United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for a major global shift in drug policy, advocating decriminalization as a more humane and effective alternative to criminalization. His remarks were made last week during a speech at the Harm Reduction International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia.
Türk emphasized the failures of punitive drug laws, noting they disproportionately impact marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent. He argued that prohibition has fueled discrimination, environmental degradation, and has failed to curb drug use or related crime.
“We need a transformative approach,” he said, urging governments to replace punitive measures with evidence-based, health-focused strategies that include harm reduction, voluntary medical care, housing, and social services.
Highlighting the broader harms of drug prohibition, Türk also linked current policies to environmental damage, including deforestation and toxic waste, and called for “responsible regulation” to eliminate profits from illegal trafficking and reduce violence. He welcomed the inclusion of people who use drugs in policy discussions, noting their long-standing exclusion and mistreatment.
Türk’s comments echo previous UN statements. Earlier this year, a coalition of UN special rapporteurs and working groups stated that the global drug war has led to serious human rights violations. They urged member states to adopt approaches centered on public health and community support, including harm reduction tools like supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention medication.
A 2023 report by Harm Reduction International revealed that $13 billion in U.S. taxpayer money has gone to global drug enforcement since 2015, often at the expense of poverty alleviation and human rights. Other reports have also criticized the environmental and social costs of global prohibition efforts. Türk concluded by stressing that civil society must be free to participate in shaping drug policy without fear or intimidation, calling collaboration essential for meaningful reform.
