Human Rights Council 37: Resolution on Addressing the World Drug Problem with regards to Human Rights
This UK statement was delivered at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council during the discussion on the resolution addressing the world drug problem with regards to human rights.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
The United Kingdom would like to speak in opposition to the amendment contained in document L.62. Though not immediately apparent from the text of the amendment, its effect is to delete the request in the current Operative Paragraph 5. That request is for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on implementation of the joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem with regards to human rights, and to share that report with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
We steadfastly oppose this deletion. Commissioning reports from the High Commissioner is standard practice in this Council. The CND has encouraged contributions from other UN bodies such as this one. The main sponsors of this resolution have responded to concerns aired during informal consultations, and have removed the reference to “human rights indicators”, which cause difficulties for many delegations. And this report is the only tasking made in the resolution, and is its central feature.
For these reasons, the United Kingdom will vote No on the current amendment, and encourages all other delegations to do likewise.
The United Kingdom would like to explain its vote on draft resolution L.41. The United Kingdom will vote in favour of this resolution. It is a short focused resolution which reflects the consensus reached at the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs in 2016. In a way that is entirely appropriate for this, the Human Rights Council, it draws attention to some of the human rights aspects of the UNGASS outcome document, in a way which respects the balance of that document. And it responds to the encouragement from the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for other UN entities to contribute to its work.
Irrespective of our various differing national policies on drugs control, we all surely agree that those policies should be carried out in accordance with our respective human rights obligations. And it follows too that there is a role for this Council, and for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the debates on this subject. For these reasons, the United Kingdom will vote Yes on draft resolution L.41, and encourages other delegations to do likewise.