Generation of Care: Youth-Centered Innovations to Renew and Strengthen Health Systems
The 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), held in March 2026 in Vienna, took place nearly ten years after the 2016 UNGASS on drugs, which carried the slogan “A better tomorrow for today’s youth.” This side event by Youth RISE and the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP) brought this commitment under …
SIDE EVENT: Interactive dialogue on the WHO ECDD recommendations following the critical review of the coca leaf
Dr Deus Mubangizi, Director, Health Products Policy and Standards Department, World Health Organization. It will be important to understand the process we went through. For critical reviews, if we need more expertise, we issue a call. In this case, because of the nature of the request, we issued an open call for experts. A number …
Side event: Principles on drug treatment as alternatives to conviction or punishment
Candice Welsh, UNODC. Drug use conditions are health issues. Scientific evidence based treatment improves health outcomes and benefits communities in multiple ways. Alternatives to incarceration are in line to international drug conventions and improve health, wellbeing and public safety. In 2015, UNODC launched its first handbook on the subject. This is where the implementation principles …