Source – theAntiMedia.org, By Carey Wedler
– News circulated Monday morning that the United Nations had officially called for the decriminalization of all drugs in a brief, two-page report. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, hinted on Sunday that the announcement would be made, but by Monday morning, the U.N. announced it had no such intention and that the document merely reflected the author’s opinion. Even so, the BBC and Branson himself suggest the document was withdrawn following resistance from at least one country.
As Richard Branson wrote in a blog post before the official release of the report:
“In an as-yet unreleased statement circulated to the BBC, myself and others, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which has shaped much of global drug policy for decades, call on governments around the world to decriminalise drug use and possession for personal consumption for all drugs.”
The report was to be released at an international harm reduction conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Branson continued:
“It’s exciting that the UNODC has now unequivocally stated that criminalisation is harmful, unnecessary and disproportionate, echoing concerns about the immense human and economic costs of current drug policies voiced earlier by UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, UNDP, The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, Kofi Annan and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.”
However, Branson, a long-time opponent of the Drug War, wrote that as he drafted his blog post, the briefing had already drawn harsh opposition. “But as I’m writing this,” he said, “I am hearing that at least one government is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on the UNODC.”
He concluded:
“Let us hope the UNODC, a global organisation that is part of the UN and supposed to do what is right for the people of the world, does not do a remarkable volte-face at the last possible moment and bow to pressure by not going ahead with this important move.”
By Monday, the U.N. had disputed Branson’s announcement of the document. “The briefing paper on decriminalisation mentioned in many of today’s media reports, and intended for dissemination and discussion at a conference in Kuala Lumpur, is neither a final nor formal document … and cannot be read as a statement of UNODC policy,” a spokesperson announced.
As the Guardian summarized:
“United Nations sources stressed that the briefing paper did not mark a major change in UN policy. They pointed out that such a historic shift would not have been announced at another organisation’s conference and would have had to gone through its policymaking process first.”
Regardless, the disputed two-page document was penned by Dr. Monica Beg, who chairs the HIV/AIDs section of the UNODC. She noted multiple consequences of the continued War on Drugs, including excessive imprisonment. “[W]orldwide, millions of people are imprisoned for minor, non-violent drug offences,” she wrote, suggesting that “arrest and incarceration are disproportionate measures.“
While the document acknowledges that governments have a duty under international law to reduce the supply and trade of drugs, it also affirms that these governments are responsible for adhering to human rights’ obligations. The document concludes that the U.N. will not force member states to criminalize drug possession and use on a personal scale. Rather, it suggests that “Member states should consider the implementation of measures to promote the right to health and to reduce prison overcrowding, including by decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal use.”
This type of policy has seen success in Portugal, where drugs were decriminalized in 2001 and rates of use decreased. At least one town in Massachusetts has opted to treat addiction to heroin rather than prosecute it.
The paper suggests several strategies like these, including investing in drug-prevention programs and treatment for drug dependency. It makes clear that it advocates decriminalization, in part, “as a key element of the HIV response among people who use drugs.”
In spite of the groundbreaking implications of the two-page document, the U.N. maintains the document was meant only as a suggestion (the BBC notes that the UNODC has been under increased pressure to take a stance). The language of the conclusion implies the document was a suggestion, considering it urges that member countries “should consider” decriminalization.
However, the text of the document, printed on official agency stationery, also says the report “clarifies the position of UNODC to inform country responses to promote a health and human rights approach to drug policy,” making the UNODC’s true intentions difficult to decipher.
Denials from the U.N. were swift and vehement. Official statements also denied Branson’s claims that at least one member nation pushed back against the recommendations:
“[The document] remains under review and UNODC regrets that, on this occasion, there has been an unfortunate misunderstanding about the nature and intent of this briefing paper. UNODC emphatically denies reports that there has been pressure on UNODC to withdraw the document. But it is not possible to withdraw what is not yet ready,” an official U.N. response said.
Regardless of whether or not the document was intended to be one person’s suggestion or an officially proposed policy — or whether countries are exerting undue pressure on the U.N. following its release — the mere suggestion of decriminalizing drugs, in and of itself, reflects the changing landscape of drug prohibition.
Written by Carey Wedler of www.theantimedia.org
This article (Did the United Nations Just Call for the Decriminalization of All Drugs?) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Carey Wedler and theAntiMedia.org.
RIELPOLITIK 
Extreme Weight Loss cast members are right here to share their individual stories and motivate you.
Un de mes patient monsieur Seve Man va peut etre prendre contact avec vous car il voulait partir au Vietnam.
En effet, grace a la cocote minute autocuiseur vapeur, la cuisson vapeur n’aura plus
aucun secret pour vous.
Thanks for the sort words. Glad it might assist.
As for the highway, it was pretty windy and really bumpy in one part the place they had been fixing the street.
