| From: |
Aram Barra [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
Young people call on drug policy makers to reassess their commitmentto youth
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| Sent: |
Mar 22nd, 2011 - 04:46:56 |
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*Please share amongst your contacts. *
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*Young people call on drug policy makers to reassess their commitment to
youth*
*Download original press release in Englsih, Spanish, German or Arabic
here: http://espolea.org/?p=532*
*While Member States meet in Vienna to discuss global drug policies, the
current system based on prohibition leads to significantly increased harm
and suffering to us, younger generations. Today, we are questioning the
commitment of world leaders to our health and wellbeing.*
**
*21 March, Vienna, Austria- *A primary justification for punitive drug
policies is that they are necessary to protect young people from the evils
of drug use and addiction. This rationale has had tremendous appeal and has
been used to defend our current drug policy system persuasively and
pervasively.
Young people attending the 54th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
are discrediting this fundamental argument too often used to support the
war on drugs. Far from protecting young people from drug use, current
drug policies based on prohibition and law enforcement serve to increase
harms to the very young people they claim to protect. Policies grounded in
public health and human rights urgently need to replace misguided punitive
approaches in order to serve the best interests of children and young
people.
The young delegates express concerns echoed by the Committee on the Rights
of the Child, who recently issued recommendations for the introduction of
policies that aim to reduce harm for children and young people in the
Ukraine, including the decriminalisation of drug use and possession, and
youth-friendly harm reduction services.
*We repeatedly hear from policy makers how children and young people need
to be protected from drugs and the harmful consequences of their use,
however young people are never asked how best to do this. Include us in drug
policy dialogue and we will tell you that these policies are causing young
people much more pain and suffering, and in many cases costing young people
their lives, *says Anita Krug, International Coordinator for Youth RISE, an
international youth-led network advocating for more humane drug polices for
young people.* *
The harming impacts of current drug policy on young people are far reaching.
From denial of access to life saving health services, to reduced employment
and educational opportunities, to children being caught up in deadly drug
war violence in producing and transit countries.
Concern for the health and wellbeing of young people must be reflected in
policies, and therefore should aim to mitigate harms associated with drug
use, not exacerbate them. Young people from around the world call on the
Commission of Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
and most importantly the governments of Member States to:
- *Decriminalise drug use and possession for young drug users: *Young
people are criminalised for drug use, and in many countries around the world
may be sent to mandatory treatment or rehabilitation facilities, or jail if
apprehended by police. This has far-reaching consequences for the young
person, including reduced education and employment opportunities.
- *Eliminate all barriers to young peoples access to life saving harm
reduction services:* Barriers to access include* *arbitrary age
restrictions, requirement of parental consent, stigma and discrimination.
- *Adopt policies that adhere to the Convention of the Rights of the
Child (CRC): *Member states should recall the principles of
non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the right to life,
survival and development, and the right to participation. These are
enshrined in the CRC, and are critical for guiding policies and response.
- *Ensure the meaningful participation of young drug users and young
people affected by drug policy: *As a most affected population, young
people must be meaningfully engaged in drug policy and programme
development, implementation and evaluation at all levels. Young people who
use drugs have a right to be included in the decisions that affect their
lives.
- *Ensure policies are not having secondary effects on our young people
in drug producing and transit countries and regions: *A disastrous
consequence of prohibition is organised crime and violence in producing and
transit countries. Children and young people are increasingly becoming
casualties of the war on drugs, are caught up in the violence and are most
affected by its impact.
# # #
More info: Aram Barra / Anita Krug
Vienna, Austria: + 43 650 2832019
Mail: info (at) espolea.org
Twitter: (at) Espolea |/ (at) YouthRISE
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