More U.N. States Quietly Say No to Drug War

[RainDog]

This link is an update on a post in GD about a document leaked to the Guardian, as the UN prepares for its every-10-years statement on drug policy: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4115236

http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/12/more-un-states-quietly-say-no-to-drug-war/

The document, first publicised by the Guardian and obtained by IPS, contains over 100 specific policy recommendations and proposals from member states, many at odds with the status quo on illicit drug eradication and prohibition.

...Under U.S. law, the Department of State must every year publish a report that includes evaluating whether foreign aid recipients meet the “goals and objectives” of the 1988 agreement.

Most UNODC funding comes from member states, which can attach strings to “special-purpose funds.”

This means countries can maintain both private and public stances on drug policy. Switzerland, which began offering heroin-assisted treatment for addicts in 2008, backtracked this week in a press statement that stressed the leaked document was part of a “brainstorming” session and that it “does in no way support any efforts or attempts of changing the three U.N. Drug Conventions as they are today.”

Interesting read at IPS news.