Human Rights and Drug Control: The False Dichotomy

Description

It has become almost accepted knowledge within international policy circles that efforts against drug trafficking and drug abuse violate human rights, and that the entire international drug control regime needs to be changed (or even discarded altogether) to adopt a more ‘rights respecting’ approach. Though this view has been promoted by many prominent figures and organisations, the author of this book uses his expertise in both human rights and drug control to show that the arguments advanced in this area do not stand close scrutiny. The arguments are in fact based on selective and questionable interpretations of international human rights standards, and on a general notion—more and more clearly stated—that there is a human right to take drugs, and that any effort to combat drug abuse by definition violates this right. There is no such right in international law, and the author objects to the misuse of human rights language as a marketing tool to bring about a ‘back door’ legalisation of drugs. Human rights issues must be addressed, but that in no way means that the international drug control regime must be discarded, or that efforts against drugs must be stopped. Volume 59 in the series Studies in International Law Table of Contents 1. Introduction I. Some Terminology Issues-Legalisation,
Decriminalisation, and Depenalisation II. Use/Abuse/Consumption 2. Legal Standards and Regimes I. The International Drug Control Regime II. Human Rights III. Article 33 of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child 3. UNGASS and Developments in Latin America I. UNGASS II. Latin America: Regional Developments III. Latin America: Developments
at the National Level 4. Drug Control: Violating
Human Rights? I. At First, There Was 'Harm Reduction' II. Human Rights as a Tool III. Persons who Abuse Drugs as a 'Vulnerable Group' IV. Militarisation of Drug Law Enforcement 5. Mandated Treatment and Drug Courts I. Portugal 6. The 'Right to Abuse Drugs' Afterword: Views of the Author Index