The Global Commission on Drug Policy responds to the World Drug Report 2011‏

Yury Fedotov, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched the World Drug Report in New York, the UN's key annual report on progress in international drug control.

This is the occasion for voices proposing an effective drug policy to express themselves.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy Chair responds to Thursday Launch of UN's 2011 World Drug Report.  “The era of repressive drug policy must end.It is time for UN leaders to acknowledge that the principles of human rights, public health and social development should guide the search for better alternatives,” said former president of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who serves as chair for the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

We can see that all over the world, repressive drug policy don’t deter drug use.

The drug users in these countries like Russia or USA are today penalized twice times: firstly by the use of drugs and finally by the repressive laws.

The arguments in favour of a repressive drug policy could be demonstrated only by figures.

Or the figures are exhaustive: the number of drug users is increasing in every part of the world.

Why should we harass users while traffickers should be the first target? The reality is that drug traffickers are powerful and in this context of economic crisis their influence is going to be strengthened.

The major governments of the world should acknowledge that their main fight against drugs should be against drug trafficking not drug users.

Drug users should be protected by laws against drugs traffickers.

This needs a long term policy which is less popular than repressive laws and could cost politicians votes.

However, it will make more healthy people and made a safe society.