Harsh drug laws are driving a surge in the number of women imprisoned in Latin America. Between 2006 and 2011, the female prison population in Latin America almost doubled, increasing from 40,000 to more than 74,000 inmates. The vast majority of incarcerated women are in prison for drug-related offenses. Estimates range from: 75–80 percent in…Continue Reading Behind the Staggering Rise in Women’s Imprisonment in Latin America
INCB vs Uruguay: the art of diplomacy
INCB President Yans disqualified himself and should consider stepping down International tensions over Uruguay’s decision to regulate the cannabis market reached new levels when Raymond Yans, president of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), accused Uruguay of negligence with regard to public health concerns, deliberately blocking dialogue attempts and having a “pirate attitude” towards the…Continue Reading INCB vs Uruguay: the art of diplomacy
The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
The proliferation of drug trafficking in West Africa, as measured by drug – and most specifically cocaine – seizure data, has drawn considerable attention from the United Nations drug control bodies, and from West European and North American countries that are engaged in anti-poverty, state stabilisation and counter terrorism activities in the sub-region. Underscoring concerns…Continue Reading The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
Uruguay Votes to Become the First Nation to Legally Regulate Cannabis
“The traditional [interdiction] approach hasn’t worked. Someone has to be the first [to try this].” President José Mujica of Uruguay, June 2013 On Tuesday 10th December Uruguay made history by voting to establish a legally regulated system for production and supply of cannabis for recreational purposes. In November 2012, two US States – Washington and…Continue Reading Uruguay Votes to Become the First Nation to Legally Regulate Cannabis
Human rights, harm reduction and you
The UN has declared Tuesday, 10 December as Human Rights Day. The theme this year is ’20 Years Working for Your Rights’, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been established. Among the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is article 25,…Continue Reading Human rights, harm reduction and you
GDPO launches new website and publications
The Global Drug Policy Observatory (GDPO) at Swansea University, UK, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. Engaging in a range of ‘impact’ oriented activities, the recently established Observatory operates with the goal of promoting evidence and human rights based drug policy through the comprehensive and rigorous reporting, monitoring and analysis of…Continue Reading GDPO launches new website and publications
Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative
In recent years, the media has applied the contentious term ‘narco-state’ to a number of West African countries, including Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, on account of the increased volumes of cocaine being trafficked through the region and the impact of this illicit activity on governance and security. The heightened prominence of West Africa in…Continue Reading Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative
Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement takes the stage at United Nations headquarters in New York
Last week the topic of modernizing drug law enforcement took center stage at UN Headquarters when the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and the Czech Republic to the United Nations co-sponsored a program with International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), Harm Reduction Coalition, the International Security Research Department at Chatham House and the International Institute for Strategic…Continue Reading Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement takes the stage at United Nations headquarters in New York