Sea sickness is more of an issue while you’re
contained in the boat — so in a automotive, in the event you can keep searching the window,
it’s going to assist scale back the issue. Or rent a personal driver so you
can inform him to take it simple on the curves 🙂 Have
an important trip!
Quality content is the important to be a focus
for the users to pay a visit the web site, that’s what this web site is providing.
Hi there colleagues, how is the whole thing, and what you want to say
regarding this paragraph, in my view its actually remarkable in favor of me.
It’s in reality a great and helpful piece of info.
I am happy that you just shared this useful information with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
You simply should decide if the underlying safety is going to finish
above or beneath the price you purchased it when your option expires.
Core Spreads makes no bones about that they can not offer
much better news services or updates than Bloomberg or the Financial Times.
Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fiine but when opening in Internet Explorer,
it has some overlapping. I juust wanted tto give
you a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!
Ellos, enormemente agradecidos, desearon ofrecerles una boda
con notas muy Barcelonesas, una pequeña senda
donde estuviera presente en todo instante la silueta de Barna, el mar mediterráneo, los iconos de la urbe
y las hermosas vistas de ciertos monumentos más simbólicos.
In this week’s Internet Advertising and marketing Podcast
Andy talks to Gerry White, Technical SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING
Director at SiteViseibility about Google’s latest Panda and
Pebguin updates.
La mission du moteur de recherche est redonner le pouvoir au
voyageur en lui donnant acces a toute l’offre voyage de 250 sites.
In traditional advertising aand marketing the varied media are used for advertising and marketing products resembling Tv, Radio,
Print newspaper, magazies and many others., Out
of doors and many other media.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you
wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do
with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
A great read. I will definitely be back.
I blog often and I really thank you for your information. The
article has truly peaked my interest. I will take a note of your website and keep checking for new information about once per week.
I opted in for your Feed as well.
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include almost all vital
infos. I’d like to look extra posts like this .
Terrific work! That is the kind of info that are meant to be
shared across the internet. Shame on the search engines
for now not positioning this post higher! Come on over and consult with my web site .
Thank you =)
Thankfulness to my father who told me concerning this weblog,
this website is really remarkable.
Hi to all, the contents existing at this web site are genuinely remarkable for people experience, well, keep up the good work
fellows.
Terrific post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte
more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate
a little bit more. Thanks!
Hey! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading through
your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same
subjects? Thanks!
Once you have your font, you can put it through the design process, change
the size, weight, and line spacing.
See the North Carolina State University’s site for
tips on how to take wood moisture readings. Some keypads permit
functions like delayed closing of one’s garage door, along with
closing your door for a fixed time frame. ‘ instead of ‘Fix me’ right before
the solo, as Anthrax’s Charlie Benante explained to me when we spoke a few weeks ago.
If you desire to take much from this piece of writing then you have to apply such
methods to your won web site.
If you would like to take a great deal from this paragraph then you have to apply these strategies to your won web site.
If you answered yes” to one particular or far more off these queries, you may possibly contemplate speaking with your
doctor or mental wellness professional aboit
your issues.
I simply couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the usual information a person provide for your guests?
Is going to be back often to check up on new posts
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all
of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. Would
you offer guest writers to write content to suit your
needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write with regards to here.
Again, awesome blog!
Hey there I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I
was looking on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a incredible post and a all round exciting blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I
have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more,
Please do keep up the awesome job.
Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We
are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same
niche. Your blog provided us useful information to
work on. You have done a marvellous job!
I am now not sure the place you’re getting your information, but
good topic. I needs to spend some time finding out more
or understanding more. Thank you for great information I was in search
of this info for my mission.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later.
Many thanks
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just
extremely magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are
saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care
for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is actually a tremendous web site.
Hi to every body, it’s my first pay a quick visit of this webpage; this
webpage carries awesome and really excellent
stuff for visitors.
I take pleasure in, lead to I found just what I was looking for.
You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day.
Bye
What’s up to every body, it’s my first visit of this website; this blog carries amazing and truly excellent material for visitors.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Hello there I am so happy I found your weblog, I
really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Bing for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like
to say thanks a lot for a fantastic post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read
it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and
also added your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read a lot more, Please
do keep up the awesome job.
I will right away grab your rss as I can not find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please allow me recognise so that I may
just subscribe. Thanks.
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality blogs
on the internet. I will recommend this blog!
thnx for sharing this neat website.|
Me gusta este sitio web! Enhorabuena ya tienen un nuevo seguidor
Yo no podía no pudo resistir. Muy bien escrito!
Hello! I simply want to offer you a big thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post.
I’ll be coming back to your site for more soon.
I believe this web site holds some rattling superb info for everyone. “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” by Martin Luther.
Greetings from California! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good blog!|